By Ann Stedum
Lydia is a delightful young lady who loves sports, fishing, and being with friends. She is a faithful follower of the SDSU basketball and football team. She was also born with a partial deletion of chromosome 19 and has ADHD, OCD, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Speech Apraxia. To our knowledge, she is the only person in the world missing this particular section of chromosome 19.
While these diagnoses make learning and everyday life a challenge, they have never held Lydia back from giving everything in life her best shot! She has a big heart and is always thinking of others.
Many people think about inclusion as inviting an individual with special needs into their space, but to our family, inclusion means people taking the time to step into Lydia’s world. Lydia, like many others with special needs, cannot easily fit into someone else’s world, but we can try to fit into theirs.
Inclusion and Birthday Parties
Lydia has always loved parties, especially birthday parties. She starts planning her birthday party a year in advance, invites everyone she can, and loves watching everyone enjoy what she has planned. For her 10th birthday, she wanted Mike Daum (an SDSU basketball player) to attend her party. We were able to reach out to Mike, and he happily agreed to come and surprise Lydia. Mike showed inclusion by stepping into Lydia’s world.
Being invited to the birthday parties of kids Lydia knows well means so much to Lydia and our family. Everyone wants to be included because it makes them feel special and loved. Lydia is very social, and although she cannot always fully participate, she loves being near the action.
Our best birthday party experience when Lydia was younger was because of strong communication. The Mom asked how she could make the party accessible to Lydia and how to provide her with the best experience. She allowed me to attend with Lydia, and we both had a great time! Communication with the parents of a child with special needs is essential.
Where Lydia Thrives
When Lydia was younger, we desperately wanted her to fit in with her peers. We realized that trying to put her in everyone else’s world was not what she desired, nor was it even where she felt comfortable.
Special Olympics is near and dear to our hearts. Lydia has made so many friends through Special Olympics and her time with them is treasured. These are her people! There are many ways for individuals to get involved with Special Olympics, and volunteering at events is the best way to show inclusion. When people volunteer their time, Lydia feels included and loved by them.
Last year, we surprised Lydia with a parade for her 16th birthday! We invited her entire Special Olympics team, along with family and friends! They decorated cars, bikes, and scooters and drove down our street singing happy birthday.
We cannot, and should not, expect Lydia and other children with special needs to fit into a box that we’ve created in our minds. But we can show inclusion by stepping into their world and meeting them where they’re at. By doing this, we are blessing the child. However, the blessing received in return is something uniquely special. When you spend time with someone with special needs, doing what they enjoy, your heart will grow by leaps and bounds!
