Breaking News! Daniela Goldstone is now a published author!

From Tina -

Daniela will write more about the summit this weekend ( and I am only allowed to write about the summit after she finishes what she wants to say about it!). But I did want to share some good news. For those of you who are loyal readers, you may remember me saying awhile back that Daniela and I were writing an article about post secondary options for students with intellectual disabilities for Adoption Today magazine. Well, that magazine is now out and Daniela has now reached her goal of being a published author! The article looks great ( as they always do in Adoption Today) and it is even mentioned on the cover. Daniela loved seeing her name, as not the subject of an article (as she has been a number of times), but as a co-author.

For those of you who are adoptive families, considering adoption, or who have family or friends who have adopted, I highly recommend this magazine and not just because of the article. I relied on it heavily as Daniela was growing up as it featured many articles about international adoption and the different issues that families face. If you want to subscribe to the magazine, which is now published only digitally, you can do so at:

www.adoptinfo.net

- for the great price of $12.00 a year.

If you want to purchase just one copy, (such as the current issue of August/September 2010 with our article!) you can do so by going to the back issues tab at:


http://www.adoptinfo.net/catalog_g172.html?catId=164940

- for just $2.00

You can search for issues that might be relevant to your family and also buy back issues for those articles.

It looks like Daniela and I may be collaborating again for another article this fall, this time for Exceptional Parent magazine. We'll give you more details on that at a later time!!!

All the best,


Tina

My Trip to DC - The I'm Determined Youth Summit!

Registering for the conference!

They gave us lots of free stuff, including a shirt, bag, and binder!

With my wonderful roommates Sara and Jasmine!

With Darren, one of the Summit Leaders

With Kim, another Summit Leader

Another Leader, Geoff

With Paul also on the Staff

Last weekend I went with my mom to the I'm Determined Youth Summit. It was in Washington DC. Our hotel was in Arlington Va. I met so many new friends. My roommates were very nice. I learned how to stand up for my rights. We visited the The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Newseum. On the last day we visited the Capitol and met with the staff of  Senators Warner and Webb. We also met with Heather Sawyer, Counsel, House Judiciary Committee.

It was the best weekend of my life!! I had so much fun with my friends and learned so many new things. I hope that I get the chance to go to another Youth Summit this  fall in Staunton Va. I have to apply and write another essay. Please wish me luck!!!

Tomorrow I will write more about my trip and show you  more  pictures.

love, Daniela

Related articles by Zemanta

• Holocaust Memorial Museum honors fallen security guard (washingtontimes.com)
• The Newseum, DC's Most Switched On Museum (washington-dc-travel.suite101.com)

I Want to go to College

Please watch this very moving new video from Think College. It very eloquently explains why Daniela and so many other students with intellectual disabilities have the dream and are trying so hard to go to college just like anyone else their age. Great job, Think College!

Tina

Click on this link!


I want to go to college

Daniela Rules!!

From Tina -

Just to let you know, Daniela did the last post all on her own, including correcting her spelling and grammar! She knows better than me now how to get the photos on the posts....

Also she just redesigned her blog so that it would be easier to read and so that the titles would stand out.

Great job, Daniela!


love,  Mom

BUSY SUMMER!!!

y

This is from our trip to Washington DC . We went to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

This man is from Mexicao.

My new room!!!!!!!!

Hello,

I'm sorry for not writing to you but I have had a busy summer. I have been volunteering at the animal shelter. We have been doing a lot of fun stuff. I have been working hard on my new room. I love my new room and I like my big bed. I am going on an exciting trip and I will be writing to you when I get back.


love, Daniela

Look at last post for an addendum to" The Specials"

Great web series on students with disabilities living on their own!

From Tina

Couldn't sleep last night, so got up early and was checking out some new media for families with students with intellectual disabilities. Just found this great series from Great Britain called the "The Specials" http://www.the-specials.com/home


I just ordered the DVD . The previews look amazing and follow a group of roommates with intellectual disabilities who are also college students, several who have Down syndrome. After buying it, I found at you can also watch the series on the web-site! Looks like a great resource to watch with your older children, with disabilities or not, as they think about moving out on their own.

I watched a bit of it this morning, some of it is a little more than PG, so if you are at all concerned you might want to watch it ahead of time before sitting down to watch it with your kids. (British TV series  are often more liberal in their TV broadcasts.)

Enjoy! Let us know what you think of the series!


http://www.the-specials.com/home


Sunday - Finally finished watching the whole series. It is amazing! You will fall in love with Sam, Lewis, Hilly, Megan, and Lucy.  Five incredible young people living their lives together and making their dreams come true. The series won two Webby Awards in NYC and and a documentary is to follow on how Hilly's parents developed the plan for these housemates to live on their own. I can't wait! Anyone who has a young adult child with intellectual disabilities will be inspired (and probably a little jealous!) It is my dream for Daniela to live her adult life in just such a situation. Daniela just loves the series as well. It helped her to see just what could be possible for her future!