homeschool inclusion and a dairy farm field trip

Brad and I went to a conference when Kamdyn was a baby.  It was called "Imagine the Possibilities".  Self advocates, Karen Gaffney, Sujeet Desai, David Egan, and Brad Hennefer were the main speakers, followed by their parents.  It was all about inclusion and what our children with Down syndrome are capable of.  I loved that conference, and I was disappointed to hear that there wasn't enough response for them to continue it in other parts of the country.  I know many people would have loved it.

That was really my first experience in being introduced to inclusion.  I believe in inclusion, and I try to live by the principle of it.  Kamdyn is an equal part of our family, and she participates in all of the activities that we do.  She is not school aged, and she doesn't go to day care, but I decided a while back to keep her with her age group in our church's nursery.  Even though she is clearly behind the other kids developmentally, I feel like it's important to keep her with those kids, so that they can form friendships, and hopefully it will also be an encouragement to her development.

Sometimes it feels, however, like this matter of inclusion is being placed into too much of a restrictive box. 

This idea that inclusion equals my child will be in a typical classroom. Period.  And that's it.

But I think that is only part of it.  Some children with Down syndrome thrive in a typical classroom and some do not.  So is it a failure for that child who is not in the typical classroom?  I think not.  Each child's best interest has to be taken into account, and that is what matters most. 

I think inclusion is a principle that we, as parents, can implement into our lives in whatever setting they are in.  For some that will be in the classroom, others church, or sports, or other community activities and, of course, our homes. 

And we're taking inclusion onto the homeschool front:

Outside of our inner circle, I have not found a lot of support concerning homeschooling.  There are so many stigmas to it, most that are untrue.  But when it comes to homeschooling your child with special needs, I am finding the support to be even less.  I am not going to say 100% that Kamdyn will be homeschooled, because it may not be the best thing for her.  But it is my goal to homeschool her just as I am with my other children.


Ok, so enough about that.  Let's move on to bigger, stinkier things. 

Madison decided a couple of months ago that she wants to be a farmer, have lots of babies and take care of the animals.

I thought that after this field trip, complete with spontaneously urinating cows and putrid smells, she would jump ship on that idea.  But she's holding strong.  She wants to be a farmer. 

Are you looking for an activity to interest a four year old boy?  Well, look no further.  Because a peeing cow is the funniest thing in the world to a four year old boy.  Trust me.

Guess what they are talking about?  You guessed it.  Peeing cows.

She's got the touch:

Kamdyn surprised me when she reached out to touch this calf.  She is usually timid and scared around animals, probably thanks to our big, hairy, goof-ball Old English Sheepdog.