Lose The Training Wheels

A couple weeks ago the DSAGSL sponsored it third annual Lose The Training Wheels Bike camp, or as I call it LTTW.  LTTW is an amazing program that teaches kids (and adults) with developmental disabilities how to ride a typical bike.  This might not sound amazing to those of you who do not have a child, relative, neighbor or friend with a disability, so let me tell you a quick story.

This year Janet, a young woman with a disability, attended our LTTW camp.  The camp started on Monday and consisted of five sessions.  Each session had eight riders and lasted for 75 minutes each day.  On Thursday, day four of the camp,  Janet was out in the parking lot, riding a bike around completely independent.  Her mother and sister simply sat on the grass in awe saying, “We have to get her father here tomorrow to see this.”  I was talking with mom about Janet learning to ride a typical two wheel bike.  I found out that Their family likes to ride on vacation and often visits Mackinaw Island for summer vacations.  (NOTE: Automobiles are not allowed on the island.  The only methods of transportation are horse and buggy, bicycle or foot.)  Janet has always had to ride on a tandem with her dad, but not this year!  So I asked how long they have been working with Janet, trying to teach her how to ride a two wheeler.  “Since she was about five.” was her mother’s reply.

“And how old is she now?”

“Seventeen.”

I almost cried myself.  Janet has been working for the past twelve years to learn how to ride a bike by herself and the LTTW program taught her how in four days!  Less than five hours of practice, AMAZZING!

That is just one of the very typical stories I have heard over the past three years the DSAGSL has sponsored a LTTW camp.

Everyone that I talk to has the same question, “How?”  I don’t really know all of the science behind it, but I will tell you the basics.  The riders learn to find their balance by riding a highly modified bike that offers a ton of stability in the beginning.  The back wheel is replaced by a roller that keeps the bike stable.  As the rider practices and their body figures out the balance the rear roller that starts out pretty flat is replaced by a roller that is a little more tapered on the ends, and offers a little less stability.  As the rider gets better, the rollers become more and more tapered.  The next thing you know they are on a two wheeler and able to ride.

For more information, visit the LTTW website.  To view a lot more photos that take you through the progression of the week, visit the DSAGSL’s Smugmug site.

Buddy Walk – St. Louis 2008

I finally got around to uploading the few photos I have from the 2008 St. Louis Buddy Walk.  The Walk itself was a great event and wonderfully successful!  Just under 3,000 people came out on a hot Sunday morning to walk and celebrate Down syndrome.

Olivia and Mia took a break at the rest station sponsored by The Bed Room Store and tried to inflate some balloons.

I love this baby carrier.  Can you see the little feet sticking out?

To see the rest of my photos, look at photos tagged with BuddyWalk on my Flickr page.  To see a ton more photos from the event, look at the DSAGSL’s Smugmug site.

UCCC Dance Party

The University City Children’s Center Family Organization held its first ever Dance Party.  There was a DJ (complete with disco ball), food, decorations, a jazz band, and lots of dancing.  It was quite fun and an over all great event.

Olivia had fun dancing with Miss Kris, but Mia did not want to leave my side.  To see all of my photos of the day, visit my Flickr page and look at the UCCC Dance Party set

 

 

Olivia reading

Yesterday Olivia was sitting on the front porch reading and just looked so cute.

I took a couple more photos of Olivia, but she was real happy with me jumping around her with a camera.

 

Then Mia got upset for some reason and took off running.

 

She stopped, eventually.

Underwear Hat = Typical Mia

We say that Mia dances to the beat of a different drummer, but often have difficulties with specific examples that express exactly what Mia does to make her so unique. Well tonight we have a great example. As the girls were getting ready for bed Jennifer told Mia to put on her pajamas and clean underwear. Tonight Mia said she did not want to change her underwear. Well this was not an option, so Jennifer insisted that Mia do so. Jennifer started in a little bit with the “good hygiene” talk, but Mia interrupted and said, “If I have to put on new panties, I am going to put them on my head!”

So that is exactly what Mia did. She put on a nightshirt, new panties and also a new pair of panties on her head. For the rest of the night, Mia walked around with an underwear hat.

Perhaps it is not so unusual for a child to put underwear on their head, but Mia’s reasoning just seams a little unusual.

I guess that is what makes Mia, Mia. Of course I grabbed the camera so we could have a good memory, but other than that, life went on as usual. The girls had a little snack and relaxed watching a little tv before brushing their teeth and going to bead.

Of course Mia did not go right to sleep, but that is a different tale.

Party at Grant’s Farm

Over the past weekend Mia was invited to a birthday party at Grant’s Farm. The party was for her two very good friends, Hunter and Walker.

Hunter and Walker are twins, Hunter a girl and Walker a boy. Mia likes them so much that she often spells her own name M I A H W. For some reason Mia and Walker have really become good friends at school. I think they make very cute friends.

The party started with feeding camels,

then lunch and cake and ice cream,

and then time to walk around the park to feed goats,

and look at the rest of the animals.

All in all a wonderful day. You can view all the photos from the day as a Gallery or a Slideshow.