Inspirational! A Boy with Down Syndrome Learns to Walk through Ballet

June 1, 2018 By Bristol Palin

UK: Wonderful story about Archie Aspin who learnt how to walk with ballet and how ballet is helping his confidence and even making friends 🙂

We love the photo – it’s absolutely beautiful! #ArchieAspin #Ballet #Confidence #Friendship #DownSyndrome https://t.co/nhNyRNx2Aj

— CMF Foundation (@CMFFoundation) June 1, 2018

When little Archie was born, the Aspins were told that he had Down syndrome and would be different. They were told he might not ever catch up with his friends. But his parents, practical as they are, decided to try to make him as independent as possible. His mom emphasized that she and his dad aren’t going to live forever, and they wanted their son to be able to live well without them.

They knew he’d struggle with motor skills, confidence and social interaction. But when he was just two weeks old, he saw his sister doing ballet and his mother realized it might help him, too.

“Archie came to his sister’s class when he was about two weeks old,” his mother said. “We saw how much of a benefit [it] was to his sisters – the physical benefits and also the social benefits – and it was a no-brainer that he would join in the classes too. We could see what it would give him.”

And so, he began taking weekly “baby ballet” lessons. This allowed him to learn how to walk, skip, and jump! His mom Amanda said these newfound skills and confidence even allowed him to start attending a mainstream school. (more…)

Man with Down Syndrome Launches Million Dollar Sock Company to ‘Spread Happiness’

February 12, 2018 By Bristol Palin

This is unbelievable! (more…)

The Beautiful New Gerber Baby Has Down Syndrome – Meet Lucas

February 8, 2018 By Bristol Palin

Drumroll, please… The new Gerber baby is 18-month-old Lucas Warren from Dalton, Georgia. And he just might be the cutest one ever. For the eighth time in a row, the iconic baby food brand conducted a Photo Search contest to select the new face of their product. Lucas is the first child with Down syndrome to win the Gerber baby title ever. (And it’s been going on for more than 90 years!) ABC 7 has the details: (more…)

This Woman is the First Woman with Down Syndrome to Compete in a Miss USA State Pageant

November 27, 2017 By Bristol Palin

I love this! The crowd at a recent Minnesota pageant was full of children who have Down syndrome, their parents having brought them to show them history being made: beauty contestant Mikayla Holmgren was the first woman with Down syndrome to compete in a state Miss USA pageant.

Apparently, Mikayla bugged her mom, Sandi Holmgren, to let her enter the Miss USA pageant, until she finally relented. “I wrote that she had Down syndrome and thought they would pass her by but they decided they wanted her to be a part of it,”, said Sandi. “I didn’t realize it was part of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageant and it took me a few weeks to realize the enormity of it and what a big deal it was for her to be in.”

BuzzFeed has this inspirational story. (more…)

Doctor Tells Mom Pregnant with Twins to Abort the One with Down Syndrome – Here’s What Happened Next

November 13, 2017 By Bristol Palin

Manda and Richard Grover tried for years to have a baby. Then — surprise! — they found out they were having two! When they went to the doctor, however, scans indicated one of the twins had Down’s syndrome. Imagine being pregnant with twins and finding out this news. That must be so scary!

They were shocked at the advice they got from doctors.

Repeatedly, they asked these parents if they wanted to abort the twin that had Down syndrome. Can you imagine? (more…)