During the last twenty-five years I've been part, as a parent and/or a bookseller, of more than a thousand conferences on disabilities. They have been pretty much all over the map, both geographically and in terms of their subjects. I can remember one—only one—that I would just as soon have missed. And now that I think about it, I learned something valuable even there. All the rest offered nuggets of information, friendships and adventures that made them stand out in my memory as somewhere between "Wonderful" and "Well worth going!" From time to time SpecialNeeds.com will feature particular meetings we believe you would want to know about. In the meantime, email me at Editor@SpecialNeeds.com with events you'd like to share. Next week the Autism Institute of the University of San Diego holds its annual Summer conference. The Institute was developed in 2005 through the vision of Dr. Anne M. Donnellan. Dr. Donnellan has been a pioneer in the field of autism since the 1970’s when she began her career in San Diego by opening the first pre-school for children with autism. This is not a conference about diet, legislation, or even, strictly speaking, about "awareness." It is about understanding the condition, in particular from the point of view of those who have it. The Monday keynote is by the extraordinary Paula Kluth. On Tuesday, Kate McGinnity and Nan Negri discuss Kate’s new book/DVD about video modeling, Lights! Camera! Autism! followed by a booksigning. With a...

Introducing: CONFERENCE WATCH

During the last twenty-five years I've been part, as a parent and/or a bookseller, of more than a thousand conferences on disabilities. They have been pretty much all over the map, both geographically and in terms of their subjects. I can remember one—only one—that I would just as soon have missed. And now that I think about it, I learned something valuable even there. All the rest offered nuggets of information, friendships and adventures that made them stand out in my memory as somewhere between "Wonderful" and "Well worth going!"  From time to time SpecialNeeds.com will feature particular meetings we believe you would want to know about. In the meantime, email me at Editor@SpecialNeeds.com with events you'd like to share.   Next week the Autism Institute of the University of San Diego holds its annual Summer conference.   The Institute was developed in 2005 through the vision of Dr. Anne M. Donnellan. Dr. Donnellan has been a pioneer in the field of autism since the 1970’s when she began her career in San Diego by opening the first pre-school for children with autism. This is not a conference about diet, legislation, or even, strictly speaking, about "awareness." It is about understanding the condition, in particular from the point of view of those who have it. The Monday keynote is by the extraordinary Paula Kluth. On Tuesday, Kate McGinnity and Nan Negri discuss Kate’s new book/DVD about video modeling, Lights! Camera! Autism! followed by a booksigning. With a...

Urban Angels, an elite UK child modeling agency, opens their books only twice a year in search of new talent. Little Taya Kennedy was one of 50 children chosen out of 2,000 applicants. The fact that she has Down syndrome "did not enter the equation," says Alysa Lewis, owner of the agency. Taya's mother, Gemma Andre, told the Daily Mail that she was overjoyed when she heard the news, "not because Taya was going to be a model. More importantly, she had competed on equal terms with every other child and succeeded." At 14 months old, Taya seems to have been born to surpass expectations. Children diagnosed with Down syndrome typically are not expected to walk until they are three to five years old. Taya is already able to stand and has excellent muscle tone. Her physiotherapist thinks she will be walking by Christmas. Taya also responds well to visual stimulation and likes it when people mime to her, "so the whole family is learning sign language," says Gemma. It was difficult at first for Gemma and Taya's father, Robbie. When the doctor delivered the news that Taya was born with Down syndrome, "we didn't know what to expect or hope for," Gemma says. "We were literally sent home with a booklet." Gemma and Robbie were unprepared and grief-stricken. "We couldn't help but selfishly wonder why this had happened to us." But Taya's parents decided that they would not dwell on their daughter's limitations due to her condition. Instead,...

A UK modeling agency, Urban Angels, signs 14-month-old Taya Kennedy, a child with Down syndrome, after outshining 1,950 applicants.

Girl with Down Syndrome Signed as Model

Urban Angels, an elite UK child modeling agency, opens their books only twice a year in search of new talent. Little Taya Kennedy was one of 50 children chosen out of 2,000 applicants. The fact that she has Down syndrome "did not enter the equation," says Alysa Lewis, owner of the agency.  Taya's mother, Gemma Andre, told the Daily Mail that she was overjoyed when she heard the news, "not because Taya was going to be a model. More importantly, she had competed on equal terms with every other child and succeeded." At 14 months old, Taya seems to have been born to surpass expectations. Children diagnosed with Down syndrome typically are not expected to walk until they are three to five years old. Taya is already able to stand and has excellent muscle tone. Her physiotherapist thinks she will be walking by Christmas. Taya also responds well to visual stimulation and likes it when people mime to her, "so the whole family is learning sign language," says Gemma. It was difficult at first for Gemma and Taya's father, Robbie. When the doctor delivered the news that Taya was born with Down syndrome, "we didn't know what to expect or hope for," Gemma says. "We were literally sent home with a booklet." Gemma and Robbie were unprepared and grief-stricken. "We couldn't help but selfishly wonder why this had happened to us." But Taya's parents decided that they would not dwell on their daughter's limitations due to her condition. Instead,...

A UK modeling agency, Urban Angels, signs 14-month-old Taya Kennedy, a child with Down syndrome, after outshining 1,950 applicants.

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Special Needs
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Introducing: CONFERENCE WATCH

Girl with Down Syndrome Signed as Model

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Special Needs Articles

Introducing: CONFERENCE WATCH

Girl with Down Syndrome Signed as Model

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles