tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90202427199729666322024-03-14T00:52:42.724-04:00The ups and downs of raising 4 amazing kidsSherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.comBlogger319125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-17842426930655051072013-04-25T13:35:00.000-04:002013-04-25T22:08:38.343-04:00Planning for grade 3 - IPRC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday I attended an IPRC meeting for my daughter it was an opportunity for me to discuss my daughters needs & strengths. It is also an opportunity for me to make sure everything is in place for the following school year. I felt like a broken record reviewing my daughters needs again and again as we had many school meetings over the last few months due to a few challanges we faced this year. </div><br />
Next year I've reluctantly agreed to my daughter attending a special education classroom at her home school for children with developmental delay. I truly hope this is going to be an ideal situtaion for her. She will have a teacher that is dedicated to working with kids with signifigant chanellges. I hope this teacher and support staff will see my daughter like any other child as a communicator and a learner and set high expectations for her. I know she needs the extra support this classroom can offer her but I don't want her to be treated like a baby. She's 8 and needs to be enouraged to be as indepentant as possible. <br />
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I found it troubling reading through some of the Ministry of Education Categories and Definitions. My daughters IPRC states that my daughter has a developmental disability which is defined as "a severe learning disorder". Yes I see that and I get that but it is hard to swallow and accept. I see how far she has come and I have so much hope that she will learn to read and communicate effectively in the future. <br />
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The definition goes on to state:<br />
a) an inability to profit from a special education program for students with mild intellectual disbabilites because of slow intellectual development. <br />
b)an ability to profit from a special education program that is designed to accomadate slow intellectual develeopment;<br />
This is the part that really bothers me is this really NESSCESSAY?<br />
c) a limited potential for academic learning, independent social adjustment and economic self-support. <br />
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OUCH I find that last part very hard to read, accept and feel that last statement is just so negative it hurts this Mom to the core. I worry it sends such a negative message to parents, teachers and support staff about my daughter and all kids in this category that they can't learn, socialize or be indepentant. I feel these statements leaves little room for optimism about my daughter's future. I am always overly optimistic, my glass is always half full, the sun will always come out tomorrow. For my daughter I always knew she would be a walker, and I love that she is a gymnast and a soccer player. I just knew she won't need to carry that oxygen tank into the classroom with her. I was ever hopeful she would learn to eat one day. All these things she accomplished they were big deals. She can crawl, sit on a typical chair to enjoy a meal or a show. Feed herself a meal using her utensils. I continue to hope that one day she will be a better communicator and a reader. I'm certain her future will be meanful and serve a purpose yes she will likely need support in whatever she does but it still be purposeful and meaningful. Not only to Ashley but too many people that she will meet. <br />
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I was told that kids with severe learning disabilities can learn to read they just have to work at it a lot more then typical learners. Which means picking up and reading a lot more books. Ashley and I read many leveled readers each day she enjoys this time with me and loves books. I can not tell you if one day she will be a reader. But I can tell you that I will only fail her if I don't try to teach her. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmHB46Y-Uo0/TbSLNtrz8fI/AAAAAAAACB8/FrDH7HaaAnU/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmHB46Y-Uo0/TbSLNtrz8fI/AAAAAAAACB8/FrDH7HaaAnU/s320/IMG_4281.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just believe in my girl and all that she can do. </span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">So I'm just going to continue to think positively about the upcomming school year. I would love the ministry to consider the messages they are sending parents, teachers and our kids. </span></em></div><br />
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Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-61796736279287854272013-03-18T13:51:00.000-04:002013-03-18T14:35:45.280-04:00Ashley enjoying winter the Koolway!It has been a long and snowy Canadian winter. Ashley is always itching to get outside despite the weather. She is glued to the backdoor if Daddy is outback cooking on the barbeque. I hate to tell her it's too cold get out there. Now Ashley is sporting this <a href="http://www.koolwaysports.com/" target="_blank">Koolway Sports</a> custom made snowsuit. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-imvrAE1EBhA/UUdGFE66BpI/AAAAAAAACXs/TOzKCSbZECw/s1600/IMG_7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-imvrAE1EBhA/UUdGFE66BpI/AAAAAAAACXs/TOzKCSbZECw/s640/IMG_7467.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Ashley's <a href="http://www.koolwaysports.com/" target="_blank">Koolsuit</a> is purple and hot pink. Koolways snowuits are custom made in Canada and come in many colours. The best thing is the warmth Ashley legs are now nice and warm while on the ice or being pulled in a sled. For someone on a slegde or in a chair it is very easy to get cold since your not moving around. We used to put on snow pants and blankets on her legs but the blanket would fall off. Her Koolway leg blanket zips to the Koolway Jacket, plus both the jacket and leg blanket was made for extra warmth and stays put. <br />
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Koolway generously custom made Ashley this suit in-cordination with <a href="http://threetobe.org/">ThreeToBe.org</a> PAL site. Ashley is one very lucky girl! <br />
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I can now quickly get her dressed and we are off and enjoying this never ending winter. She has been skating three times since getting her Koolwaysuit just over two weeks ago. She is living life the Koolway! Ashley and I both say Thank you Koolway Sports!! <br />
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Also exciting news... <br />
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Ashley is starring in a video called "The Climb" and two photos "Walking on Sunshine" and Let's Play at this years <a href="http://filmpossible.ca/browse/entries/cid:7815" target="_blank">Filmpossible 2013</a> compeition. <br />
If you have time it just takes a second to vote. Jump over to Filmpossible to view and vote on all the amzing entires that are bringing visibility to disability. All entries are submitted by people who believe in a world of possibility. <br />
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Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-62074973111986414512012-12-02T16:10:00.000-05:002012-12-02T16:10:35.149-05:00Cautionary Tale with regards to Your Child’s Personal Care<strong><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I learned the hard way that even though you’re at a great
school with highly caring and supportive staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Important things in your child’s educational program can get overlooked
and even forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At my daughter’s initial
commencement at school, she had a successful toileting program which was
started upon her first the day of Junior Kindergarten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was taken to the toilet twice a day and managed
to stay dry most days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same procedure
was followed in senior kindergarten and again in grade one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually in grade one she would be taken on
schedule but also whenever she requested using a tech talk (speech output
device).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her Educational Assistant (EA) was
very keen on teaching her the speech device and took her whenever she
asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved how keen they were to
help her with speech and toileting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Grade 2 started this past fall, I was pleased to hear
that she had the same teacher, but once again she had a new EA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At my daughter’s school board there is no
consistency year after year as EAs are relocated to other schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very focused on my daughter’s education
plan for the year and spent much time talking to the teachers about how we
would help Ashley to learn to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
refined and came up with a great educational program in many areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When your child needs
multiple accommodations, it is inevitable that there are many things to
communicate each day and in school meetings with the teachers. Unfortunately I recently
