thespecialparent.comSpecial People Parenting Special Kids

I am something of a tv addict. One of the shows I love is Dancing with the Stars. Part of what draws me to it probably has something to do with the fact that for some reason my husband is willing to watch it with me. But I do get some satisfaction from watching people stretch outside their comfort zone because lets face it, most people do not have a comfort level with ballroom dancing.

Now we’ve had soap opera, movie and other tv actors and actresses, singers from 70’s music to country to R&B, olympic athletes, football players, comedians, broadway stars, race car drivers and on and on…..a truly diverse group of individuals. Differences aside, there is one thing they all had in common. They could hear the music.

This season Marlee Matlin, youngest woman to win an academy award in the best actress category and more recently seen on The West Wing, The L-Word, Nip/Tuck and Desperate Housewives is trying out her dancing shoes which is all the more amazing given the fact that Marlee is profoundly deaf. I watched last night in sheer astonishment and joy. Look at that girl dance!!! I am certain she feels the rhythm to some extent but she’s really at the mercy of her partner Fabian Sanchez. He must need to give her certain cues to make sure it comes together and there is no denying whatever they are doing is working.

This will be my example to Katherine of never saying “I can’t do that”. Sometimes Katherine is quick to say she doesn’t have the capability to do something.  I feel badly about it because maybe I’ve protected her too much. Yet I try with all my might to open her world to as many possibilities without telling her she can go to Harvard and be a neurosurgeon.

The point is this though. I doubt anyone told Marlee Matlin as a young girl that she could dance. Competition ballroom dancing just isn’t one of the things you typically do if you are profoundly deaf and yet – why the heck not??  I doubt anybody said “Oh honey absolutely you’ll be an academy award actress!”  What I love about Marlee Matlin most is that Marlee does what Marlee wants – not necessarily what she “should”.

What a great role model she is for her 4 children. What a great role model she can be for our children. Proof that if it’s something you want to do by all means you should try. I don’t know about you but it’s a good lesson for me too. Sometimes maybe out of a desire to protect my ‘baby’ (yea my 16 year old baby) I don’t allow Katherine to stretch as far as I should or she could. I think maybe I will be going out to get some dancing shoes. Thank you Ms. Matlin for allowing your actions to remind me of what Eunice Kennedy Shriver said at the first opening ceremony for the Special Olympics:

In ancient Rome, the gladiators went into the arena with these words on their lips: ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt…’

Let me too be brave in the attempt.

I received the below information and thought it might be of interest to some of you and felt it a good opportunity to pass it along. I know that a number of us have used signing or are using signing as a way to augment communication. Might be fun if you were nearby or willing to travel to have some of our kids featured on this video.

Signing Time Auditions!
Your child could appear in Signing Time! We are looking for children ages 3 and under. Signing ability is required. Children must be available for production in Salt Lake City, Utah for a three-day period between May 12 and May 26. If your child meets these requirements, follow the instructions below to submit their audition video.

Here’s How to Apply:
1. View the 8 signs that Rachel teaches at http://www.signingtime.com/audition. Film your child signing at least 4 of the 8 signs presented. Read audition tips.
2. Submit your video audition using one of the following methods:

• Post a video of your child signing on Google Video or YouTube (videos can be made private to protect your little one). Then, send an email to audition@signingtime.com with:
  • A link to your video
  • A recent photo of your child
  • Your child’s name, birth date, clothing size, and brief description of their sign language experience
  • Your name, phone number, city, state, and preferred email address
    • Follow the link: How to upload a video to GoogleVideo
    • Follow the link: How to upload a video to YouTube

OR Send a VHS or DVD of your child signing to:

Signing Time Audition
623 E Fort Union Blvd. Suite 201
Midvale, UT 84047
Include a letter with the following:

• Your child’s name, birth date, clothing size, and a brief description of their sign language experience

• A recent photo of your child

• Your name, phone number, city, state, and preferred email address (Videos will be viewed by personnel of Two Little Hands Productions only. They will not be released to any third party. Videos/DVDs will not be returned).

