Tag: Down syndrome

Blog #150~A&E’s Born This Way, an Exclusive Interview

A&E’s Emmy nominated series, Born This Way premieres its second season next Tuesday, 7/26/16 at 10pm/9pm (Central).  Born This Way features a cast of seven young adults with Down syndrome.  The show follows each cast member pursuing their real lives with passions, wants and needs the same as any other person their age. It will warm your heart, make you laugh and smile. They shine a wonderful light showing how awesome their lives are. And they’ve got serious swag…..

A&E’s Born This Way premieres, Tuesday July 26th at 10pm/ 9pm (Central)

Recently, I was approached by the marketing department to partnership with A&E to help bring awareness and promote this show.  My son, Nick is 22 years old and has Down syndrome as well as autism.  So, I was happy to jump at the chance to do so.  Today’s blog post is an exclusive interview with the mother of Sean, a featured cast member on the show.

Sean McElwee is 22 years old.  He’s a dashing young man, an excellent golfer and gifted athlete. Sean thrived in inclusion in primary school and survived exclusion in secondary school.  He attends community college and works at Home Depot. He is a self-professed ladies man, and has dance moves that own the floor.

Sean with his parents Rick and Sandra……

Let’s get to the interview with Sean’s Mom, Sandra Assimotos McElwee ….

Sandra Assimotos McElwee is an advocate for unborn babies with Down syndrome and created one of the first websites for parents with a prenatal diagnosis. She’s the author of three books,“Who’s the Slow Learner? A Chronicle of Inclusion and Exclusion”. McElwee contributed to the books, “Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Our Lives“,  and “You Will Dream New Dreams, Inspiring Personal Stories by Parents of Children with Disabilities.” Married over twenty-two years to Sean’s father, Rick, they enjoy traveling and participating in Sean’s sports activities.  A medical sales professional, McElwee’s most important job is being Sean’s mother.

Interview with Sandra McElwee, Sean’s mom:

1.     What advice do you have for parents with younger children and newborns that have Down syndrome?

—Enjoy your baby, don’t get caught up in the ‘what could be’ although I know it’s hard to not think about a future wedding when you have a baby. The dreams you may have, the dreams that you had that may have been dashed by the diagnosis –they will become new dreams and in my case dreams I could never have imagined in my wildest imagination! 

2.  During the age that Sean was in the public school system, what was the most difficult part of the IEP process for you?  Where you happy with the end result of schooling and his IEP.

—I’ve written a book about this—‘Who’s the Slow Learner? A Chronicle of Inclusion and Exclusion.’

Sean was an inclusion pioneer, the first student included with a disability in his elementary school. His inclusion was such a success by the 4^th grade the school became an inclusive school and there were no segregated classes and around 40 students with a variety of special needs fully included. The wheels fell off in secondary school. So no, I was not happy with the end result, but the first 7 years were text-book perfect.

The most difficult part of the IEP process was in high school when educators and administrators outright lied to me.  

3.  What advice would you give for new teachers and special education teachers who will be working with students that have Down syndrome?

–Please give your students opportunities. Allow them to express their interests and support them in pursuing their interests. Don’t assume just because someone can’t speak clearly that they don’t have something to say—listen to them. And do not expect a person with Down syndrome to have BETTER BEHAVIOR than the typical students.  

4.  What has been your biggest joy and accomplishment raising Sean?  What has been the toughest time and struggle?

–Seeing Sean grow into a confident, independent adult. The toughest struggles have been dealing with the prejudices of educators who limited his opportunities when he was in high school. 

5.  What would you like to share with the world about Sean, Down syndrome and being on Born This Way?

—I want the world to see that Sean and people with DS are more alike than different, they simply needs support and opportunities to show the world their capabilities. 

6.  As a mom of my son Nick, who is 22 years old and has Down syndrome; what are your biggest fears for your son now that he is an adult? 

—My biggest fears are that he will get his heart broken to the point of not wanting to try again…although he really has a lot of tenacity so like most fears, mine is probably unfounded.

I hope that Born This Way and this interview will enlighten and inspire parents, family, friends and educators who have been lucky enough to be touched by a child who has Down syndrome.  Be sure to set your DVR’s for A&E’s Born This Way.  Please share this blog and the additional social media links below.  That’s what is in my noggin this week!

~Teresa

Follow Nick:

 @Down Syndrome With A Slice Of Autism

#nickdsautism

@Down Syndrome With A Slice Of Autism

@tjunnerstall