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Casey Hammeke is a star. No matter what she does, she excels at it. Now 32 years old, an adult with Down syndrome, she is an actress, an accomplished Special Olympian, a board member, a speaker, office worker, sister and daughter. She has hopes and dreams that she will likely reach because she is such a star. Casey graduated from McLean High School, spent 2 years at the Davis Career Center, and then moved into the work world. Her first job involved working for a direct mail marketing firm, helping to prepare mailings for members of Congress. Today, Casey works for Dynamic Details, through Echo, where she does a wide range of office work. She shreds, preps documents, and does data entry. She is an important part of the team at the company. She has a job coach, who is also her supervisor, but she likely teaches as much as she learns. Her pride in her work is evident just from talking with her. Casey is in her fourth year as an actress with Art Stream. She has been in more plays “than you can count.” Her favorite was GodSpell. She likes to attend plays so she can get ever better at acting. She says that acting helps her “realize that anything is possible.” Casey has been participating in Special Olympics since she was eight. She has so many gold medals it is not even worth trying to count them. She swims, plays soccer and basketball, bowls, does gymnastics, skis, ice skates, and participates in track and field. A few years ago, Casey became a Global Messenger for Special Olympics. For two years, she traveled around Northern Virginia and the country telling others about having a disability and how much she and her fellow athletes bring to the world. She also served on the Local Council as the Athlete Representative for three years. If there is an accomplishment within Special Olympics, she has achieved it. Casey is currently serving as the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Arc of Northern Virginia. She has been on the Board for two years. In addition to the traditional secretary tasks, she also provides key insight into the needs of people with disabilities to the Board. She also serves on the Advisory Board for NDSS. A few months ago, the Government Affairs Committee had the pleasure of taking Casey, along with her brother Brendan and David Egan, to have lunch with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (who happens to have a young son with DS). While there, we also ran into Congressman Dave Reichert. Casey made a tremendous impression upon them and showed them how much people with Down syndrome can do and accomplish. Casey still has dreams she wants to achieve. She wants to live on her own, preferably in a group home, and wants to be co-executive director of the Arc. She still needs to take the time to teach her younger brother, Brendan. But that is a story for another time. When talking to Casey, you have to take a deep breath after she finishes telling you about all the things she has done over the years. Her accomplishments are amazing. Casey Hammeke is truly a star.
13th Annual Pumpkin Pick Everyone is invited to this fun event at the farm of Bob and Patti Blakely. This wonderful event is for any and all families of those with Down syndrome. Though not hosted by DSANV, we are among the grateful invitees of this very fun event. Please go to the farm’s website at www.numbersthirteenfarm.com to find out more about the event, get directions, see last year’s photos and to RSVP. Please RSVP by September 26! Transition and Financial Strategies for the Special Needs Family (14 years-22 years) The Special Care Planning Team of The Washington Group consists of financial practitioners, who are certified in helping families with a special needs situation, plan for the future. They help their clients with financial and planning situations such as guardianship, the use of Special Needs Trusts, trusteeship, government benefits and most importantly ensuring that the financial well being of the person with special needs is being met now and in the future when the caregivers may no longer be able to do so. If you care for a person with a disability or other special needs, it is important that you look beyond the help you provide on a daily basis. How you plan for their financial well-being and yours as well, will make a tremendous difference in your life style now and when you are no longer caring for your loved one. The program is FREE and opened to the public. Please RSVP to Noelle Holloman at NoelleH@dsanv.org. Reading: Assessment and Reading Programs Join us for a discussion of different reading assessments and an examination of different reading programs. We will explore different types of testing and how to interpret them. We will investigate areas of comprehension and discuss how to decide on which reading programs are best suited for our students. A variety of books, computer programs, and websites with a proven track record in the Ds population will be examined. Sight reading, phonics and whole language approaches will also be discussed. This program is FREE and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Noelle Holloman at NoelleH@dsanv.org or 703-621-7129. Financial Strategies for the Special Needs Family (all ages) The Special Care Planning Team of The Washington Group consists of financial practitioners who are certified in helping families with a special needs situation plan for the future. They help their clients deal with financial and legal issues such as guardianship, the use of a special needs trust, trusteeship, government programs, and most importantly ensuring that the financial well being of the person with special needs is being met now and in the future when the caregivers may no longer be able to do so. This program is FREE and open to the public. To RSVP, please email Noelle Holloman at NoelleH@dsanv.org. “Making Plans”: A Money Management Seminar for Self Advocates In conjunction with DSANV’s Money Club, representatives of The Washington Group’s Special Care Planning Team are pleased to host a money management seminar for adults with Down syndrome or other intellectual/developmental disabilities. The seminar will be more of an interactive discussion, rather than a presentation. As our starting point we will be using part one of “Making Plans; A Financial Guide for People with Down Syndrome and Their Families” published by the National Endowment for Financial Education in conjunction with the NDSS and the MassMutual Financial Group. Topics to be covered include: Your Goals, Your Money, A Job and Your Future. This program is FREE and open only to adults with an intellectual or developmental disabilities. Many Special Care Planners from The Washington Group will be on hand to assist. To register, please contact Noelle Holloman at NoelleH@dsanv.org or 703-621-7129. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Seminar Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a scientifically valid framework and set of principles to provide ALL students equal opportunities to learn. Using UDL principles makes curriculum and instruction accessible and engaging for all students and ensures that their learning is validly assessed. This workshop will provide an overview of UDL and the national, state and local advocacy efforts to promote its implementation. You will also learn what you can do to advocate for UDL. This program is FREE and open to the public. To RSVP, please contact Noelle Holloman at NoelleH@dsanv.org or 703-621-7129.