made the big mistake of not enquiring about toileting at all before two months had
passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I received feedback that Ashley
was not that happy at school and didn’t want to walk. I didn’t understand why
that would be so. Then three weeks ago, I learned at our Single Plan of Care Meeting
that toileting wasn’t happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one
talked about toileting and unfortunately no toileting was taking place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found this to be grossly upsetting and I thought
it must be addressed immediately. Unfortunately not everyone was comfortable
with the process and it took close to two weeks to address this very basic
human need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This need was included on
her IPRC statement and was discussed briefly with the staff in the days before
school started. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I learned from all this, that it <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is very important for parents of non-verbal
kids to speak up and ask many questions, even inquiries that may seem somewhat
naive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important to continuously be
hands-on, show the staff that they must work with your children to assist them
in learning how to communicate, how to feed their self, toilet and walk in the
most independent manner. No one cares about this more than Mom or Dad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that this
also happened to a close friend’s daughter recently to her child is also
non-verbal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just today someone told me
this kind of communication breakdown, oversight, misunderstanding or just plain
lack of training happens to vulnerable kids all the time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I feel I played as much a part of this, as the school did,
for not focusing on those skills for which she was reasonably competent and was
just part of her basic care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel bad
this happened to my daughter and I hope the school will allow me to take a more
active role in her care at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Ashley
has a 3 year old brother, it’s hard to find the time to be at school. However, it
is something I will be making time for in the next few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also plan to spend much more time at school
with Ashley in the first few weeks of a school year to ensure everyone is
comfortable with assisting her with walking, toileting, communicating and
feeding my child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that no one
intended for this to happen, however it’s sad to me that I learned this kind of
oversight happens to children like my daughter all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For other special needs parents I’d love to
know if this sort of thing ever happened to your child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did you find out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of questions do you ask in your child’s
communication book to make sure that everything necessary is happening each and
every day? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-1969099993923332002012-10-10T23:38:00.000-04:002012-10-12T09:34:50.118-04:00Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our thanksgiving 2012 </div>
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Ashley is really into eating lately!<br />
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My Mom and Dad made dinner it was yummy.<br />
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We even closed the cottage up for the year this past weekend. This summer we painted almost everything all the wood panelling, windows and trim indoors and out. We even had the cottage leveled and put on a new roof. It was a lot of work but we had fun fixing it up and are looking forward to laying down a new floor in the spring. <br />
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<br />Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-30755073111333377982012-04-03T11:33:00.000-04:002012-04-03T11:33:29.064-04:00Look who is 7! - Party Video<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
March flew by and birthday season is in full swing at our house. Ashley turned 7 last week and I'm amazed at all the progress she has made she's really moving about. She is crawling just a little, she enjoys balancing on high knees and trying to stand up it's fabulous progress. She's also using her spoon to feed herself a few bites. She really enjoys her days in grade one too. I will follow up with a blog post on all her progress later this week. This weekend we threw Ashley a rainbow gymnastics party at Gymalaya. What a fabulous place to have a party. She enjoyed her birthday there last year too and perhaps we will do it again next year. A big <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">thank you</span> to all of Ashley friends and family that came to make this day so special. </div>
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Ashley's smile the entire day!<br />
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Fun Brothers taking after Grampy.<br />
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Rainbow treats - home made by Mom!<br />
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Now I have to plan something just as fun for Damon who will be double digits next week closely followed by Taylor 3rd birthday in 2 weeks. </div>
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<a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.ca/2011/04/birthday-party-video.html">Here's a link to last years 6th birthday video also celebrated at Gymalaya</a>. I did a better job with the video last year. I need to another photographer besides myself at the party. </div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-1023314371345342482012-02-17T12:45:00.002-05:002012-02-17T19:46:37.875-05:00Ice Skating - So nice to be included!!This morning I accompanied Ashley on a winter outing with her grade one class she went<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Ice Skating</span></i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">. </span> It felt wonderful to be there with her on the ice. I recall when she was just two sending her older brother off to skate with his grade one class feeling sad that Ashley may have to miss out on such fun. <br />
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Five years later and my outlook is so different. I really see many doors opening for Ashley as long as we plan there is always a way to participate. Ashley's wonderful grade one teacher and school therapist arranged for a sledge and Ashley was on the ice and enjoyed herself so much. Her friends were happy to see her there and a few asked why she wasn't on skates. That would be something I'd love to see one day too and I think is possible perhaps a seated walker and some skates. I love how the other kids see her doing it all. Go Ashley Go!!!!<br />
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<br />Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-38293488534613717142011-12-16T07:19:00.001-05:002011-12-16T07:19:14.670-05:00I wish...<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Ashley's wish for Christmas.</span></i> <br />
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Ashley gets to speak at last nights holiday concert priceless and an early Christmas present for me.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33776182?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="625"></iframe><br />
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This Christmas I'm so thankful for Ashley's amazing grade one teachers. They go above and beyond each day to ensure Ashley is thriving at school and always included.Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-70633990110709297502011-11-23T11:26:00.001-05:002011-11-24T10:10:18.517-05:00Santa Clause Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>We headed downtown to see the Toronto Santa Clause parade last weekend. It was so much fun!!! </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Yummy Turtles! Can't wait to enjoy some of these over the holidays.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jMC4TbzdweM/Ts0ji3jqkCI/AAAAAAAACN0/js3XPiBPFxY/s1600/IMG_5663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jMC4TbzdweM/Ts0ji3jqkCI/AAAAAAAACN0/js3XPiBPFxY/s320/IMG_5663.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hasbro's Mr Monopoly and My Little Pony</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RnzNc77sL3c/Ts0X_jOvIeI/AAAAAAAACL0/H4owioUaocQ/s1600/DSC02656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RnzNc77sL3c/Ts0X_jOvIeI/AAAAAAAACL0/H4owioUaocQ/s400/DSC02656.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Someone named <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">Ashley</span> was so excited when she saw this float coming!!</i></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lC5ut6R9dko/Ts0YJKoKdxI/AAAAAAAACL8/6zPE1bEY4x0/s1600/DSC02665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lC5ut6R9dko/Ts0YJKoKdxI/AAAAAAAACL8/6zPE1bEY4x0/s320/DSC02665.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You can tell she's a Princess! </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>She doesn't need a crown. