Roseland / Beech Grove
Nelson County, Virginia
While some parts of Virginia were digging out from over a foot of snow, the weather perfectly cooperated for the World Down Syndrome Day held this past Sunday at Blue Toad Hard Cider and Farm in Beech Grove of Nelson County. Todd Rath, owner of Blue Toad Cidery donated $1 of every pint of cider purchased to DSAGR.
“It’s a celebration for World Down Syndrome Day which happens on March 21st every year. It represents the extra third chromosome on number 21 which creates down syndrome. It’s a celebration of our kids abilities and talents,” Terry Lancaster – Executive Director of the Down Syndrome Association of Richmond tells us.
This year’s event was moved to this past Sunday due to bad weather earlier in March.
“Charlottesville is one of our community groups. We are based in Richmond but we have community groups of smaller numbers of people throughout the state that we support and provide funding for to help encourage our families to tap us for resources. For educational support. Do IEP support (Individualized Education Program). We offer scholarships.
Down Syndrome is when an extra chromosome on the 21st pair, so you get three instead of two. Children with down syndrome have similar characteristics to each other, but mostly they are similar to their parents. The genetic makeup is just like that of their parents, other than that extra chromosome. They learn differently, but learn as well as you and I learn. But they learn in a different way. We have learned a lot through research on how to teach our children and how they can succeed in the classroom.”
“This valley has also offered us the welcoming and supporting nature that we want in a community. They have been huge in integrating Sage into the sports programs and all of the activities and everything else that we available for typically developing children, we available for Sage. She’s welcomed with open arms. She has that ability to be a part of everything and people have learned that she’s just like everybody else. They’ve grown up with her and know her and now going to high school with her,” Robyn Ebelherr tells us about her 16 year old daughter Sage.
The afternoon rounded out with live music by David Tewksbury, The Charlottesville Community Drum Choir, Face Painting, Games & Blue Mountain Brewery Food Truck.
