Ordinary People, Extraordinary Challenges
In his book, Far From the Tree, journalist Andrew Solomon writes about families raising children who present with deafness, dwarfism, Down syndrome, autism, schizophrenia and other severe physical and cognitive and often multiple atypicalities. Solomon observes that, while each of these characteristics is potentially isolating for child and family, the experience of difference within families is universal and that on the deepest level, it is that diversity that unites us all.
Parents of children with atypical needs and challenges are ordinary people who are confronted with extraordinary challenges every day. What I have learned from my niece who has down syndrome and my cousin who has cerebral palsy is that there is a deep well of compassion that vulnerable children tap into. They often bring out the best in us and remind us that every person brings value to the world and it is our job to recognize and nurture that value.
To the graduates today who are earning your certificates of completion, congratulations to you and your families! Some of you will be moving on to adult programs and some of you may be transitioning out of your parents’ homes to group homes and that will be a big change for all of you. Some of you will continue with your current programs or move on to high school and I hear one of you even has a job waiting at Crema Coffee, which is my favorite coffee shop!
What you all have here that is most significant is a community. Parents, caregivers and professionals who can support one another, provide advice or just listen to each others fears and frustrations when those seem to overtake the joys and blessings are an absolutely essential piece of raising an atypical child and, for that matter, any child. I honor all of you, for the love you show, for the expectations you’ve had to adjust and for the fortitude that is required to move through each day. Congratulations and God bless you.