Noah is a light and joy to everyone that he meets. He was down syndrome and is an energetic, inquisitive, and persistent – qualities that give his single mama a run for her money, but also that make him quite the overcomer of adversity. His persistence and determination are inspiring. He has taught me so much in the last three years, but specifically, the beauty in finding joy in the unexpected. His curiosity and perspective of the world help me slow down and enjoy experiences in ways I never have before. He works so hard to accomplish milestones that come easily to his peers, but that in no way diminishes his joyful demeanor. I am honored to get to walk along side him and advocate for him achieving his goals and dreams. Currently, his biggest struggle has been in the area of expressive language development. He is eager to socialize and interact with his peers, but is easily frustrated when he cannot verbally communicate with them.
At the Early Education Center, he has been using and iPad with a communication app that gives him a voice. He is able to touch the screen and it will speak the words he cannot yet articulate. I was able to see his delight in this experience first hand when I attended his Halloween party at preschool. All of the children lined up and trick-or-treated to the various classrooms in the building. Noah carried around the school’s iPad was able to use the TouchChat app to say “Trick-or-Treat” at each doorway. He was overjoyed to see the power in his words. I would love to give him the opportunity to use his voice outside the classroom through the use of his very own personal iPad and communication app. With the gift of this device, he would be able to speak to the children in the community, Sunday school and his mom or dad at home!
Noah is a joy-maker. He is energetic, curious, eager to learn, and very affectionate. He loves music and I’m convinced he’s going to be a musician of some kind. This kid already has moves and rhythm like I’ve never seen before. His favorite day of the week is Sunday when we get to go to church and sing and dance to the worship band. Noah is an only child, but he has a big 17 pound cat that he loves to play with. The cat might not admit it, but I think she likes playing with him too. Whether it’s humans or an aloof cat, Noah has a way of bringing out the joy in anyone he meets.
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