Down Syndrome Family Connection: March Fair

In honor of Disability Awareness Month, Down Syndrome Family Connection in Bloomington will host its second annual fair and concert at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church on Saturday, March 6, from 9:30am-12:00pm.

The Family Connection hosts the annual Buddy Walk to raise awareness of, and provide and support to families and individuals with, Down Syndrome. To support the organization, you can also purchase one of their beautiful 2010 calendars featuring children and adults with Down Syndrome in the Bloomington area (http://www.downsyndromefamilyconnection.org/merchandise.html).

To learn more about the fair and inquire about setting up an exhibit, contact Nola Bloemendaal at 812-272-9261 or email nolabloemendaal@yahoo.com.

Something To Hang On To

Something to hang on to is a work of young adult fiction by Beverly Brenna. The short stories feature adolescents with various disabilities (Down Syndrome, autism, and muscular dystrophy) dealing with issues such as common fears, family violence, fitting in, and forming their identities as individuals apart from the stigma of their conditions. The book jumps between time periods and locales, but retains an overarching theme of positivity in the face of adversity.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

Art and Disability

Art and disability: The social and political struggles facing education is a small hardcover by Alice J. Wexler that stresses the importance of art in special education curricula. The arts are often unappreciated and underfunded by schools, but, Wexler argues, they are essential for the formation of children's identities. Art serves as an outlet for the frustrations and isolation that come with belonging to a marginalized, stigmatized group. Wexler devotes her chapters to examining how art benefits children with specific disabilities (autism, traumatic brain injury, visual impairments etc.) as well as to community outreach and lesson plans.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.

Saving Sammy

Saving Sammy: curing the boy who caught OCD is a personal account by Beth Maloney, the mother of a middle schooler with OCD. Beth details her journey from diagnoses through the quagmire of medical debate and finally to a solution for Sammy's illness. Sammy suffered from PANDAS, or a complication from a strep throat infection that could lead to OCD and Tourette-type symptoms.

Interested in this book? Indiana resident? Email us!

Not an Indiana resident? Find this book at your local library through WorldCat.