Preparing for his daughter’s high school graduation, Cincinnati Enquirer sportswriter Paul Daugherty pens a poignant message to parents of all children with disabilities: “Expect. Don’t accept.”

Daugherty says daughter Jillian has “maxed-out her potential”, defying expectations by riding a two-wheeled bike, joining the high school dance team, graduating from high school. Jillian has Down syndrome.

An excerpt:

Don’t allow your hope to be tethered to the perceptions of others. All we’ve done for Jillian is fight for her right to be Jillian. She has done the rest. The proof is Saturday, when the seas part, the world stills and she flips the tassel.

… With Jillian, it’s been a joy, a wonder, a pain, a pleasure, infinite sadness salved by timeless hope. A patience with some, a fight with others, a full-time yearn that, someday, everyone will not simply look at her, but will see her as well.

Maybe beginning today. Graduation Day.

Earlier post here.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 am and is filed under Down syndrome, NOT2BEMISSED, commentary, education, graduation, parents, personal stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.