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>She'll turn the world around. </i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XqnvcMHWhmI/Ts0YSlzM8zI/AAAAAAAACME/CnUPOJG4zl4/s1600/DSC02666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XqnvcMHWhmI/Ts0YSlzM8zI/AAAAAAAACME/CnUPOJG4zl4/s640/DSC02666.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You can see it in her smile! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and the way she wears her hair. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpFsIqPfW4w/Ts0YbhRzibI/AAAAAAAACMM/tlF4Hbk6gvI/s1600/DSC02670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpFsIqPfW4w/Ts0YbhRzibI/AAAAAAAACMM/tlF4Hbk6gvI/s640/DSC02670.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The look on Ashley face when she saw the Barbie float above was priceless and worth the trek downtown and the long drive home. She's hoping for a copy of Princess Charm school and Barbie Blair from Santa Clause! Santa can you add that to your list please? She's been a really good girl this year. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ2f1q2vLR0/Ts0Yj-2C_GI/AAAAAAAACMU/kB3DZUnCVkc/s1600/DSC02674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zZ2f1q2vLR0/Ts0Yj-2C_GI/AAAAAAAACMU/kB3DZUnCVkc/s320/DSC02674.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc5GpkezjdQ/Ts0YqBU2OaI/AAAAAAAACMc/vnlb3X0psqs/s1600/IMG_5577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lc5GpkezjdQ/Ts0YqBU2OaI/AAAAAAAACMc/vnlb3X0psqs/s320/IMG_5577.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Tvt1rE0a14/Ts0Yup10YoI/AAAAAAAACMk/FYH39LjsFbU/s1600/IMG_5588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Tvt1rE0a14/Ts0Yup10YoI/AAAAAAAACMk/FYH39LjsFbU/s640/IMG_5588.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Kung Fu Panda was a hit! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2tJFx8KgtI/Ts0YxYGhdzI/AAAAAAAACMs/MKMzgyj8vUc/s1600/IMG_5594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B2tJFx8KgtI/Ts0YxYGhdzI/AAAAAAAACMs/MKMzgyj8vUc/s320/IMG_5594.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Super Mario came over and gave Taylor a high five!! He enjoyed that as he is a lover of Wii</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj7ATjSG0WY/Ts0Y3fKqh3I/AAAAAAAACM0/rQZmCoNoc_o/s1600/IMG_5599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bj7ATjSG0WY/Ts0Y3fKqh3I/AAAAAAAACM0/rQZmCoNoc_o/s640/IMG_5599.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Look how much he enjoyed Super Mario.</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jM0eik7mZXU/Ts0je3ui6eI/AAAAAAAACNs/2VNw3pVHu9U/s1600/DSC02716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jM0eik7mZXU/Ts0je3ui6eI/AAAAAAAACNs/2VNw3pVHu9U/s640/DSC02716.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everybody enjoyed the Lego float!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8yxwmAyM7w/Ts0Y-wL7e2I/AAAAAAAACNE/1mEq_MMvs8o/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8yxwmAyM7w/Ts0Y-wL7e2I/AAAAAAAACNE/1mEq_MMvs8o/s640/IMG_5638.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Kermit and the muppets too!</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ov88S7HJE/Ts0ZDqBtSfI/AAAAAAAACNM/GL9m53q7jag/s1600/IMG_5653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_ov88S7HJE/Ts0ZDqBtSfI/AAAAAAAACNM/GL9m53q7jag/s640/IMG_5653.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you see <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">Mrs Clause</span></span> you now Santa is just around the corner!!!! </span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The man of the hour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b> Santa </b></span>himself!!! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMAIT8jiCUo/Ts0ZQ-zfq1I/AAAAAAAACNk/eXoJgLHUeQY/s1600/IMG_5733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMAIT8jiCUo/Ts0ZQ-zfq1I/AAAAAAAACNk/eXoJgLHUeQY/s640/IMG_5733.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I feel like it's time to start decorating and shopping. Tell me have you started? </i></span>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-5021573134983624952011-11-18T13:06:00.001-05:002011-11-19T15:28:41.562-05:00Ashley 6 years old, a public speaker and self advocate!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Quest 2011</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was such a privilege this week for Ashley and I to share her road to inclusion story, at an international conference for educators called <a href="http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=ITQ000015">"The Quest" </a>hosted by York Region Public School Board.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was emotional delivering this speech as this was truly a tribute to Ashley's entire team of teachers, aids, and therapists and only with them working together and believing in my little girl is this such a success story. There was a 1000+ educators in the room they gave us quite the audience. Public speaking was new to both Ashley and I but we were both very passionate about our message. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ashley's road to inclusion. A road I hope many other kids will travel.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qg73Kvt3xOU/TsaJKGiFIbI/AAAAAAAACKU/5SYZrsNr4Z8/s1600/IMG_5538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qg73Kvt3xOU/TsaJKGiFIbI/AAAAAAAACKU/5SYZrsNr4Z8/s400/IMG_5538.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Myself and Ashley getting ready to speak!! We were all so excited!</td></tr>
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<pre style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDEdneq3ovk/TsaK2hOp42I/AAAAAAAACLM/aCTC_EV7ixM/s1600/Ashley+No+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vDEdneq3ovk/TsaK2hOp42I/AAAAAAAACLM/aCTC_EV7ixM/s320/Ashley+No+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My words;</i></span></pre>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><pre style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>My daughter you're so amazing.</i></span></pre>
You were born into a storm. Coming into this world, so tiny, and yet instantly fighting for your life.
I hope this world can see how wonderful you are.
</i></span></pre>
<pre style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Your life started in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for months followed by daily therapy to learn to do what comes so easy to most, walking, communicating, eating and even holding a toy.
Instead of playmates you had dedicated nurses and therapists. Instead of walks in the park and rides in a stroller you went to therapy, doctor visits and experienced long hospital stays</i></span></pre>
<pre style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">
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<pre style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">Ashley speaks - </i></span></pre>
<pre style="font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0;">
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<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I just want to run and play. </span></i></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have something to say.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></i></pre>
<pre style="color: #2a2a2a; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">
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<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Then I continue to share...</i></span></pre>
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<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>When Ashley entered Mrs. Gambino’s kindergarten class, she had her challenges but was welcomed by her teacher just the same as her classmates.</i></span></pre>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6kl5wvh-mUM/SuIEMxmqSxI/AAAAAAAAA6s/iB5tFvn9C8Y/s1600/DSC04172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6kl5wvh-mUM/SuIEMxmqSxI/AAAAAAAAA6s/iB5tFvn9C8Y/s320/DSC04172.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">September Junior Kindergarten</td></tr>
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<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ashley’s speech therapist Mrs. Visconti brought her augmentative communication devices. She gave Ashley a voice for the first time!
</i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And if that wasn't great enough that she now has a voice! </i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Mrs. Visconti also worked with </i></span></pre>
<pre style="line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: normal;"><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashley's teachers on appropriate IEP goals that were measurable and attainable. She helped Ashley's teachers find the appropriate curriculum even beyond communication but for language and math. </i>
<i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Ashley has a fabulous IEP! Ashley's teachers and Aids were excited with this guidance and modified teaching methods they followed thru and worked hard with Ashley each day. Ashley was able to make progress with all this support and has had her IEP expanded. This team work is the KEY to successful inclusion. </i></pre>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WqCDgmDTnm0/TOLn7JTpooI/AAAAAAAAB6o/oC00l3SBtVc/s1600/IMG_3276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WqCDgmDTnm0/TOLn7JTpooI/AAAAAAAAB6o/oC00l3SBtVc/s320/IMG_3276.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dream team meeting!!!</td></tr>
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Her classmates connected when Ashley was able to comment and ask them questions.
