The month of March has always been a special month in my
family. My mom, grandmother, and several cousins celebrate their birthdays in
March. And, if you are lucky enough to live in Texas, you know that March is
Spring Break for students! However, it
wasn’t until my sister Simone was born that my family realized that the month
of March would be special for a very different reason. If you are not aware, the
month of March has the honor of being National Disability Awareness month and World Down Syndrome Day.
Thanks to social media like facebook, twitter and instagram, the word is out
and the level of accepting people for their “potential” rather than their “inability”
is rising. I couldn’t be happier.
This month I would like to challenge you to embrace others
differences. I promise that when you do, you will receive something more
valuable than an open mind. You will gain a compassionate heart, new
friendships that transcend prejudice, and you will fully understand what it
means to be authentically accepted just as you are!
May I ask just one more thing? Please consider donating your
resources (whether it’s financial or a few hours a month) to worthy
organizations like Special Olympics, Down Syndrome’s Buddy Walk, Autism Speaks,
or your local ARC chapter. They make it their mission to enhance the quality of
life and create opportunities for those with disabilities that otherwise would
not exist. It’s hard to believe that
some of the most basic human rights still have to be fought for.
I hope everyone had a great spring break and please check in
frequently for blogs about appearances and updates on my journey to the Miss
Texas International Pageant in April!
The Arc's national office participated in Lots Of Socks on March 21st, which is a fun way to raise awareness of World Down Syndrome Day!
