1/20
I said goodbye to my career almost a quarter century ago.
Today, I helped someone begin theirs.
Today, I helped someone begin theirs.
07:29 PM - May 31, 2023
2/20
Why give up a successful career when I was young and in the prime years of earning?
The simple answer is: life happened.
The simple answer is: life happened.
07:30 PM - May 31, 2023
3/20
My first child was born with Trisomy 21. Down syndrome is a triplicate of the 21st chromosome.
That extra chromosome can and often does affect everything in the lives of people with Down syndrome.
That extra chromosome can and often does affect everything in the lives of people with Down syndrome.
07:31 PM - May 31, 2023
4/20
My son was the first person I ever met with Down syndrome.
In those days, you were still advised to leave the raising of people with intellectual disabilities to an institution. Therefore, I never had the opportunity to meet anyone who looked like my son before he was born.
In those days, you were still advised to leave the raising of people with intellectual disabilities to an institution. Therefore, I never had the opportunity to meet anyone who looked like my son before he was born.
07:32 PM - May 31, 2023
5/20
When we were told he might have Down syndrome, we had to go to a library to look it up. (Pre-iPhone days)
The books weren’t pleasant. They were terrifying.
I decided it wasn’t the kind of literature I was interested in reading.
The books weren’t pleasant. They were terrifying.
I decided it wasn’t the kind of literature I was interested in reading.
07:33 PM - May 31, 2023
6/20
I can’t tell you what a great honour it’s been to parent my son.
All the best lessons in my life have come from him.
It hasn’t been a cakewalk. But it’s been an incredible adventure I’d embark upon again if I could.
All the best lessons in my life have come from him.
It hasn’t been a cakewalk. But it’s been an incredible adventure I’d embark upon again if I could.
07:34 PM - May 31, 2023
7/20
There has been illness. There has been struggle. There has been sadness.
Mostly, there has been joy. There has been laughter. There has been great kindness and great love.
Mostly, there has been joy. There has been laughter. There has been great kindness and great love.
07:34 PM - May 31, 2023
8/20
My son worked at a coop at a National pizza chain throughout his years at high school.
He had a wonderful community there and was offered the opportunity to continue in a paid position when he graduated.
He was so excited!
He had a wonderful community there and was offered the opportunity to continue in a paid position when he graduated.
He was so excited!
07:35 PM - May 31, 2023
9/20
Then came Covid.
All the people went home.
His managers lost their jobs.
He was 14 times more likely to die from Covid than a senior citizen.
He had to stay home.
His life went from very big to very small.
He was a trooper, though.
All the people went home.
His managers lost their jobs.
He was 14 times more likely to die from Covid than a senior citizen.
He had to stay home.
His life went from very big to very small.
He was a trooper, though.
07:35 PM - May 31, 2023
10/20
Slowly, a new approach to being in the world took hold.
He learned to wear a mask.
He learned to be conscious of keeping healthy.
He blew us away with his ability to just manage it all.
Always with a smile.
He learned to wear a mask.
He learned to be conscious of keeping healthy.
He blew us away with his ability to just manage it all.
Always with a smile.
07:36 PM - May 31, 2023
11/20
Every day he asked to go to work.
Every day I broke his heart.
To be clear: companies aren’t banging on the door, eager to hire people with any sort of disability, let alone one that is visible and affects your intellect.
Every day I broke his heart.
To be clear: companies aren’t banging on the door, eager to hire people with any sort of disability, let alone one that is visible and affects your intellect.
07:37 PM - May 31, 2023
12/20
I promised we’d find a job.
I was prepared to help deliver pizzas so he could feel he had purpose.
This is a young man who has a large community of typically developing friends.
They all have jobs.
I was prepared to help deliver pizzas so he could feel he had purpose.
This is a young man who has a large community of typically developing friends.
They all have jobs.
07:37 PM - May 31, 2023
13/20
One day I saw an ad for a small contract position with a company that provides pharmacy and physician education via posters in pharmacies and medical offices.
The position was for someone to change out the educational material at a specific time each quarter.
The position was for someone to change out the educational material at a specific time each quarter.
07:38 PM - May 31, 2023
14/20
I took a chance and applied for my son, along with a covering letter explaining who he is, and that I would be with him as his job coach and driver.
I was prepared to not hear back.
I was prepared to not hear back.
07:38 PM - May 31, 2023
15/20
Some might say I’m persistent.
I learned that from my son.
I could never convey the amount of persistence he’s had to have to do literally anything.
Walk, talk, eat…you name it. Everything was difficult.
So I was prepared to be persistent.
I learned that from my son.
I could never convey the amount of persistence he’s had to have to do literally anything.
Walk, talk, eat…you name it. Everything was difficult.
So I was prepared to be persistent.
07:39 PM - May 31, 2023
16/20
An hour after I applied for the job, I received a call from the hiring manager.
He was extremely happy I had reached out.
He had an uncle with Down syndrome.
He offered my son the job on the spot.
He had already spoken with the president and checked my experience.
He was extremely happy I had reached out.
He had an uncle with Down syndrome.
He offered my son the job on the spot.
He had already spoken with the president and checked my experience.
07:40 PM - May 31, 2023
17/20
You could have knocked me over with a feather.
My son has his first paying job.
He attended his first Zoom meeting, where the president welcomed him (& I) to the company.
He has a briefcase (which he is extremely proud of!).
My son has his first paying job.
He attended his first Zoom meeting, where the president welcomed him (& I) to the company.
He has a briefcase (which he is extremely proud of!).
07:40 PM - May 31, 2023
18/20
Today, we went to work for the first time.
It was awesome.
He was brilliant.
I was proud and excited.
The accounts we went to were all a little surprised at first, but very kind and welcoming.
He loved it.
And so did I.
It was awesome.
He was brilliant.
I was proud and excited.
The accounts we went to were all a little surprised at first, but very kind and welcoming.
He loved it.
And so did I.
07:41 PM - May 31, 2023
19/20
I gave up my career almost a quarter century ago.
I’ve missed it every day.
Today, I was reminded of how lucky I am to have been able to give up my career to parent a really cool guy.
Today I got to help him begin his career.
What an adventure!
Embrace the adventures.
Love,
April 💛
I’ve missed it every day.
Today, I was reminded of how lucky I am to have been able to give up my career to parent a really cool guy.
Today I got to help him begin his career.
What an adventure!
Embrace the adventures.
Love,
April 💛
07:43 PM - May 31, 2023
20/20
07:43 PM - May 31, 2023
