Week 3 at Shepherds College

Daniela has now completed her third week at Shepherds. Each phone call home sounds happier, less nervous and more confident in her surroundings.

Classes have now started in earnest and Daniela's biggest challenge is just keeping her schedule straight and bringing what she needs for each class. I would imagine this is common for most students with disabilities (and for most new college students regardless of abilities or disabilities). Fortunately at Shepherds, they help them with this challenge. There is a class in study skills and also Mrs. K., Daniela's adviser, is helping her to devise strategies to make sure she stays organized. Daniela is also coming up with her own suggestions of what will help her to stay on top of things. Let me be clear about this - Shepherds students are not coddled or patronized. There are clear expectations which they are expected to meet. AND there are clear consequences if they do not meet them, including not being able to participate in a class or other activity. (And the classes and activities are so interesting, and so much fun, that students DO NOT want this to happen).

Students are expected to dress in a professional manner for classes, and to bring everything their class requires in order to participate. No phones or other electronic media are allowed in certain areas, especially the academic areas. Proper behavior and participation, of course, is a must. The strict routines will be very helpful to students as they make their way into the job force. In fact, I have worked in places where employees would certainly have benefited from these lessons!

I thought you might be interested to hear about the classes Daniela is taking this semester. There are many, so I can see why it is a bit difficult to keep them all straight. Here they are:

1. Language Arts
2. Math
3. Personal Bible Study
4. Root of Faith
5. Computer Skills
6. Personal Development
7. Study Skills
8. Introduction to Culinary Arts
9. Introduction to Horticulture
10. Daily Living Skills and Daily Living Skills Lab

Wow, Huh! Each class is held 1-4 times a week. They also have a study hall at the end of the afternoon where they are expected to complete all or most of their homework assignments. They have Chapel on Monday mornings and attend church on Sunday mornings. There are also evening activities planned many evenings. There is a student led group called Ai2 which holds weekly meetings. (It is led by third year students with the assistance of second year students.) There are also activities planned most weekends. This past weekend they went boating on Saturday and went to the Down Syndrome Buddy Walk at the Milwaukee Zoo on Sunday. ( see links to photos below.)

Daniela loves almost everything about Shepherds, with maybe the exception of chores, which are mandatory. Even then, she understands she is part of a team, part of a family and that she needs to fulfill her responsibilities to make that family run smoothly. I know there will be more challenges as the year goes by for Daniela but, happily, she seems ready to face them, meet them head-on, and move ahead in her journey to independence!


Here are some links you might want to check out -

This a wonderful blog by the mother of another young woman on her own journey to independence! The Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Girl

Photo of Daniela in Computer class  (first class of the day - hair still wet from a shower)


Daniela and friends at the Buddy Walk at the Milwaukee Zoo - It was a little chilly and rainy but looks like they had a great time!

Daniela and her friend Lindsey

Daniela and classmates at the Buddy walk

Not sure who this character in the middle is!