The intellectual disability I have is a rare medical condition called Cat Eye Syndrome. I have been very tough and brave and have gotten through 25 surgeries. My biggest dream came true I have a friend from the Netherlands who has Cat Eye Syndrome just like me. My Dad posted something on his Facebook page saying that I wanted to meet someone who has the same condition as me. My friend Jorick lives many miles apart but we stay connected together through social media. I never thought that there was anyone out there with Cat Eye Syndrome just like me.
I just graduated in June from Nashoba Regional High School. I am now in a transitions program where I have been going to different job sites and learning lots of new job skills. My favorite job sites are I am a assistant gym teacher at an elementary school. I help out with gym classes. I also like helping out at Bose Kitchen where I do food prep. Next I also help out at Unified Health and Performance a gym for people with all abilities. There I do inventory and stocking on drinks , snack bars I also count the money.
Besides being involved in Massachusetts Special Olympics I am involved in Best Buddies. This is my buddy Josie we enjoy hanging out together and doing fun things. I got the honor to be the treasurer of my school’s chapter this year. I am the first student with an intellectual disability to have this role. I am very proud to be taking on this role.
I also love public speaking for Special Olympics and Best Buddies. I actually just recently shared my story about why I am involved in Special Olympics and what Inclusion means to me. I spoke at a holiday reception dinner in Boston at the SeaPort Hotel. This picture is of me and my friends Betame and Nick we were all speaking at the Best Buddies Friendship walk.
JANUARY 2019 -INCLUSION HEROS
This is one of my inclusion heroes Betame Debono. I have been friends with him since I was a Sophomore in high school.
Last year Betame got me more involved in Special Olympics more than just an athlete. He got me involved in the Youth Activation Council group. We are Unified partners together in the group. He also got me interested in being a Massachusetts Special Olympics Youth Ambassador. So I filled out an application in the fall. Then in November I got selected to be a youth ambassador out of many other different people. Only 2 people in each state get picked.
This past summer we went on our first big trip together. Both of us and our friend we are all Best Buddies Officers for our school. I am the treasurer and Betame is the Vice President and Josie Day is the President. We all got the privilege to attend the Best Buddies leadership conference out in Bloomington, Indiana. The conference was at Indiana University. We met lots of new friends from all over the world. I learned lots of new things and got to learn more about Best Buddies.
This summer we became even closer friends together. On the last day of summer we got the privilege to attend the Official Massachusetts Special Olympics Boston Bruins partnership event.
As part of the big partnership with the Boston Bruins. We got the opportunity to attend the home opener. It was really cool, we had seats up in a sweet.
We were both interviewed before the game about what we thought of the new partnership.
We both participate on the Unified Track team at our school. We ran the 4x400 relay together last year.
We are both very involved in our school’s Best Buddies chapter. We loving speaking and sharing our stories together about Inclusion in both Special Olympics and Best Buddies . I am sad that Betame is graduating from high school this year. I am going to miss him a lot but I know he will do great things in the future. Betame has taught me to not be afraid to try new things.
This is my other inclusion hero Brendan Aylward. I have known Brendan for many years. I have learned a lot of cool things from him. He is a very encouraging person as a coach. He pushes me to try my best and to get better as an athlete. He also owns a gym Unified Health and Performance. I love going to his gym. It is a place where people with all abilities can go and workout and have fun and just be themselves.
Brendan has been my basketball coach for my team the Central Mass Spartans since sixth grade. Me and my team have won lots of gold medals at the winter games tournament in March.
My favorite game Brendan has been doing for 5 years now is the Play For Will charity basketball game. For a student who was sadly killed in a car crash a couple years ago. We play Spartans against the teachers. Every year we always crush the teachers. But it’s all for a good cause.
I am excited to see what the future holds for me in sports. Brendan has taught me to not give up. Don’t worry about the score. Always try your best and have fun.
August learns in Mr Browne’s English class on the first day of School that that they will be coming up with their own precept every month until the end of the school year. The precept that his teacher came up with for the first month of school was when given the choice between being right or being kind CHOOSE KIND.
