Book Club

[Guest guest]

Cindi-

My adult daughter with Down syndrome is actively involved in a Next

Chapter Book Club that has just finished it's first book - The Lion

the Witch and the Wardrobe, by CS . We have structured the group

a little differently than what was suggested to us by Ohio State

University researchers, in that we have only four members of the group

with disabilities, as compared to the 10-15 members suggested. One of

our members started out as a non-reader. He, as well as other members

of the group have greatly improved their reading over the past few

months even though that is not the goal.

Because the focus of the group meeting is social rather than academic,

no one puts pressure on members to perform. Facilitators help as much

as needed in an inobtrusive manner. We meet in a local coffee shop or

book store cafe where members can purchase their own refreshments and

greet friends and acquaintances going in and out.

The only issue for us has been in facilitation. It is extremely

important that members be treated as and spoken to as the adults they

are - not as if they are children. All of our members look forward to

the weekly meetings, and are excited about getting together next week

to choose our next book.

Vicki Niswander

>

> , Ups for Downs hosted a training from OSU, " Next Chapters

Book Club "

> . Very interesting concept many of us were interested in. The

youbg people

> get together at local spots, barnes and NOble etc books are

selected, and

> read by the individuals in the group. This is aimred at people with

DD, so

> the model is written for a different reading level. It is social,

> community, and to the surprise of the people doing it, there has

been an

> increase in reading level. Cindi

>