Ashley was embraced by neighbourhood friends and blossomed through the encouragement of her teachers and classmates.
Seeing Ashley doing so well in kindergarten, her father and I decided NO special classes, NO limits, No labels! She like her brothers has so much potential and the sky is the limit.
We feel it’s important that she learn how to interact with the real world and not be sheltered. Most importantly we want her to believe in herself, and all of her abilities!
Ashley needs to be surrounded by able-bodied peers and this is hard to provide in a separated special education classroom. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>We feel she will do best if she exposed to typical classroom environment where her peers can be her friends and role models.</i></span></pre>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Inclusion in education for Ashley is the beginning of inclusion for the rest of her life. Just as we all want to belong, Ashley wants to belong and Ashley wants to be included. </span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNvLg7xGpUo/TMjmnn1fIJI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/X1R1MFRTscU/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNvLg7xGpUo/TMjmnn1fIJI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/X1R1MFRTscU/s320/IMG_3051.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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I don’t want the school to focus on guarding and protecting her. I want the school to focus on giving her lots of chances and choices.
They have assisted her to walk daily and in response, she led her entire class into kindergarten graduation with her walker.
She was given a simple step-by-step communication device and is now learning to use an iPad with even more options to communicate.
Ashley has been given the opportunity to stay for grade one, and we are so appreciative of the incredible support she has received in Ms. Bloom’s class.
We hope to see Ashley’s at this year’s primary skate days and were excited when Janice Lee the school’s physiotherapist suggested of course Ashley could skate with a sledge.</i></span></pre>
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Who would have thought when Ashley was born that she would be up here giving a speech to all of you. Ashley loves music and I’m sure would be thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in primary choir. I don’t see anything as impossible for my little girl as long teachers and support staff, are open minded and welcoming Ashley can do anything!
I’m confident Ashley will be successful at her home school for all of her elementary years.
I look forward to seeing how OUR family, OUR resource teams and OUR school will continue to collaborate.
With careful planning and resource management Ashley will benefit with greater access to the full curriculum throughout elementary school and even high school.
How will YOU help me to make this happen?</i></span></pre>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Ashley's closing words; </i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I love being in Ms. Bloom’s class.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I love books. I really want to learn to read. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I enjoy going to birthday parties and playing with my friends in the yard at recess. </i></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I just want to be a kid.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #c27ba0; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i>And will you be my friend? Please</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DyQGyQjxdU/TsaJjyN2cOI/AAAAAAAACLE/F6yfTg8uHWM/s1600/IMG_5561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DyQGyQjxdU/TsaJjyN2cOI/AAAAAAAACLE/F6yfTg8uHWM/s640/IMG_5561.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">We received a standing ovation from all the educators in the room. !!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">My public speaker just 6 years and advocating for herself and others in her position look what she can do!</td></tr>
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I'm so thankful for this opportunity. I hope we inspired at least one parent or teacher in the room to see a child with a number of needs as an active learner and raise their expectations for all children to the sky! </div>
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Special thank you to Erin S. one of Ashley's friends and a neighbour who recorded Ashley's thoughts for this presentation on Ashley's step by step. It was very sweetly done. By the way Ashley's story was just one of 5 stories shared in this dramatic presentation. I will do my best to find out when this will air on ROGERS TV channel 63 if anyone is interested in watching this. </div>
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<br /></div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-36574496191061029502011-10-31T21:49:00.001-04:002011-10-31T21:49:57.534-04:00With walking comes other privilegesLike Trick or Treating!!<br /><div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XkD0WRZXGA/Tq9Oy0YI-iI/AAAAAAAACKE/LsL9oCjklvM/s1600/DSC02623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--XkD0WRZXGA/Tq9Oy0YI-iI/AAAAAAAACKE/LsL9oCjklvM/s640/DSC02623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ashley loved walking down the street bumping into friends from class, she was very happy to be out and about collecting candy too. </div>
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Here's Ashley with her brothers all very excited to get going this evening. </div>
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By the way we have way too much candy here right now. </div>
</div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-61669816306868794532011-10-18T06:25:00.000-04:002011-10-23T21:05:36.893-04:00My plea to the premier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Few people have that special touch, a miraculous skill, that relentless dedication to their profession that make an incredible difference in
peoples' lives. This special lady Bernie who is a paediatric physiotherapist has all those qualities. My daughter had the good fortune to start seeing Bernie when she was just a few months old. She was very fragile and her future was very uncertain. Ashley needed Bernie's help to gain head control,
roll over, use her arms to reach, and bear weight through her legs. I began to learn that she is one of the very best in her
field and Ashley was so very lucky to have her on her team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Because of this lady, Ashley is now a walker, and
even a soccer player. Ashley has a new level of independence with
her walker and every new accomplishment is like a gift. This did not come easy for Ashley but with Bernie's skills and advocating that Ashley received the adequate number if visits to make it happen, Ashley has now received a new level of freedom. You can't image how shocked and saddened I was to learn that Bernie's contract was recently cancelled by <a href="http://www.1to1rehab.ca/">1 to 1 Rehab</a>. We need more physiotherapist like Bernie in the public sector. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">At present <a href="http://www.ccac-ont.ca/">CCAC's</a> and Children's Treatment Centre’s in Ontario look more at the number of visits and block the child for treatment, rather then focusing on the child's ability to progress and to attain outcomes goals. There is just not enough funding for physiotherapy to provide the level of therapy to make a difference for the growing number of special needs kids in Ontario. </span>We are lucky
in that we can afford to supplement the government therapy with private
therapy. That was also needed to get Ashley where she is today. Not all families are able to supplement the government therapy with private physiotherapy. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I wish I knew how to let the provincial government know many more kids need more therapy and that it really pays off in
the long run. Many more skilled physiotherapist need to be hired to meet
their needs. Kids who can walk and who are not confined to wheelchairs will function
better and be happier adults. They will require less expensive health care and
equipment if they can move about independently.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dalton McGuinty, I know you want to build a brighter
future for Ontario. Please don't forget about my girl. If it were not for Bernie, Ashley would not be where she is today. Bernie is someone that you
want on your therapy team. There are many more kids in York region that would have benefitted from her service. Not all parents can afford private therapy.
Physiotherapy should not be a luxury for kids who cannot walk, hold up your head, feed yourself or speak. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Kids here need more therapy and this isn't just a
physiotherapy problem, it can be said for occupational and speech unfortunately.
