[NABS-L] Becoming A More Inclusive Society

[Roanna Bacchus]

Hi Nina thanks for your message. I was so moved when I began reading Heather's blog. Today I joined the mailing list for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

On Jun 22, 2019 1:36 PM, Nina Marranca via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Oh my gosh, that is such a sweet story. Growing up, I was lucky. I am one of three kids and the only girl. My brothers are sighted. We wrestled, we fought, we ran around and got hurt. My parents included me just as they would any other child that was theirs. Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen. I think that many of the foundational skills I have now stemmed from this upbringing-- the idea that no matter the differences between people, we're all just people in the end, and therefore, differences don't matter.
>
> On 6/22/19, 12:02, "NABS-L on behalf of Roanna Bacchus via NABS-L" <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org on behalf of nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>     Dear Students,
>     
>     I hope all of you are doing well. Yesterday I came across a blog written by Heather Avis, a Mom from Southern California. She has three adopted children, two of whom have Down Syndrome. Just like the blind community, Heather's daughter Macyn has been excluded from participating in normal everyday activities. As I read this blog, I thought about the many ways that blind people have been excluded from society. I have been rejected from jobs and denied braille menus at restaurants. My family allows me to participate in all of the activities that we do together. In my opinion, when an individual with a disability is excluded from society, their family is also excluded. In one of her blog posts, Heather wrote about a dress rehearsal for a dance recital that her daughter was participating in. During the rehearsal, some of the spots that the girls had to stand in were changed. Just like other individuals with disabilities, Macyn was thrown off when this happened. She must know exactly what is going to happen during an event.
>     
>       On the day of the rehearsal, Macyn had a difficult time and refused to perform her dance routine. Eventually, the director of the dance studio stepped in, and Macyn still refused to dance. Her Mom took her outside, and they walked around for a while. After they sat down in the audience to watch the other dancers, Macyn decided that she wanted to perform her routine. All of the other girls in Macyn's dance class joined her for the routine, and this brought her Mom and the instructor to tears. This story shows that disabled individuals can be included in society. How have your families worked to include you in society? How can the general public allow us to participate in society? I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon.
>     
>     Sincerely,
>     
>     Roanna Bacchus      
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