August and his friend Jack are partners for the annual 5th grade science fair project. They made a Spud lamp for their project. They got an A for their project. August was very proud to get an A. Even though he maybe different from everyone else in his grade he is still smart. August favorite subject is science.
At the 5th grade graduation ceremony August receives the Henry Ward Beecher Medal. He was given this special award because throughout the school year he has shown lots of kindness to everyone in the school. This was just his first year of being in a public school. He had the courage to try something new. Just because August has lots of differences from his peers he is still an amazing kind person.
Austin has had 50 surgeries already . Elena has had 24 surgeries already . During the time Elena and Austin together they fly to Craig Colorado to meet with Austin’s plastic surgeon who is going to be doing his jaw surgery soon. Elena goes with him because he is really nervous and Elena has gone through this surgery before.
MARCH 2019 - RESPECT
My school’s Best Buddies chapter is celebrating Spread The Word To End The Word by we are all designing our own puzzle pieces. After the puzzle pieces are done we are going to be creating one big puzzle. Then we are putting it up on our Best Buddies bulletin board so everyone can see it.
My whole school signs the banner so it will get students to understand why the R word shouldn’t be said.
We have also made sweatshirts with sayings on the back to make students more aware of what Best Buddies is. On the official day of Spread The Word To End The Word we encourage anyone that is in our best buddies chapter to wear any Best Buddies apparel that they have. It is a way to show inclusion in our school.
In 2015 when I was a freshman in high school we made a YouTube video to recognize the month of respect. We had each student in the special education program that is part of our best Buddies chapter hold up a sign that said I am... Then they would fill in the blank with something that we’re like I did (I am .... athletic) We also had some students explain why the R word should never be said NO MATTER WHAT. Nobody should ever say the word.
These are some of my favorite songs that show inclusion.
This video shows MattyB doing a music video with his younger sister Sarah Grace who has Down Syndrome it shows differences and how everyone should be included.
MattyBRaps little sister has been a big inspiration to him and he try’s to include her in many of his videos
This was the first music video that his sister was in.
Ways artists can choose to include are having people with intellectual disabilities in their music videos.
There has been many major events and movements throughout history. These are some that have really sticked out to me.
The Philadelphia Eagles are the first NFL stadium in history to open a Autism sensory room for kids with autism and their families. It is a way for families to be able to come to a game and get to experience going to see the Eagles play.
The NBA Store is the worlds first sensory inclusive retail store in history. The NBA and KultureCity have teamed up with the NBA Store more accommodating and accessible to guests with sensory sensitives. The store will offer bags with noise cancelling headphones, fidget spinners , weighted lap bands and more to families and individuals who may need them. Also all NBA Store employees have gone through in person and online certified training, led by KultureCity, to learn how to better interact , communicate and help those guests that may need assistance during their shopping experience.
Hopefully there are more stores and stadiums that do things for people with intellectual disabilities
SEPTEMBER 2019 - BACK TO SCHOOL
Some inclusive things that my school does is we have Unified Classes for students with and without intellectual disabilities.
I have hearing loss so hearing aids help me hear better.
This is probably the best technology that can make for people with hearing loss.
DECEMBER 2019 ADVICE TO CLASS 2
JANUARY 2020 - INCLUSION HEROES ROUND 2
All artists should promote inclusion in their work. Also include people with intellectual disabilities to come and create art.
March 2020 - Courage
April 2020 - Fitness
To exercise I play a lot of Special Olympics sports I do soccer in the fall, unified basketball for school and then I also play basketball in the spring I do Unified Track and Field for school, I also play Challenger Little League baseball. Besides playing lots of sports I like going to the gym and working out. I also enjoy riding my bike and scooter.
May 2020 - Community
June 2020 - Summer Fun ||
Something that I have learned from Special Olympics that help me try new things Is the Let me Win, Let me be brave in the attempt The Special Olympics Athletes oath it has taught me to always try new things!
July 2020 - Superheroes
August 2020 - Justice
Credits:
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