No Regrets

Ah.  The clarity of hindsight.  We often look back to how we landed in Middle Tennessee and are so grateful that things have worked out so well.  Time for some introductions; "we" is me (Dad/Ron), my wife (Mom/Cheryl), and our 3rd child, Ryan, who has Down Syndrome.  Our older children are grown, gone, married, awesome, and charged with the task of producing some grandbabies.

The year is 2003 and we lived in Dallas. We loved our jobs, our house, our friends, our church, and  our neighborhood, but things didn't look good for Ryan's school.  Middle school was on the horizon and our visit to his assigned school was a bad day in our family history.  We met with the vice-principal. To say we were not on the same page would be like saying that Noah met with a little rain.   While Cheryl and I are asking about inclusion and all of its offspring; teachers' assistants, modified curriculum and  proper general population placement --- our gracious host kept telling us about the great teacher they have in the room at the end of the hall.  We pushed hard as we explained that we wanted Ryan to go to regular classes.  And. He. Pushed. Back.  He told us that Ryan would NOT be going to regular classes and we needed  to be "realistic".   Realistic?  REALISTIC?  We lived with the realities of DS every day.  Cheryl got extra points for not smacking him in the nose. I know, I know.  Federal law was on our side.  We could have fought (and won) for proper placement, but we were tired of that fight. So, we left.  We left the school, and after a year of praying, we left Dallas.

We landed in an amazing county with a school system that is known for its inclusion philosophy.  For the first time -- in a long time -- Ryan wanted to go to school.  He had advocates everywhere!    His classroom teachers were welcoming, his resource teachers were stretching him,  the district gurus were guiding him, and most especially, his peers were including him. Ryan just blossomed. 

Ryan's high school experience has been more than we had ever hoped.  He has been on the track team for 6 years; throwing shot put and discus.  Somehow he got  hooked up with the school media team and has a weekly spot on the school news.  (Cue graphic, cue music, cue intro-- "Ryan On Sports")   His commitment to JROTC is  Strong² ; loves his uniform, the volunteer days, and makes a decent flag raiser at the ball games.   His relationships with his friends tells the whole story. BTW, they should have their own Hall of Fame. They always rise above; going out to eat, hanging at the ball games, sitting together at lunch, riding in the limo for  prom. I watch them together and thank the Father above for what I see.