Re: DS lecture VCR ate my tape!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

I can tell you some things we did with 7th graders that maybe you could use.

After explaining DS and some of the physical characteristics we did the

following:

talk about weak muscle tone and how if affects people (making backpacks full

of books hard to carry, making poor posture, affecting speech, affecting

walking, affecting participation in sports ... we would call for a volunteer

" gymnast' from the audience. Ask her to do a cartwheel on stage. Then we would

suit her up in a large flightsuit (or overalls), stuff in pillows, put on

workboots and ask her to do another cartwheel. The outfit simulated poor muscle

tone

and everyone saw the difference.

talk about speech, artic problems, shape of tongue and oral cavity, palate,

then ask for another volunteer. Have them come forward and recite their ABCs.

Then put mini marshmellows in their mouth, to make small cavaity and low

palate and have them recite the ABCs again.

talk about fine motor problems and ask for volunteer. Have them pick up a

dime from a flat surface. Then put on some think work gloves and have them do

it again.

talk about small ear canals and fluid build up. Ask for volunteer, have them

stand about 5 feet away, ask them a question and have them respond. Then put

in ear plugs (fluid) and then put on hearing protectors (headband type)

(small canals) and ask another simple question. They should frown and say

" huh? "

Kids LOVE this type of interactive stuff!

Good luck!

Cheryl in VA

[Guest guest]

How about also pointing out how hard it is to be different by choosing a

group of kids (without there knowledge) such as kids wearing green that day, or

kids who have brown hair. After separating them tell all the other kids, " We

don't like kids with, green clothes or whatever you have chosen because they

all look allike... Then let all the other (non-green or whatever) kids have

input believe me they will come up with stuff. As you see the picked on group

get uncomfortable you can then ask them to tell everyone how they felt being

teased. After they express their sadness, embarressment, hurt feelings. You

can

then go on to explain that people with disabilities also are many times made

to feel different when in actuality they are not all that different inside

where it counts. I think that factual information is important, but I also

think

teaching children compassion is most times more important. Especially at

this age. Just a thought.

Loree

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

DH managed to make the VCR spit it out and it only had some damage on the end

tail so it was in good shape to use.

I talked to 4th, 6th and 5th grade in that order. 90 kids in each group. I

lived but was wiped out for the rest of the night.

The kids were great. They asked great questions and luckily I had all the

answers (not like at home). I used the " Friends like me " tape. I stressed that

the only people that can teach an 11 yo old boy how to be 11 was a bunch of

11yolds and that I as his Mom had no idea how to teach him to be a guy. That

seemed to have an impact. I changed the age for each group as was appropriate.

One girl wanted to know about social cues, another was worried you could

catch DS (kinda like cooties). The main concern was our kids tongues. I

explained

the shallow roof of the mouth and the low muscle tone making it harder for

speaking. I let them know our kids can talk but that speaking is tougher and

requires lots of speech therapy.

At the end of one group I had a girl tell me she thought maybe she would like

to be with kids with disabilites(yes!!!) I told her she could start by having

school lunch and making a friend with that person.

The principle talked to me after lectures and I mentioned that they might

want to start a lunch buddy program (seed planted).

All in all I was happy with it.

I did let them know that the VCR ate my homework!!!! and in the old days we

use to blame it on the dog.

Jeannette

[Guest guest]

Wow!!! Sounds like you did a super job and got a very good reception and

response. I would love to do something like that on the high school level.

I " ve never been afraid to speak in front of many people but work full time and

it's difficult to get off for doctor's appointments much less for something like

that. I really think it would be good for us to move where the services

actually are. Anyone know of someplace WARM where there are services?? LOL I

can't stand cold at all.

Elaine

Re: DS lecture VCR ate my tape!!!!!!!!

Hi all,

DH managed to make the VCR spit it out and it only had some damage on the end

tail so it was in good shape to use.

I talked to 4th, 6th and 5th grade in that order. 90 kids in each group. I

lived but was wiped out for the rest of the night.

The kids were great. They asked great questions and luckily I had all the

answers (not like at home). I used the " Friends like me " tape. I stressed that

the only people that can teach an 11 yo old boy how to be 11 was a bunch of

11yolds and that I as his Mom had no idea how to teach him to be a guy. That

seemed to have an impact. I changed the age for each group as was appropriate.

One girl wanted to know about social cues, another was worried you could

catch DS (kinda like cooties). The main concern was our kids tongues. I

explained

the shallow roof of the mouth and the low muscle tone making it harder for

speaking. I let them know our kids can talk but that speaking is tougher and

requires lots of speech therapy.

At the end of one group I had a girl tell me she thought maybe she would like

to be with kids with disabilites(yes!!!) I told her she could start by having

school lunch and making a friend with that person.

The principle talked to me after lectures and I mentioned that they might

want to start a lunch buddy program (seed planted).

All in all I was happy with it.

I did let them know that the VCR ate my homework!!!! and in the old days we

use to blame it on the dog.

Jeannette