Ashley is enjoying and benefiting greatly from<a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.com/2011/10/treadmill-work-out.html"><span style="color: #0000ee;"> her current block of PT</span></a> at <a href="http://www.ctn-simcoeyork.ca/">CTN</a> and but
it is only an 8 week block. Ashley will have to sit out at least 8 weeks
before starting again. Ashley will spend more time out of therapy then in
therapy in the next year. Image if she regresses and doesn't have that opportunity to learn how to walk independently. Ontario has amazing therapists who are forced to work privately and many families can't afford this cost. Please
don't let these children down. It's an uphill battle just to be a
kid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You can see what Ashley can learn to do when receiving on-going therapy
in her progress videos <a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.com/2010/11/single-plan-of-care-fall-video-of.html"><span style="color: #0000ee;">here</span></a>, <a href="http://vimeo.com/23166435"><span style="color: #0000ee;">here</span></a> and <a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.com/2010/05/ashley-on-move-video.html"><span style="color: #0000ee;">here.</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-5122300354028809782011-10-03T11:00:00.001-04:002011-10-03T11:00:42.435-04:00A treadmill work outSeptember passed by in a total blur for me even though three kids where in school full time there was no time to blog. My days are filled with phone calls and meetings. There seems to be something on my calendar each evening too. Ashley's doing fabulously with the new schedule and managed very nicely to give up her naps she is actually sleeping 12 hours each night which leaves her very happy and giggling each day. Dropping the nap seems to work really nicely.<br />
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Last week Ashley had back to back OT and PT at CTN. It was honestly much more then I expected and Ashley loved it. She was on the treadmill for 15 minutes straight and they kept speeding it up from 0.4 miles an hour to 0.8 miles an hour at the end her feet were moving at a nice pace and she was smiling the entire time. I take her on a treadmill at home but I never challenged her to move her feet that fast and she would have short breaks at home as my arms would get tired just supporting her. Mommy needs to get in shape. I was surprised to see how easily she handled the faster speeds and her heart rate was good the entire time. </div>
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She also crawled up a hill, worked on balance on the trampoline, crawled across a very big bean bag walked along the parallel bars and laterally along the edge of a table. Perhaps a few other things I'm forgetting too. It was a great workout and all this following a session of OT, plus a morning at school too. </div>
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OT was very busy too with targeted drawing, throwing, stacking and locating beads in putty. I have a feeling her new OT had more tricks up her sleeve if there was more time as there was a few washroom breaks but it was really great. Ashley has not had OT since preschool. I feel this session was long overdue and with guidance and practise I'm sure Ashley's fine motor skills will improve. <br />
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Ashley is already looking forward to returning CTN this week. </div>
Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-25695324810104596732011-09-07T01:45:00.000-04:002011-09-07T01:45:12.516-04:00School here we come!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My first grader</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6W4XegHJes/TmcB117RKiI/AAAAAAAACJg/4zn9m4vm0VQ/s1600/IMG_5304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6W4XegHJes/TmcB117RKiI/AAAAAAAACJg/4zn9m4vm0VQ/s640/IMG_5304.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Grade 6 and Grade 4 for these two.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzKS-mYAvhc/TmcB93dhxEI/AAAAAAAACJk/wGODktpZTr8/s1600/IMG_5305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzKS-mYAvhc/TmcB93dhxEI/AAAAAAAACJk/wGODktpZTr8/s640/IMG_5305.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We live close and thought we would walk - Ashley giggled. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Both Ashley and I enjoyed having Grammy and Grampy here for the first day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GqoZR8PPw-g/TmcCv5UpJ2I/AAAAAAAACJo/3Eyr-zGvl5g/s1600/IMG_5307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GqoZR8PPw-g/TmcCv5UpJ2I/AAAAAAAACJo/3Eyr-zGvl5g/s400/IMG_5307.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
She continued with that giggle in class too. <br />
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I hope the rest of the year will go as smoothly as the first day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8GyKWArTxQQ/TmcEadOqpdI/AAAAAAAACJs/aXM93yTkxdI/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8GyKWArTxQQ/TmcEadOqpdI/AAAAAAAACJs/aXM93yTkxdI/s400/IMG_5302.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-77897601272694055832011-08-29T13:58:00.000-04:002011-08-29T13:58:22.829-04:00Does summer fun really have to end?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week Ashley attended her second session of Soccer camp it was fabulous even the second time around. Special needs soccer camp was the summer highlight for Ashley. It was top notch. <a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.com/2011/07/ashley-scores.html">I blogged about this back in July when she attended the first session. </a> The august session was just as wonderful. Up on her feet walking, running and scoring goals plus time with friends what could be better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These two high school girls in green shirts were very sweet and received volunteer hours to help Ashley run and score goals. YAY!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_qt7Thc1Ppw/TluPqph-kqI/AAAAAAAACIg/noyloFU-Be8/s1600/DSC02448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_qt7Thc1Ppw/TluPqph-kqI/AAAAAAAACIg/noyloFU-Be8/s640/DSC02448.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> One of Ashley's new buddies...<br />
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</div> Ashley with all the boys .. there was a few girls but boys definitely out number the girls. She does like boyfriends especially this little boy Sean in the chair next to her..<br />
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</div> Ashley has another medal and beautiful trophy. The girl needs a trophy shelf now! How great is that. <br />
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The boys even tagged along and enjoyed the beautiful park as well as cheering on their sister.<br />
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Getting ready for school with some haircuts all around, check out these new looks.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Too cool for school or what? </span>Miss Ashley is not a fan of hair cuts as you can see here.<br />
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</div> Our evening at the park was fabulous. Even if we need to bundle up a bit now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">School starts in one week right after labour day and I'm so not ready for that. Please tell me summer is going to go on for another month or so. I need to get into that daily routine of getting 3 of 4 kids up and off to school. I'm trying to get the kids to bed early each evening which is easy for Ashley but her brothers would love to stay up all hours of the night. Tell me are you ready for school? What will Taylor and I do while Ashley and her brothers in School all day ever day? Things are going to change around here oh my. </div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-15428248308329498482011-08-19T09:48:00.003-04:002011-08-19T09:51:50.204-04:00Hanging out - video<iframe frameborder="0" height="352" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/27825928?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="625"></iframe><br />
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and check this out Ashley also loves walking around with her iPad in her princess basket preferably while Justin is singing Never Say Never. <br />