Attending the National Down Syndrome Convention 2009 By: Kathy Thompson I had the awesome privilege of attending the National Down Syndrome Annual Convention in Sacramento, Ca. I can say I will never forget my experience there—not only because I was able to attend many workshops and meet with many vendors, some of which I had only “met” over the internet, but because I had the chance to see and hear the Advocates. They were inspiring and opened up many more opportunities for the future of my son. The first day, I attended the “Meaningful Inclusion and Participation in General Education” Pre-Conference workshop. The presenters offered several good ideas on teaching and ideas on writing an IEP, such as being very clear on what the outcome is when the child is in class. It is also important to have socializing as a goal. They offered several good ideas to teach reading and numbers, such as making books of your own or converting books to keep the language simple when teaching reading so that your child can be successful. Having books for the child’s own birthday experiences, friends, family and school were some of the other suggestions. I did feel, however, that some of the presentation used dated material. For example, the video they showed was done in the 80’s, and they spoke as if it was current. That afternoon we had “Sharing Sessions” and I went to “Mothers Only, 6-8 years.” We all had an opportunity to share a concern about our children. Then we talked about the most frequent questions that came up in the instances that were of concern to us. I really enjoyed talking with and listening to other parents. I was even recommended a product to help my son with some sleeping issues. Friday evening was the best part of the weekend. We heard from several Self-Advocates with Down syndrome, including Meredith Martin, Lee Jones, Karen Gaffney, and Calene Mattson. They were all well prepared, poised, funny, full of life, and did a terrific job. I would not be able to do what they did! Several mentioned passing their driving test and getting a car—they were so proud! And some of their comments: “It’s not what you can’t do, but what you can” and “don’t accept ‘reasonable expectations.’” They talked about their jobs and social life and how “more alike than different” they are from others. Hearing those words from them meant so much more to me than hearing them from a lecturer. The first class I went to Saturday was “Math Doesn’t Have to be a Drag: Tips and Tricks to making Math Meaningful and Fun.” The speakers, Dana Halle and Nicki Presby, offered lots of information as well as several useful websites with free math material, such as www.dsfoc.org and www.learningpage.com. Their main concept was making math fun and relating it to everyday experiences, such as sorting a child’s pretzels from goldfish. They also advocated talking about math as often as possible in everyday situations, using such terms as “less,” “more,” “none,” “big,” and “small.” My next class was “Reading Made Easy for Learners with DS” by Natalie Hale. She gave lots of good ideas and easy steps to teach reading. She followed through on her objectives and was clear on her presentation materials. I have already started implementing some of her ideas with my son. Sunday, which came too fast, didn’t slow down just because it was the last day. I did peek in on the talent show for the Youth & Adult Conference and it was great to see everybody having so much fun. I was inspired by many of the individuals that I met. This was really my first chance to see DS adults interacting in the world. I had the privilege of sitting next to a couple at breakfast and it was great to see how they watched the prices on the menu and were looking out for each other. They had met at a previous conference and were now engaged, again proving “More Alike than Different.” I look forward to bringing my son, especially when he is older. There was so much more that was covered, but I wanted to give you a glimpse into the jam-packed weekend. I just wish there had been more hours in each day. The conference ran smoothly, the hotel staff was very helpful, and the volunteers were exceptional. It was wonderful to see all of the new families that either just had their child or some that were still expecting. The 37th conference was opened with the words “The world’s largest family reunion.” And it was like that—everyone was willing to share their experiences and be helpful in any way that they can. Everyone seemed to know one another and I had a real sense of belonging. One of my favorite quotes I heard over the weekend: “people with DS make the world a better place." Kathy Thompson’s attendance at the National Down Syndrome Convention was in part supported by the DSANV Scholarship program. Look for the same scholarships to be available for next year’s convention in Orlando, FL.
