Archives for 2013

Meet 7 People With Down Syndrome Who Have Gotten Their Driver’s License!

Oct232013 by Rick Smith | Filed Under: Resources | 67 Comments

I’ll be honest, when Noah was born pretty everything I knew about Down Syndrome I learned by watching TV. I knew very little about what life was like for a person with Down syndrome, and had a lot of fears and questions about my child’s future. I wondered if he would play like typical kids. If he would smile and laugh like typical kids. If he would go to college like typical kids. And if he would ever be able to drive a car like typical kids.

As I’ve mentioned before most of my fears were never came true, and the fact is there are people with Down syndrome that can do all of the things mentioned above…including getting their drivers license and driving a car!

Down Syndrome And Driver’s Licenses

From time to time I’m asked questions like, “Can people with Down syndrome drive a car?” or “Can people with Down syndrome get their drivers license?” and since I’ve heard stories of people with Down syndrome driving, I’ll typically answer “Sure, they can!”

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Signing Update: Noah’s First Sign Language Sentence!

Oct222013 by Noah's Mom, MD | Filed Under: Therapy | 26 Comments

We’re a huge fan of teaching Noah baby sign language to help him communicate with us. We have been watching Baby Signing Time videos since he was about 9 months old. I was a skeptic at first but have continually been impressed by how signing has helped Noah have a voice and understand the things in his environment. In fact, I even wrote a post about how I went from being a skeptical mommy and pediatrician to a baby signing time believer!

Only 1 Year Old, And Already Making Sentences Using Sign Language!

It’s amazing to see our son, who is only 1 year old and born with Down syndrome, not just using sign language, but putting his sign words together to for sentences. Check out the video below to see for yourself!

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I Hate Petechia.

Oct192013 by Rick Smith | Filed Under: Parenting | 94 Comments

One of the biggest surprises after raising a child with Down syndrome these last (almost) three years is how little I actually think about Down syndrome. I’ve even written about how I often forget our son has Down syndrome. We’ve been blessed in that other than a few small heart issues, Noah’s been a pretty healthy little boy.

He’s doing well in school, meeting his milestones, and dancing all around our house likes a boss! Noah’s our first child, and for the last three years has been the only child in our house (although that’s about to change) so I don’t have another child to compare him to do. So being a parent of a child with Down syndrome is the only version of parenting I know. Raising a child with Down syndrome is my normal. And it’s all good.

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Noah’s First Time To Roll A Ball Back And Forth On The Floor…And The Laugh I Love!

Oct192013 by Rick Smith | Filed Under: Parenting | 10 Comments

In my last post I mentioned how much joy it brings me to see Noah doing things that typical children do. When we first learned Noah was born with Down syndrome I remember wondering if I’d ever get a chance to play with Noah the way I thought I would before I knew he had Down syndrome…if that makes sense. In fact that was one of several fears I had about rising a child with Down syndrome…that never came true.

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6 Reasons Why The Fisher Price Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Count and Color Gumball Machine Should Be In Your Child’s Toy Box!

Oct162013 by Rick Smith | Filed Under: Resources | 9 Comments

I’m always on the look out for fun toys that serve a dual purpose. I’m looking for toys that are fun and that help my child learn and develop. Whenever I find toys like this, I call that a toy win! And I’m sure as a parent you like hearing about toy wins, so sit back, relax, and let me tell you about this one. 🙂

A while back I came across the awesome Fisher Price Roll-a-Rounds Swirlin Surprise Gumballs machine (which also made our list of the best Fisher Price learning toys.) To be honest, I’m not sure where I first saw this toy, but I’m guessing it was at one of Noah’s many occupational therapy visits. (I seriously think we have bought this kid every toy we’ve ever seen any of this therapists use! Can any of you other parents relate to this?) 🙂

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