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Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-52131010183775864912011-08-10T00:45:00.004-04:002011-08-10T09:00:03.891-04:00Why the iPad and Proloquo2go is a definite win win<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday Ashley was not her usual self at breakfast not really finishing her toast, which she asked for using <a href="http://www.proloquo2go.com/">prologo2go</a> or interested in other yummy options like berries or yogurt being offered. Since she was so unhappy eating I placed her on the floor with her toys and her iPad. She got right to work telling mommy and her brother, what was up she quickly went to the something is wrong, then something hurts message. Then repeated pressing it until Mommy came right back over and her older observant brother Damon was telling Mom Ashley hurts hurry up. Both Damon and I didn’t notice right away but we looked her over and her ankle was swollen. Also present tiny scratch marks and little bug bite. She had been bitten by a bug and bug bites and her don’t mesh well she was upset and crying. I don’t know how I missed it when I dressed her just before breakfast either if it was there at the time. But I was very thankful she was able to tell me so effectively this would not have been possible without the ipad and this amazing app! I would likely have thought she didn’t sleep well she’s constipated who knows what when your child is non verbal sometimes even Moms don’t have the answers which is painful for all involved and very frustrating for my girl at times. As I see Ashley getting better and better with this new tool. I’m very thankful she has a way to express herself it is such a gift.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">She was even trying to bum scoot with her foot in the air to avoid using it. Luckily after some Benadryl and a number of hours her ankle was back to normal. But I was very pleased with my girl, her ipad and amazing app <a href="http://www.proloquo2go.com/">proloquo2go</a> for letting this mom know what was going on. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">At a quick glance it's hard to notice a bug bite if your child isn't pointing it out you. You can't see it too much in the pictures I took but she was holding it up in the air while bum scooting yesterday. I'm pretty proud of her for communicating this to her brother and I so effectively. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TZgSNinFfQ/TkIKHYm2xeI/AAAAAAAACHw/4CWtG0wXOUk/s1600/IMG_4972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TZgSNinFfQ/TkIKHYm2xeI/AAAAAAAACHw/4CWtG0wXOUk/s320/IMG_4972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://missionipossible.blogspot.com/">Mission iPossible</a> - is raising funds to put iPads in some other very deserving kids hands so they can communicate just this type of thing or just the fact that despite being non verbal they sure do know their stuff. So hope on over and read all about their mission too. </div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-37517197623626330812011-07-25T08:12:00.001-04:002011-07-25T09:27:45.333-04:00Hot weekend at home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My little fisherman in need of the lake. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We set up a pool and played some soccer! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yVKrJxeLo0Y/Tiwov5qzeVI/AAAAAAAACHM/0jtMldOlDQk/s1600/IMG_4589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yVKrJxeLo0Y/Tiwov5qzeVI/AAAAAAAACHM/0jtMldOlDQk/s640/IMG_4589.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Such a caring brother making sure Ashley gets her super girl juice aka power aid. Not a usually drink for our high cal diet girl but something her older brothers love. She managed to have a sip.<br />
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I wish she would get thirsty especially when it's this hot. <br />
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Hose water was a little too chilly to climb right in. <br />
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One other way we cooled down this weekend. My new favourite place <a href="http://www.marbleslab.com/">MARBLE SLAB</a> yum!<br />
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Yesterday my husband shopped, prepared and cooked up a fabulous bbq dinner. It was so yummy and sweet especially the <a href="http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink7823.html">Malibu Sunset</a> cocktails all this to help me celebrate my 40th birthday last week. I felt very loved.<br />
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My neighbour brought these over for my birthday too. Such a nice surprise. I have the very best neighbour.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Birth-House-Novel-P-S/dp/0061135879?ie=UTF8&tag=theupsanddo09-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=theupsanddo09-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0061135879" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-27395463623160210682011-07-21T13:18:00.001-04:002011-07-21T21:51:45.165-04:00What's happening around here... photo blog.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My boys can't seem to get enough of fishing lately</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqSOfr2aBwo/TihStz4W8uI/AAAAAAAACGI/tdE3uDeRyxE/s1600/IMG_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqSOfr2aBwo/TihStz4W8uI/AAAAAAAACGI/tdE3uDeRyxE/s640/IMG_0755.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Damon's here hoping to reel in something big.<br />
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James was pretty excited about this catch. Which he believes to be a small mouth bass.<br />
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My amazing husband thought our dock needed to be leveled.. this was the perfect<s> make work</s> project for a heat wave. He is the best husband in the world always working so hard to look after us, our home and cottage.<br />
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Here's Ashley hanging out .. we really need some cushions for these chairs.<br />
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Taylor enjoys golfing especially if his brothers are going to retrieve his balls. See how far he got on the dock. He will have this finished by the end of this weekend I'm sure.<br />
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Taylor is not a fan of the water despite the soaring temps. It's 100F / 38C in Canada today wow.<br />
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Moonsand was a hit.<br />
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These pictures are from last week but I had to post them. My girl with her trophy and medal she is a soccer super star!!! <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lastly one way to handle the heat a water table. This pick taken when the grass was still green. Now after a week of extreme heat it's a nice shade of yellow. So lovely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azghQemTj7Y/TihdbBIuXcI/AAAAAAAACG4/-xfVRIoNYjM/s1600/DSC02409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azghQemTj7Y/TihdbBIuXcI/AAAAAAAACG4/-xfVRIoNYjM/s640/DSC02409.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How's your summer going? Love to hear how your surviving the heat. </div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-25353629376407767952011-07-12T21:48:00.000-04:002011-07-12T21:48:34.294-04:00Ashley Scores!Today something very good happened Special Needs Soccer Camp.<br />
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Ashley was full of giggles the entire time. She loves to be up and about she was on her feet for nearly 3 hours. Walking, running, chasing the ball and scoring some goals.<br />
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The camp was first class it was hosted at a beautiful artificial turf field, lots of volunteers to help the kids Ashley had 2 or 3 helpers at times. Everyone was so friendly talking to Ashley, encouraging her and cheering for her on. The coaches were great at keeping the kids laughing with jokes too. They had a nice tent and chairs and lots of cold water for breaks. Ashley got a great t-shirt. All the kids and parents had a great time. It's was just so cool to see her playing soccer. She goes again for the next two mornings it's just a 3 day camp but it runs again next month and they are still looking for more kids to attend so as long as we are not away she will be there for sure. Another really nice thing this camp is free for special needs kids all the cost of this camp are covered by corporate sponsors. The many helpers are also volunteer. It's really sweet. Thanks YRSC. There is so much good out there which was refreshing after this past week in blogworld and the never ending saga of the non-exsistant ipads. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2ZPikNtRLA/ThzvV4nYpaI/AAAAAAAACGA/TGr2bN9E9Fs/s1600/IMG_4535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G2ZPikNtRLA/ThzvV4nYpaI/AAAAAAAACGA/TGr2bN9E9Fs/s640/IMG_4535.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXn451JVoCA/Thzz7hgbjNI/AAAAAAAACGE/w-yYpX56Y40/s1600/IMG_4538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXn451JVoCA/Thzz7hgbjNI/AAAAAAAACGE/w-yYpX56Y40/s640/IMG_4538.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-48053428597885577702011-07-10T22:04:00.001-04:002011-07-10T22:05:37.116-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still feeling bad about the whole ipad thing but I took my warning post down as felt I was very hard on him and that's really not my style honest. If your interested in this drama please read about this on these two blogs they have much more grace and writing talent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ken - <a href="http://blogzilly.blogspot.com/2011/07/mission-ipossible.html">Blogzilly - mission iPossible</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ellen's <a href="http://www.lovethatmax.com/2011/07/mystery-of-missing-ipadsand-unrest-in.html">LoveThatMax</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spent the day watching my boys fish this weekend. We stopped at Canadian Tire and picked up two new rods - turns out Taylor really needs a fishing rod too so I'll have to see if I can find a toy/rod for him no hook for sure. Ashley prefers to sit lake side and read or play barbie with mom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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This is what Taylor and Damon did for an hour while Ashley was inside doing physiotherapy. It was fun for all as Ashley enjoys PT and the boys had a great time on this trampoline the hour which went by in a flash. We survived the first week of summer break nicely.<br />
