Full Inclusion in Schools

A little over five years ago as I was carrying my unborn baby girl, I was told she would never be able to feed or dress herself because she would be born with Down syndrome. The fear within me took over and I was thrown into a darkness I had never known. I felt our world was crumbling down on us. My five year old, Ana Maria had been praying and begging for a little sister to play with. We tried for months to conceive and when we finally did, we were told our best option was termination.

I had never known anyone with Down syndrome so I believed the doctor and imagined our baby would not be capable of doing much in her life. The next half of my pregnancy was filled with tears and uncertainty, but we wanted this baby so much and we already loved her with all our hearts.

Through the months I mourned a daughter I would give birth to and though it was irrational, I had to grieve the loss of the daughter I imagined when we became pregnant. Our family united more than ever, Greg my sweet soulmate had all the faith in the world, he kept assuring me that our baby would be just perfect the way she was. Ana Maria was looking forward to finally having a sister by her side, she didn’t care about anything called “Down syndrome” her reaction to me saying that she may be a little different from everyone else was “so what mommy?”

I prayed and begged God to cure her before she was born. But a little miracle took over me instead, He cured me, He opened my heart and my mind. This little baby was my daughter no matter what, and I became a mama bear, by the time she was born, we were excited to meet her and pure joy filled the delivery room at the Grey Nuns hospital.

 

I decided to focus on my daughter and who she was, not what she was diagnosed with. With a teaching background, I focused on her needs and interests. I observed what interested her and went above and beyond to help her. Communication for me was extremely important, I made sure to speak clearly to her and describe everything I was doing throughout the day. I spoke to her in Spanish so she would know two languages. Of course I needed for her to be able to feed herself, I wanted to prove the doctor wrong. Jordan Grace had her own determination and drive to do things. She was showing us she was just like our older daughter, she did all things a baby would do. And as she kept growing she did all things like any other toddler did, just in her own time, but she did it!

We worked hard the past five years. We’ve always made books and educational toys the most important tools in our home. Reading every single day has paid off. Our beautiful daughter, inside and out now attends kindergarten and is fully included in her school. She reads her home reading books each week with excitement and pride. Being in the classroom has been wonderful for our Jordan Grace, she’s learned how to follow direction and she’s learning so much from her classmates everyday. She has a very supportive team including and especially her amazing teacher and aide. They have gone above and beyond to include her in all the daily activities. Her speech, occupational and behavioral therapists have also stepped up and come up with lots of creative ways to help her succeed. From the principal to the staff and secretaries who care so much to see her achieve greatness, It truly takes a village to raise our children of all abilities.

Jordan Grace can teach the world a thing or two about how to live life. She enjoys every moment, she lives for today, doesn’t dwell about yesterday and doesn’t worry about tomorrow. She stops to smell the flowers, she says hi to the birds, she notices when the moon is up high in the sky during the day, she enjoys the journey and isn’t in a hurry, she takes her time to reach the destination. But if you are in her presence she makes you feel like the most important person in the world. She loves with her entire soul and shows you in her actions and words.

Inclusion in the classroom is crucial to all children not just children with disabilities. Kids don’t have a judging bone in their body when they are little and growing, they accept and love everyone. Children with disabilities learn by observing other children, and typical children learn compassion and patience from our precious ones with other abilities. These are life lessons everyone needs to grow up with.

Secluding children and hiding them from society has only made us all fear those who are different, I’m a perfect example, I think if I would have grown up and seen more individuals like my sweet girl, I wouldn’t have been in a deep dark hole for months while awaiting her arrival. Some of the fear was the thought of what people would think of my daughter, because there’s a lack of acceptance of people who are different in this world, even now in 2019. We need to change these perspectives and start looking around our world towards those who are different and welcome them in our circles.

So today March 21st it is world Down syndrome day, the 21st day symbolizes the 21st chromosome and third month symbolizes the three copies. People with Down syndrome have three copies of the 21st chromosome. What makes them unique also makes them beautiful.


We were blessed to share out story on CTV Edmonton News today...here's the link