August 18, 2013

EGE - DEN....DEN - CVG

Just like thousands of families across the country I have been getting my daughter ready to go to college. And yesterday, just like thousands of Moms across the country I put my daughter Alex on a plane to go to college.

The last week has been hectic. We have been packing, going to parties and sharing the obligatory separation anxiety as manifested in many mom and daughter fights. I should have expected this - the same thing happened when my oldest daughter went to college three years ago. It still hurts the same.

We spent the last night in Eagle to be closer to the Vail airport for her 6:23 AM flight. As she reminded me often in those 12 hours - it was our last dinner together and the last night we would "cuddle" in a hotel together. Just like her sister she plans to spend next summer with friends and only come home every once in a while. (we will see about that Alex!)

Alex did not forget her bowling ball

And just like thousands of families across the country I cried when I sent my baby off on a plane. I worried about her making her connection in Denver and I convinced myself everything would be fine.

The commuter planes go back and forth to Denver all day long

And it was.....Alex arrived in Denver without delays, followed the signs to "all flights", found a United representative, asked for the gate number to Cincinnati, waited for her zone to be called and took her seat (2A - thanks to the United representative at Vail).

Her father met her in Cincinnati, where they collected her bags and headed to Aunt Mary Beth and Uncle Pete's house. Today they will shop for college and tomorrow at 1 PM Alex will be a college student at University of Cincinnati. She is enrolled in TAP, a program for people with developmental disabilities in its second year at UC.

Alex loves little kids  - this is her cousin "Jillie Bean"

Is this remarkable? No. College has been Alex's dream for a long time, just like her peers and just like her siblings. I just needed to learn to listen.

Is this remarkable? Yes. Only 15 years before Alex's birth in 1993 Doctors were recommending babies born with Down syndrome be institutionalized. It was only three years before Alex's birth the original IDEA was enacted, calling for services to support all learners in public schools. And it is only recently that select colleges and universities across the country have embraced curriculum that support students with developmental disabilities in college classrooms. 

We live in remarkable times.

Please follow Alex's journey on facebook - The Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Girl. I promise to share all the ups and downs of college. 


8 comments:

  1. Oh, this is definitely remarkable! She's clearing the path for others to make the same incredible journey! You rock Alex!!

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    1. Thanks Cindy - all our kids have cleared paths haven't they? Glad I can follow all the younger kids through the blogs to share their future from a far!

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  2. This is just so exciting! I can't wait to read about Alex's college adventures!

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    1. Thanks - I sure hope Alex will share with me...if she is anything like her siblings I will have to drag it out of her.

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  3. This is AWESOME! Alex, I hope that you have the time of your life, while away at college. And, Mom, what more can you ask? You've raised a self-reliant daughter, who obviously loves you very much. You did good! :)

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    1. Thanks for the kind words...I sure hope this works out well for all of us!

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  4. This is so awesome! We grant scholarships to adults with Down syndrome for college and granted on to an individual last year attending the TAP program! You should check us out! Loved reading about this...she sounds like an amazing lady :)

    Liz Plachta
    President, Ruby's Rainbow
    www.rubysrainbow.org

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    1. Thanks for the info. I will definately be in touch!

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