Have you ever felt that something really good is about to happen? That sense of excitement and restlessness when you know that something is about to change your life forever? That’s how I felt when I came to the hospital to give birth to my tenth child bli ayin hora.

In the first weeks after our son with Down syndrome was born, my thoughts strayed to his health throughout his life. My impression was that all adults with Down syndrome were very obese. As a dietitian, most of my work had been in the weight management area. I had seen first-hand the effects long-term obesity had on a person’s life.

A ‘peckel’ to me Hashem did throw
And I thought that I had accepted it long ago
But the other day when I was put to trial
I realized that I was still in denial.

Zelig twirled his left payo as he watched a fly circle the wall sconce. His mind was going in circles too. How had he come to this? When had it all started? Years back, when he had re-embraced Yiddishkeit and mentschlichkeit he vowed to himself that one day he would write a book titled ‘Back From the Abyss’. Right now he’d change the title to ‘Back To the Abyss’.

Shimmi!! Shimmi Dunner!! This is a farewell to one of London’s most beloved characters and it is a dedication to Shimmi’s most devoted and admired parents – Rav z’tl and Rebbetzin Dunner a’h.
Shimmi was an individual with Down syndrome, who was niftar on Rosh Chodesh Sivan at the ripe old age of 71. Although age 71 is generally not considered a ”ripe old age”, in reference to those with Down syndrome 71 is generally considered record-breaking.

I know, I know… It’s no longer politically correct to use the term ‘discipline’ when relating to individuals with special needs. Truthfully, the previous informative essays and articles in this feature, leading up to mine, all reaffirm that – our children with special needs will act out inappropriately when they are misunderstood and when they cannot communicate their needs, proving that mis-communication, rather than misbehavior is the source of challenge.

1. Can you explain the differences in approaches and expectations when disciplining individuals with Down syndrome, versus typical individuals?
We should have the same demands and expectations of our children with special needs as of our other children, only the approach should be different than with our typical children.

I was just a small first grader when my sister was born. I was proud of my new uniform with its freshly pressed shirt and sharply pleated jumper. A few months of school didn’t take away that feeling as I walked through the halls of Bais Chana each day. No less was my feeling of pride when I heard that my mother had a baby. I was the big sister! Not only was I a big first grader who could help a lot, I was also the baby’s only sister among my siblings – all boys.

If one day could encapsulate the highs and lows of raising a child with Down syndrome, the day our son, Yehuda, was called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah would be that day.
My wife and I thought it would be a good challenge for Yehuda to not only have an aliyah and recite the blessings over the Torah, but to actually read from the Torah, like most of the “regular” boys do to celebrate their Bar Mitzvah.

Today is Election Day. The results aren’t in yet. Like most Americans, I wasn’t crazy about the choice of candidates and pretty much voted against one, rather than for the other.
In addition, I would like to break the law and vote a second time; I want to vote somebody down. There’s just one problem; I don’t know who that person is.