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These two are too cute for words.<br />
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Can't wait to see what fun we have this week .. Ashley is attending Special Needs Soccer Camp.Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-18202670580918982432011-07-09T10:07:00.019-04:002011-07-13T16:26:15.022-04:00Turns out there will be no ipad!Well I learned that Ashley is not going to get her iPad this week and I should have known weeks ago it was way to good to be true. I was foolishly blogged about this ipad win <a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.com/2011/05/ashley-won-ipad-and-more.html">here</a> and <a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.com/2011/06/kindness-of-stranger-helping-my-girl.html">here</a>. This person was very questionable and blogged for three years about his special needs daughter and used many giveaways and even guest blog posts on famous bloggers sites to generate traffic. Then he asked for small donations with chances to win expensive products to get people to CHIPIN to a fund for his disabled daughter. I noticed he was frequently reseting his CHIPIN back to zero over the last few months. Another obvious clue I over looked but thought was strange at the time. He would tell the ipad winners that if he just collected $200 more his bosses would include extras. He was very subtle in his requests for funds from the winners never asking too directly for money. He was also always telling us sad stories of his child's suffering epilesy and needing brain surgery. I reported this person to the RCMP here in Canada but we have no way of knowing who he is except by his email address. <br />
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Please be aware if you don't know someone in real life and they are looking for your money beware. I won a few prizes on the internet from legit sources and real people they never ask for money even to ship across the border and always send the prizes right away. They also never ask you to even blog about your win you just do to thank them once the prize arrives.<br />
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I never personally donated any money to his CHIPIN but I feel sick to my stomach that I promoted it here on my blog and posted in FB and retweeted some of his tweets. He would ask us to do that stuff for him. The iPad winners were being used to help promote something that's so questionable. Which makes me upset that I took so long to realize this. There will be more posts about this on the other winners blogs I'm sure. One of my FB friends made a small donation to his fund to apply to win an ipad in his second round of ipad giveaways. I feel very bad about that. I should have been a blaring clue he was planning to have a second round of ipad giveaways and charge a small fee to enter weeks ago before sending out this first round of ipads. Not to mention the value of the package he was planning on shipping to 40 people I feel very foolish.<br />
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Please do not donate money on-line if you don't know the people in-real life no matter how long you have been reading there blog there is lots of this going on I'm so sorry to say. Never enter internet contest where you have to make a donation. There are lots of legit ones you can enter that just ask you to leave a comment or Like them on face book or tweet about them<br />
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Please spread the word to your blogging buddies. It's too easy to donate a few dollars for the chance for a wonderful prize that could be just imaginary and there are all kinds of wonderful legit charities that need our donation funds. When I reported this it to anti-fraud police in Canada they said it was very important to spread the word. It's also import to report anything like this stuff to the police. This makes me want to stop blogging which I love doing.<br />
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updated 07/10 with latest email from.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I thought I should add this last email from Mike to my post that went out to all the winners yesterday. I truly hope he is on the up and up and this is just a series of unfortunate events but my faith in him is dwindling. If the ipad does show up I'll be sure to post a photo and apologize about this post however I don't really believe one is on it's way at this point. </span><br />
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From: marissasbunny<br />
Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2011 22:06:03 -0400<br />
Subject: Update 7/9 10:05 PM<br />
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When we selected the final 40 awardees back on March 21st from a pool of 311 applicants and provided them to the selection committee, we had no idea that all the finalists would be awarded at that time. We were originally expecting 5, then 10, then 20, then finally 35. During the determination of the awardees, the entire selection committee was so touched by everybody's stories, they decided to tell me in early May that they would award all 40 finalists the ipads and applications. The winners were publicly announced on May 11th. Through the rest of May and through June 22nd we collected iPad application lists to pre-purchase for the winners, and other than some surmountable legal issues we were informed all was proceeding reasonably smoothly.<br />
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Through all the escalations of awards, this has proven to be a monumental task, much more than anybody expected initially and we probably didn't have adequate consistent manpower available. We live in Northern Virginia and I telecommute to North Carolina. Application purchase, box packing, and shipping of the iPads with accessories was supposed to have been handled at the North Carolina location. We've recently discovered that many mistakes were made by a variety of employees and not reported to us even after we became directly involved with the principals. We were informed the iPads had shipped, and given our family's ongoing health concerns, perhaps we didn't supervise the situation as well as we could have. On the night of July 6th, we received an anonymous threatening email related to the giveaway and promptly informed the awardees of the email.<br />
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After consultation with law enforcement and legal representation, the decision was made to temporarily halt the iPad shipping process based on the threat. Since then, we have received some information as to the origin and nature of the threat and it has been provided to members of law enforcement. While we haven't been supplied a timetable, as soon as the threat evaluation is complete we fully intend to closely and in person supervise future shipping of the iPads to the awardees as long as they had no involvement in the threats. Verifiable tracking information omitting awardees' personal information will be provided to any interested party during the shipping process. When the evaluation is complete and shipping recommences, an announcement will be made at marissasbunny.com.<br />
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While my goal has always been to help the special needs community, I'd be remiss in my duties as a husband and a Father to not take care of my own family's safety first due to the still unclear nature of the threat at the time of this post. That said, we remain committed to the cause, and anxiously await reports in the not too distant future of iPads arriving and photos of their first use.Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-79807036905994596672011-06-20T20:47:00.001-04:002011-06-24T17:18:08.499-04:00Summer time is here! Photo blogging A walk around the block.<br />
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A fun Dance class our city and CTN put on but Ashley was wishing a few more friends were there to Dance with.<br />
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Taylor's new favourite place<br />
