AADC 2016

AADC 2016
Our program is located in Lexington, KY.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A parent's perspective

From Sarah Russell:


Click HERE to view her blog post:


Last week my two oldest children attended their second year of All Abilities Drama Camp. There are no words to express how much this camp means to my children and me. It has changed the way they view the world, made them more accepting and opened my eyes and made me more aware.

Last year, I kept waiting for all the questions. Questions about why some kids are different and how they should approach them. But those questions never came. Until this year. Camp had been in session about 2 days. Kayla came home and told me she had asked one child's mom what was "wrong with her". I almost died. I explained to her that there was nothing "wrong" with anyone at camp. They were the way God made them and they were perfect. This opened up a whole afternoon of conversation. Hard questions for this mama. And I didn't have all the answers. Questions like "Why does she have a wheelchair?" and "Why can't he talk like me?" were easier to answer. But the hard ones really floored me. Like "Why did God let that happen to them?" and "Will she die little or be an adult one day?". What do you say to that? To the first, I answered that I didn't know exactly why God chose those kids to have certain disabilites, but I did know that seeing them try and never give up, made me realize I should do the same. I shouldn't complain about exercising, so many people in this world would do anything to be able to walk across the room. I shouldn't get mad when my kids are singing at the top of their lungs and I can't hear The Bachelor; many mothers would cry tears of joy to hear one syllable pass their children's lips. As for the second question about growing up, I simply gathered them onto my lap and said I did not know. And that we never know how long any of us have so we should learn from their new friends' examples and live life as fully as we can, each and every day.

I don't know if I had the right answers. But I do know I am thankful my children were able to be in an environment where they were encouraged to notice the similarities, not the differences they had with others. This week's message was to never give up and "keep on getting stronger". And my kids did. I especially saw a change in Deuce, my shy one. They posted a video on their blog of him reading aloud in front of his writing class, alone. I cried big, proud tears when I saw this. He also had to get up in front of an entire sanctuary of people and hold a sign and he jumped right up there. Deuce really loves camp.I think it is because he sometimes feels scared and uncomfortable in his own skin and the attitude at camp helps him to see he's perfect in his own way. It's also good for Kayla, because she sees that being perfect or popular is not the thing that matters. Being kind and caring and being you is important. She had her first ever solo lines in the play, and did a fantastic job of playing a blind dragon!

I love this camp. Next year Lainey will attend, followed in two more years by Josie. Then I can volunteer and I am very excited. I can't wait to see how the camp grows and changes ad makes Lexington a better place. I know it's made me and my kids better people. And this mama is very thankful for that.

Monday, June 25, 2012