“Exceeding Expectations”

Informant Information:

Jeanette has a son who has Down Syndrome. He is nineteen years old, and has been a member of the “My Own Voice” choir for a few years. “My Own Voice” is a choir for children with special needs in Andover, Massachusetts. 

Type of Lore: Not Applicable

Language: English

Country of Origin: United States of America

Social/Cultural Context: This story again is not folklore, but it is a kind of story that often has a shared sentiment among special needs families. These more personal stories are typically shared individually or with close friends of the family.

Informant Comments:

I have more than 19 years of stories!

The most recent that was especially heartwarming to me:

[His] 5th grade general education teacher had each of his students write a letter to her or his future self, the letter to be mailed to the students as they were preparing for high school graduation.  [He] received his letter last week.  In the letter, [He] spoke of friends who are still his friends today, and future plans.

I am happy to report that [his] closest friends from 5th grade are still his friends today.  Additionally, his circle of close friends has expanded.    The attached picture includes friends from 5th grade and newer friends, all of whom will likely be friends for life.

[His] goals included working in his best friend’s bookstore and becoming an artist.  His best friend has changed his goal from owning a bookstore to working in a library or bookstore, a vocation that is well-suited to his personality and skill sets.  [He] has taken art classes throughout middle school and high school, and in the fall he will be taking a drawing class (for credit) at MassBay Community College.  His artistic passion will serve him well as a pre-school teaching assistant or patient relations representative in a hospital pediatric unit.  I’m confident that both will be jobs yielding a competitive compensation package, including benefits.

When I found out in-utero that I my son had Down syndrome, I had 3 concerns:

•  Would he be healthy
•  Would he have friends?
•  What kind of future would he have?

I am happy to report that he is healthy, he has a close-knit circle of friends, and he has a bright and happy future doing things he is passionate about.  What else can any mother ask for her child?

Collector’s Comments: 

We found that similar to Story 2, this story relayed similar sentiments addressed in the Holland Poem. Families who have a special needs child often redefine their expectations for their children, and are then even more astounded by their accomplishments. Additionally, many people who find out that their child has special needs for the first time or is outside of the special needs community often do not hear these tales of triumph and achievement. We feel very fortunate to have been trusted with this submission.

Tags/Keywords: Special Needs, Children, Story, Leadership, Expectations