3. Videos must be received no later than March 25th, 2008 to be considered.
4. If your child is selected you will be contacted by a production assistant with detailed information on or before April 15th, 2008.
5. Most audition correspondence will be via email. Add audition@signingtime.com to your safe list to avoid it being marked as junk mail.
Audition Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

*IF YOUR CHILD DOES NOT MEET THIS CRITERIA, PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT AN AUDITION AT THIS TIME.

*ALL TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

*DIRECT ALL CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING AUDITIONS TO audition@signingtime.com. DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO AUDITION NOTICES, NO CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

…and a cup of coffee

Every Sunday I hope to offer you my version of the Sunday paper with articles from the past week or two, relevant or uplifitng (or both), on various issues within the special needs community.

Boo-Boo Helps Children in Unexpected Ways
A Putnam County NY teacher applies to have a therapy animal for her classroom with spectacular results

Parent Group Faces Tough Times
A parent group in Maine faces funding cuts from the state which may force this program that helps get special needs parents the help they need.

A Hidden Shame: Death in Georgia’s Mental Hospitals
Death of 14 year old Sarah Crider just one of 115 in the state’s care that might have lived if not for neglect

Woman Wins Round in Disability Case
A mother of a disabled son forced to resign as a legal secretary in 2005 after not being given the same flexibility as other staff with non-disabled children won the latest round in a legal battle that could bring new employment rights for millions in Britain.

Program Helps Special-Needs Students
Program in Salem, OR area address basic life skills and apartment-living needs for special students age 17 and older, including real life experience at independent living.

Vouchers Help GA Kids with Special Needs
A publicly funded scholarship program for special-needs children has almost 1000 students participating in it’s first year with parents calling for continued expansion of this program

Humane Society Seeks Home for Special-Needs Puppy
Kansas Humane society seeks experienced dog owner to nurture a special puppy “Silence” that is deaf and partially blind.

Their Rite of Passage
Boston area class gives special-needs students lessons on bar, bat mitzvahs.

I must confess, I’m holding my first ever Super Bowl Party. I’ve attended plenty of them, but never held one. First, because I can count on one hand how many times my team has been in the Super Bowl and secondly, since I’ve had Katherine that type of thing has just seemed like it would be too much for her to handle. I came up with a way to do it however which will make it reasonable for all involved.

We are only inviting 4 people and everybody is bringing something. I know it seems ridiculous that I’m calling that a party but it will be for me!! Not only will my beloved Giants be in the game but I get to watch it with Katherine!! I can still remember being with Auntie Joan teasing Katherine how to say TOUCHDOWN while watching the University of Michigan play in the Rose Bowl under Bo! Contrary to what you are thinking – I am not a huge sports fanatic or even a huge football fan but I do follow it. However, I grew up with two things – Star Trek and the Giants – and I will forever be loyal.

Even more exciting however is the Pepsi ad (yes I also happen to be a Pepsi girl living in the land of Coke) that will be airing during the Super Bowl. It’s by a group of Pepsi employees who are part of a group called EnAble which is dedicated to creating a more inclusive environment for people with different abilities. They have taken a joke described as a typical deaf joke (my step-sister says this is correct) and made a commercial about it. I laughed my proverbial A** off watching it. Proves no matter what the different ability we ALL have a great sense of humor.

While I was sent the link to it on YouTube I’ll give you the easier link into the Pepsi Site (just click here). Better yet, after you’ve viewed the commercial and the behind the scenes video click here and tell Pepsi thanks for showing people of different abilities in their ads and how we hope they will continue this trend and represent others of different abilities within their advertising.

No matter the outcome this will already be the best Super Bowl Ever!!!

And for those of you who are fans of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy you’ll understand it was numerically destined to be!!