Ok! I moved. I'm now at www.nobabynoblog.blogspot.com
Go there!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Matching Monday- New York Edition
This cutie pie is TJ. He's 20 monthsPhotolisting ID #1001017
https://apps.ocfs.ny.gov/Adoption/Child/Search/Demographic.aspx
Devontae is 7
"Born July 2002, Devontae is a fun, loving 7 year old lively child who enjoys many activities and can make anyone laugh. He is able to show appropriate affection and empathy especially towards his siblings. He enjoys the computer, playing football and soccer. He demonstrates his athletic ability through his strong throw and fast sprint. His goal for the future is to become a Judge. "
https://apps.ocfs.ny.gov/Adoption/Child/Search/Demographic.aspx
Referral ID 1000620
Note: I cannot link to their direct profiles, but enter the Referral ID in the search page in the box entitled "Referral ID"
Aisha
"Aisha is a very social young lady who loves to meet new people. Her hobbies are as multi-faceted as she is – ranging from music and writing, to soccer and basketball. One of Aisha’s favorite pastimes is anything related to food. Aisha loves cooking and eating food – especially Italian and Spanish food. As one can tell from her taste in food and her social nature, Aisha hopes to travel the world one day."
http://www.heartgallerynyc.org/core/child/?ChildId=84
"Aisha is a very social young lady who loves to meet new people. Her hobbies are as multi-faceted as she is – ranging from music and writing, to soccer and basketball. One of Aisha’s favorite pastimes is anything related to food. Aisha loves cooking and eating food – especially Italian and Spanish food. As one can tell from her taste in food and her social nature, Aisha hopes to travel the world one day."
http://www.heartgallerynyc.org/core/child/?ChildId=84
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Nemo
I have an issue with the r word.
Why? Why should I care? Because when people use the r word as an insult I see the face of a little boy I worked with, and for the purposes of this blog I'll call him Nemo, in a tribute to his love of Dorrie and his amazing ability to make whale noises.
Nemo is 7 and has autism and ADHD. If I could pick one child in the world to be my own, I would pick nemo. He runs up the hill to our group every morning, arms outstretched, giant grin spread across his face. He plops into my lap, or if I'm standing he hurls his arms around my waist and tries to knock me over. He says "I LOVE MOLLY!" One hand always has a toy clutched in it, usually a Gordon train, or a whale. The first time I met him was two summers ago. I was squatting in a doorway, talking to one of our staff members and he clambered onto my lap and said "Bounce me like a kangaroo?" and I did. His perfect hair flew up and down with each bounce, and he cackled with glee.
He is a sensory driven child. He loves to be spun, tossed, bounced and anything else that gives him sensory input. At the pool we let him jump off the side into our arms. He takes a few steps back, runs forward and jumps, feet pedling as if he doesn't know he's left the ground already. His mouth is always wide open in a grin, prompting us to hold him aloft as we plunge underwater, trying to keep him from swallowing the entire pool.
He has perfected the fake cry. But if you've caught him, all you do is ask "Nemo, are you crying for real or for fake?"
" FOR FAKE!" he exclaims, and grins up at you, tears vanishing.
Once he pushed a child into the pool. As his punishment I made him sit out, beside me for 5 minutes. Before letting him go I asked "Nemo, are you going to push L again?"
"No.... YES!" he yelled.
Whoops... (To be continued)
Why? Why should I care? Because when people use the r word as an insult I see the face of a little boy I worked with, and for the purposes of this blog I'll call him Nemo, in a tribute to his love of Dorrie and his amazing ability to make whale noises.
Nemo is 7 and has autism and ADHD. If I could pick one child in the world to be my own, I would pick nemo. He runs up the hill to our group every morning, arms outstretched, giant grin spread across his face. He plops into my lap, or if I'm standing he hurls his arms around my waist and tries to knock me over. He says "I LOVE MOLLY!" One hand always has a toy clutched in it, usually a Gordon train, or a whale. The first time I met him was two summers ago. I was squatting in a doorway, talking to one of our staff members and he clambered onto my lap and said "Bounce me like a kangaroo?" and I did. His perfect hair flew up and down with each bounce, and he cackled with glee.
