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Emma's Story

Emma is 15 and has Down syndrome. She is visually impaired which make it a bit challenging to find activities for her to enjoy. We tried T-ball, soccer, skating. Mom always has to run along with her instead of just cheering alongside the fields like other parents do… And Emma was not too aware of what was expected of her as her vision doesn't grasp the big picture around her. We knocked at a few other doors and were flat out ignored.

Then we found ballet. Emma loves it and is in her glory performing in the recitals at the end of the year. She is a natural on "the big stage". She has DVDs of the recitals and watches them over and over again. It is quite expensive and we have to drive to Cornwall, which is 1 hour away from home, every Saturday from September to June. She participated when she was 10 and 12. Then she encountered all kinds of health and behaviour issues which kept us away from ballet.

This year, thanks to the Champions 4 Kids Foundation, Emma is back at ballet. She puts up a bit of resistance getting ready and leaving home, but once she's there she transforms into this awesome student and follows her teacher's leads. Ballet has helped Emma with her balance, self confidence, and brought her out of her shell!

Our goal this year is to have Emma do her routine at the GDHS talent show; we can't wait to share her successes with her schoolmates and teachers!

Here she is, Emma Ballerina!

Emma doing ballet at the barre Emma in her recital costume

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