Social Outreach Committee Report The Social Outreach Committee has been busy planning this year’s upcoming events. Please save the date for our Annual Holiday Party on December 12, 2009, 11:30am-2:30pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Arlington, VA (please note new location)! Join us for a buffet luncheon, musical entertainment, and visits and gifts with Santa! In February we will also host our annual Valentine’s Dance—date and location TBA. And once again we will have our Spring Picnic at Bull Run Regional Park on Saturday, May 15. More details to follow! We are also in the process making plans for our Adult Advocates. Stay tuned for more information on a Bowling/Dinner Night coming up in October. The Social Outreach Committee is always looking for volunteers and committee members. If you are interested or have any great ideas for our committee please send an e-mail to Maureen Buckley at MaureenB@dsanv.org. We are thrilled to report that the 5th Annual DSANV/Special Olympics Golf Tournament raised over $25,000. Thanks to all those who came out to play and/or volunteer at the tournament! Next year’s tournament will be held on June 7, 2010 at Springfield Country Club. We are in need of committee members. Please consider joining the committee for this fun and worthy event. E-mail MaureenB@dsanv.org if you are interested! Please join us in congratulating our outstanding Volunteers for 2009:
And a special congratulations to our Richard Trenck Volunteer of the Year recipient: Heather Trammell!
This past year, the DSANV Education Committee is pleased to have brought several workshops and seminars to our area, among which were seminars featuring two very high profile speakers in our community. Terri Couwenhoven presented a two day seminar in April, 2009 on “Understanding Sexuality in People with Intellectual Disabilities,” and Joan Guthrie Medlen presented in July, 2009 on “Nutrition and Feeding.” We felt these and other topics were important to our membership and we received a lot of positive feedback from all who attended. Due to low attendance at these and other programs, however, we are actively re-evaluating our efforts. Perhaps our time should be focused in a different direction? We welcome your comments on how we can make our programs better and serve more members. What do you want to learn about through DSANV’s Programs? How can DSANV’s Education Committee help you and our community as a whole? Please feel free to contact the Education Committee at educationcommittee@dsanv.org.
Advocacy and Awareness Committee Report The Dan Piper Award Winner for 2009 The National Down Syndrome Society awards a self-advocate each year with the Dan Piper Award. Dan was a young man from Iowa who had some extraordinary accomplishments for himself and our community. Dan had a fully inclusive education, was involved in many extracurricular activities, was employed and testified before Congress of behalf of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dan passed away on September 1, 2002, and this award was established in his memory. The award is given each year to someone who brings a greater awareness and understanding of people with Down syndrome through their everyday life and activities. This year’s winner, Erin Thompson, exemplifies the spirit of the Dan Piper Award. Erin is a Board Member of DSANV and an active volunteer for the Arc of Northern Virginia. She is in her senior year at the George Mason University Life Program, and is the first person in the program to participate in a fully inclusive class. She balances being a member of DSANV’s Education Committee, Self-Advocates subcommittee, and Board of Directors with her work for the Arc in their People First self-advocacy program, all while being a student and living in a dormitory on GMU campus. Erin has been one of the leaders in the movement to eliminate the “R” word from Virginia’s statutory, legal and legislative language. She spent many hours speaking to individual lawmakers along with giving speeches to committees in Richmond. Phil Pedlikin was lucky enough to be on hand when the Senate passed her bill. On a personal note, I had the pleasure of driving with Erin to Washington, DC in late February for the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action Annual Convention. It was the first time I got to spend some quality one-on-one time getting to know her. She told me about everything she does and what her hopes and dreams are for the future. It made me feel very proud to be involved in an organization that she is a part of and expanded the hopes and dreams I have for my daughter and our community. Erin, congratulations on the winning this year’s Dan Piper Award. You are truly an inspiration to us all!!! – Steve Beck, Advocacy and Awareness Committee Chair |
In each edition of the DSANV Newsletter, we will introduce you to a self advocate with Down syndrome, someone we can all learn from. This month we start with Casey Hammeke.
Welcome to Our New Families
The Elphick Family • The Abdin Family • The Ahmed Family • The Andrade Family • The Baker Family • The Baker Family • The Breffitt Family • The Camposano Family • The Chaudhry Family • The Cirillo Family • The Gentil Family • The Gogola Family • The Hernandez-Mendoza Family • The Hoffman Family • The Huda Family • The Jenkins Family • The Jillson Family • The Lawler Family • The Lopez Family • The Montgomerie Family • The Myers Family • The Negash Family • The O'Brien Family • The Pope Family • The Reedy Family • The Rigdon Family • The Riley Family • The Rodriguez Family • The Sakho Family • The Scanlon Family • The Swanson Famiy • The Thanyachereon Family • The Tobiaz Family • The Umana Family • The West Family • The Witter Family • The Yassin Family • The Yen Family