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Our favourite visitors...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VcYB7QheOk/Tf5bRf3UZNI/AAAAAAAACFM/BZ-yCkML4V8/s1600/DSC02229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0VcYB7QheOk/Tf5bRf3UZNI/AAAAAAAACFM/BZ-yCkML4V8/s640/DSC02229.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm-5TB9pUZk/Tf5bYRUPPAI/AAAAAAAACFQ/5ZLZzlqXGlA/s1600/DSC02238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gm-5TB9pUZk/Tf5bYRUPPAI/AAAAAAAACFQ/5ZLZzlqXGlA/s640/DSC02238.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-66290059890706333782011-06-13T23:10:00.003-04:002011-07-08T10:10:58.224-04:00Kindness of strangers - Helping my girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrFT_jMCzkE/TOLsfH5BhyI/AAAAAAAAB60/-9Wrig6JYuE/s1600/IMG_3279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrFT_jMCzkE/TOLsfH5BhyI/AAAAAAAAB60/-9Wrig6JYuE/s320/IMG_3279.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ashley's Voice is getting a big upgrade! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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I’m not even sure where to begin with this post as my girl has been blessed by so many totally strangers this past month who have heard her story and wanted to help. On Mothers’s Day we learned Ashley won her very own iPad2 + Apps in a merit based giveaway from MarissasBunny.com Infantile Spasms Awareness blog. Mike Marissa’s Dad and his employer not only gifted my special girl with a iPad2 but another 40 families with iPads and they have set up a foundation to carry on doing the same thing for many other families to help make kids lives with disabilities better.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Good news keeps coming…<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Late last week I found out I won a Facebook Contest I entered from FortZed Challenge for a $50 Otterbox gift certificate. Ashley is my lucky charm I think but I was shocked that I’d win her an iPad2 then 50 towards a fantastic cover!<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Otterbox iPad2 Defender case </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vE92ANpEzLs/TfbE8W26V6I/AAAAAAAACE0/viD31aUDLPk/s1600/apl2-ipad2-d9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vE92ANpEzLs/TfbE8W26V6I/AAAAAAAACE0/viD31aUDLPk/s1600/apl2-ipad2-d9.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This story gets even better, Ariana from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/FortZED-Challenge/146348932071458">FortZed challenge</a> loved Ashley’s story and shared it with Otterbox. Kristen from Otterbox PR contacted me and said she too was amazing by Ashley and wanted to send us their super tough iPad Defender Case free of charge and suggested we use the gift certificate to order the Otterbox Utility Latch. WOW! I’m totally blown away at all this kindness and generosity of so many others that are totally strangers and want to see my girl have a voice. This iPad will be be Ashley voice and travel everywhere with her she didn’t qualify for funding for dynamic speech equipment in Canada as she would first have to prove she could use it. Which she definitely can but needs lots of hands on practice to learn to move from screen to screen and locate her choices. She need to show them she can do that before the gov't would fund one. They were not going to give her a chance not yet anyways.<br />
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Here's a peak at <a href="http://www.otterbox.com/OtterBox-Utility-Series-Latch/APL8-IPAD1,default,pd.html">Otterbox's Utility Series Latch</a> it allows you attach iPad to many things.. I'm sure we will put this to very good use. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QUPEEuBwUko/TfbE_5w7xMI/AAAAAAAACE4/VNNVJrBD_BE/s1600/apl8-ipad1-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QUPEEuBwUko/TfbE_5w7xMI/AAAAAAAACE4/VNNVJrBD_BE/s1600/apl8-ipad1-20.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We did set aside some funds to purchase an ipad just a week before we found out we won one from Marissa bunny so Ashley been practicing and doing really well with choice making. However with 3 brothers there is a lot of demand for the iPad and it’s getting used by her two year old brother the most. When Marissa Bunny iPad arrives (there has been paperwork delays due to Apple concerns with giveaways but it’s on it’s way this week) It will be dedicated to Ashley and at her side at all times. Her brothers will have the other one to play with. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I just had to share all this as I feel totally thrilled that my girl is benefiting from all this generosity. Raising 4 kids and having therapy bills is not cheap so all this is greatly appreciated.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t miss <a href="http://ashleydamonandjames.blogspot.com/2011/06/our-graduate-amazing-video.html">Ashley's graduation video</a> I posted this week too. I’m so proud of this girl we purchased her walker for her just before she started JK and I remember standing outside with her at the walker on the first day of Junior Kindergarten we needed to assist her to balance and move the walker in the door that first day. Someone had to hang on to her and the walker. I’m sure a few would have thought she's not ready for that. However with daily practice she learned to use the walker totally independently last January and just the other day she led her class in to the gym for graduation. It was so incredible. I know with her new iPad she needs hand over hand direction right now to navigate the speech device but with time and daily practice I’m sure she will get it. She can independently make her own choices on pages but can’t quite navigate page to page due to the fast speed. I’m so confident in her and super excited and pleased so many strangers are so happy to help her gain her voice. My husband and I are so humbled by all this generosity. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Be sure to check out <a href="http://otterbox.com/">Otterbox's amazing cases</a>, like and share FortZed Challenge facebook page and read all about Marissa at MarissasBunny.com . Just today Marissa's Bunny is launching there next iPad giveaway so if your child needs one be sure to jump over there and check it out. If your so lucky you will be blown away by this families kindness and eagerness to help others despite all they are going through with there sweet little girl. <br />
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</div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-9602416787944632632011-06-09T19:55:00.001-04:002011-06-09T19:59:40.323-04:00Our Graduate - Amazing video!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kd1k3Bctru8/TfFeTVkL4qI/AAAAAAAACEw/iY2GdNTZHvE/s1600/DSC02154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kd1k3Bctru8/TfFeTVkL4qI/AAAAAAAACEw/iY2GdNTZHvE/s640/DSC02154.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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What a special day this was. Our girl WALKED in and led her entire class up to the front to graduate from senior kindergarten. She just learned to walk with the walker this past January. Her teachers and peers always knew how to support, encourage and allow her to shine. This day was no exception.<br />
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I will be forever grateful to Mrs G. Ms F and Mrs L for how very far she has come over these past two years. She's grown in leaps and bounds and has made gains in all areas. I couldn't have pictured her walking up just this past december with out someone holding on to her. I'm truly sad to see kindergarten end but I know she has so much to look forward to in grade one. Inclusion at it's very best! <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="352" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24897743?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="625"></iframe>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9020242719972966632.post-71903884082669995632011-06-07T16:58:00.001-04:002011-06-07T16:59:30.685-04:00Area track meetIt was hot out today and James was on his game. I used to run track in school too so this brought back a lot of memories. James won his heat in the 100m dash. James is wearing black and is in lane 3. <br />
<div>it was a very hot day to be hanging around outside but Canadians are not suppose to complain about the heat so I'll stop there. Not to spoil the video but there was 8 heats and only the top 5 times went on to the final so James didn't get run the final but lots of fun was had and he was pretty pleased with his results. <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="352" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/24791745" width="625"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/24791745">100 m dash - check this out</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3017224">Sherry C</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
James in Black wins his heat in the 100 m dash at the area track meet today.</div>Sherry Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17320106277509509294noreply@blogger.com0