He is a sensory driven child. He loves to be spun, tossed, bounced and anything else that gives him sensory input. At the pool we let him jump off the side into our arms. He takes a few steps back, runs forward and jumps, feet pedling as if he doesn't know he's left the ground already. His mouth is always wide open in a grin, prompting us to hold him aloft as we plunge underwater, trying to keep him from swallowing the entire pool.
He has perfected the fake cry. But if you've caught him, all you do is ask "Nemo, are you crying for real or for fake?"
" FOR FAKE!" he exclaims, and grins up at you, tears vanishing.
Once he pushed a child into the pool. As his punishment I made him sit out, beside me for 5 minutes. Before letting him go I asked "Nemo, are you going to push L again?"
"No.... YES!" he yelled.
Whoops... (To be continued)
Thursday, October 1, 2009
31 for 21!
I am committing to posting every day in October in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I may only be writing for myself but I'll do it! (or at least try!)
Anyone have any requests?
Anyone have any requests?
Monday, September 28, 2009
I'm fasting
Yep. Yom Kippur. Jewish Guilt. I slept till 1030 and plan on napping.
I'M HUNGRY! but I'm also wishing an easy fast to my fellow Jews.
Side note: I think guys in yarmulkes are totally hot. Is that weird? (for all my non jews, yarmulkes are the skullcaps that Jewish men wear. and I happen to lurve me some yarmulke wearing dudes)
Update: The entire universe is blogging about food today. ARGH
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Erin.
I have a new role model.
Her name is Erin Thompson.
She's 22, a student at George Mason University and she's eloquent. Far more eloquent than I am.
She has Down Syndrome.
I've been searching for her contact info since Saturday, when she spoke at the 15th Annual NYC Buddy Walk. She was accepting the Piper Award for her amazing work as an advocate for those with Down Syndrome. She testified in front of the Virginia General Assembly and was instrumental in getting the term "mental retardation" replaced with "intellectual disability" in the Virginia State Code. She's fighting the stigma, and by the looks of it, she's winning.
She demands respect for herself, and for those with intellectual disabilities. She looks you in the eye and tells you that respect is a basic human right. That to use the r word in a derogatory manner is unacceptable. It's undeniably powerful. She is part of a generation of people with intellectual disabilities who are fighting back.
This is just the beginning, but this is the way it should be. I'm done with certain groups of people being treated like second class citizens. Maybe I live in a land of pink fluffy clouds and unicorns, but I hope to see a day when we treat people like PEOPLE regardless of disability, sexual orientation, race, religious background, or anything else that makes me different from you. Maybe optimism is what this world needs. Either way I want to be more like Erin.
Her name is Erin Thompson.
She's 22, a student at George Mason University and she's eloquent. Far more eloquent than I am.
She has Down Syndrome.
I've been searching for her contact info since Saturday, when she spoke at the 15th Annual NYC Buddy Walk. She was accepting the Piper Award for her amazing work as an advocate for those with Down Syndrome. She testified in front of the Virginia General Assembly and was instrumental in getting the term "mental retardation" replaced with "intellectual disability" in the Virginia State Code. She's fighting the stigma, and by the looks of it, she's winning.
She demands respect for herself, and for those with intellectual disabilities. She looks you in the eye and tells you that respect is a basic human right. That to use the r word in a derogatory manner is unacceptable. It's undeniably powerful. She is part of a generation of people with intellectual disabilities who are fighting back.
This is just the beginning, but this is the way it should be. I'm done with certain groups of people being treated like second class citizens. Maybe I live in a land of pink fluffy clouds and unicorns, but I hope to see a day when we treat people like PEOPLE regardless of disability, sexual orientation, race, religious background, or anything else that makes me different from you. Maybe optimism is what this world needs. Either way I want to be more like Erin.
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