introduction

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am Kathy Everett and live outside of Atlanta in Alpharetta, GA. I am married

to (over 20 years now) and have two daughters, -17, DS and

14. After spending 10 years in the Army on active duty I stayed in the reserves

10 more years so I could retire and went back to school and earned my masters in

special ed. I specialize in autism and work as a spec ed teacher and a

consultant. I am also the Georgia PTA Special Services Committee Chair (which

includes both special ed and gifted ed) and just recently created a special

services web site for Georgia. I am a Co-VP of the Down Syndrome Association of

Atlanta. And I am a Partners in Policymaking Graduate and work as an advocate.

has been healthy overall but she did have asthma, sleep apnea, hearing

loss, and ear infections, etc. I always say she has had no major health

problems because compared to so many others I know we are very fortunate. She

is overweight now and we are really trying to get that under control with

exercise and good nutrition. has always been included in school.

is a freshman this year and the first student in her high school to be

included. We have had to work hard to get her where she is but she is learning,

making friends and very happy. She is non-verbal but signs and uses an

augmentative communication device (Dynamyte) to communicate. She swims like a

fish, downhill skis, rides a two-wheeled bike, loves dances, sleepovers and

movies. She can read and do simple math. And like many others she, too spreads

out her movies in front her while she is watching one. She does the same thing

with books. She loves to copy things out of books and now she types in the

names of movies into the computer and then prints the page out - I don't know

why. She is very independent, sociable, and has a wonderful sense of humor.

I have learned so much from people on this list and hope that I have been able

to contribute in some way, too. It is nice to know there are others out there

that just need someone to understand the simple things that mean so much to us.

I have an extra bedroom so if anyone is coming thru Atlanta, the room is ready

for you.

Kathy Everett