THE AWESOME PLAYGROUND PROJECT

We did it, we did it, we did ooooh yeah!!! Mom went to the Village Board Meeting on Monday night to talk about the playground that we want to build for all the kiddos in our community.  I can’t wait!  This playground will be the biggest and the bestest EVER!  All our friends can play regardless of their ability.  It’s called a Barrier Free Playground.  It’s as close to no rules as us kids will get.  So now it’s on to the planning commission.  Lots of hard work for us ahead, and hopefully some dirt too!

I have to give a big shout out to the Painted Post Village Board, you all rock! Thanks for helping mom and I out, you won’t be disappointed. 

Mom took me to my latest voting experience on Tuesday.  The ladies at the county elections board were way nice and very interested in what I had to say

So to add to all the excitement… I am a sooo big walking girl.  I have been cruisin around with my shiny silver-walking machine… and with some hand holding I can go down the hall all by my self!  I’ll be signing up for the 50-yard dash next week.

Auntie Melissa is coming this weekend; I thoroughly intend to get all kinds of messy and creative with her!  Maybe I can even throw her in the pool.  Also a shout out to her little sis- Lizzie who will be blessing the earth with a little baby any minute now.  Good luck gal. 

A thank you and a hug to my therapy team.  I know right now we are all kinds of crazy with my planning, but I trust we’ll all get it figured out and we’ll be rocking and rolling in no time.

Peace out dudes and get registered to vote!-A

Advocacy Soapbox

With midterm elections just around the corner and as momma is busy getting ready to collaborate with the town board on our Awesome Playground Project, I thought it would be a good time to get on the advocacy soap box.  What is a soapbox anyway?  Is that the thing I get to play in when I get a tubby?  Hmmm, well that’s as good of a place to start I guess. 

So Why is important to tell people about how cool us exceptional kids are?  Well, for one, it makes them less afraid to engage in conversation with us or invite us to play.  Secondly it helps them understand that we have a lot to say, and a lot of goals too.  But most importantly it keeps us safe.  I’m a little too young to tell this story so I’m gonna pass it over to momma, I’ll be back at the end to lighten the mood.

As some of you may know from our Angelman Syndrome list serv, a three year old little boy in Ohio, named Marcus, was thought to have been lost when he wandered away from his foster parents at a remote park.  Several weeks later, authorities discovered this wasn’t the case.  Little Marcus had been bound up and left in a closet while his foster parents went to KY for a family reunion.  When they returned, Marcus had died.  To make this inhuman act of evil worse, they attempted to burn his body several times to get rid of the evidence.  All the time, pleading with the police that he was lost.  I bring this story to the attention of the blog because Marcus was an exceptional child with special needs.  The crimes that his foster parents have allegedly (I use this for pc reasons) committed need to be brought to justice.  I believe it is our duty as advocates to help keep this from happening to another child.

By understanding disabilities and how they affect an individual and his/her family, we can come closer to combating such atrocities.  Please I urge all of you to be aware of your surroundings, and others.  Are there parents that need education on how to care for their exceptional child?  Are there undiagnosed children out there that may be better understood with a diagnosis that can be obtained through referrals to the medical community?  Are there parents that could use a little "People First" lesson on why it’s ok for their kids to play with exceptional children and the benefits that come from all children playing together.   I’m not suggesting hypersensitivity here, just awareness.

Parents of exceptional children live high stress lives.  Some more than others.  We make adaptations as necessary and most of us hold the safety and health of our children above anything else in this world.  But sometimes there are families that need more help than others to keep the stress from sending them to a very bad place.  Maybe they are uneducated on how to care for their child, maybe their resources are so thin that they don’t know where to turn.  Or in the worst of cases, maybe… I can’t think that anyone would ever not care so I can’t continue that sentence. 

If you notice parents who need help, there is something you can do.  Refer them to an advocacy group such as Arc, Early Intervention, or Special Children’s Services.  If you don’t feel comfortable approaching the parent, make an anonymous referral.  These agencies can help, or at least find them help.

I could go on and on, and those of you that know me are probably shaking your head yes… but this isn’t my blog, and we are bound by our mission to keep messages positive.  However we as a family felt that this was too important an issue to be passed up.  May little Marcus rest in peace and know there are many people he had never met that love him.  — passing it back to Ari.

Blog Fans… I have got some way exciting news!  I am just a movin girl this month!  We got back in the pool last night and boy did I do a good job.  More stable and organized, I was babbling, and very independent momma says (Duh!).  I’m sure I may let out a real word any day now… just trying to decide what it might be.  I think I’ll keep my parents on the edge of their seats and tease them with my bbbbba and ahhhhs til one day… viola!  I’ll come out with the quadratic equation and Shakespeare!

Mom says it’s quite apparent that I am wanting to tell the world about my day at school the way I talk at the dinner table.  Well of course, because I am the most important subject.  I think my kitty likes to hear my stories the most.  He’s my snuggle buddy.  I just don’t understand why he doesn’t want to sleep in the bed with me and momma and daddy <BTW- I think a family bed is much better than my own… it’s like instant party when I wake up… less of a wait for an audience>

So I think mom and I are flying solo this weekend as Dad makes the big trek to NYC for the Mets’ game (Nana’s at Baltimore with the  YANKEES!) and family wedding.  I’m way off my schedule so mom thinks she’s gonna tackle me and get me back on a regular routine this weekend… I’m thinking… nope… it’s late nights, SNL, and ice cream all the way.  I wonder what other kind of trouble I can get into.

Stay tuned… next week’s post should have the first results of the Playground Project.  Anyone who wants to email mom in support is welcomed!  And remember… do your part to make the world a better place… LAUGH!- AEM