100% of the money made will be donated to The JSS’s PTO, and will be earmarked to help purchase a fully adaptive “My First Bike” for our students to use.

We need your help, and we are offering a couple of great perks to those who lend a hand! Please see the infor-mation below, and let us know where you can contribute!

Saturday, October 1st from 9:00am-2:00pm**
Set-up will be from 8:45am-11:30am on Friday, September 30th**

Click here for more information.

Claire was born with Down Syndrome. We were shocked and devastated when we found out at her birth since there was nothing which showed up on the ultrasounds. We knew nothing about Down Syndrome and all we had were fears based on ignorance. Well…..8, almost 9 years later, Claire has taught us a wealth of information. Such as…..every milestone can be reached …just in her own time. She sat at a year old; She ate solid food at 2; She walked at 3; She climbed at 4; She was potty trained at 6; She wrote her name at 7; She can read at 8. She has recently learned to swim at 8! Miss Claire is now on the swim team for the Special Olympics and absolutely LOVES it! She has loved the water since she was 3. Every summer, at her Opa’s and Auntie’s homes in Florida, she learned to swim more and more independently. Last summer, she became a fish for the summer! She has a passion for the water so we knew that the Special Olympics Swimming was just for her! She has been practicing every Thursday and is doing just great! Freedom in the water!

The one thing she has not been able to do is find that same freedom on a bike. For some reason, a regular tricycle has been her most challenging hurdle.

Now, at age 8, there are no tricycles which can accommodate her size. She has wanted to ride a bike for the longest time along with her older sister. Unfortunately, she can only walk at our side while her sister zooms all round us on her bike. Claire would try and try to ride but could not understand the gist of what to do with her feet. She is now 8 years old…almost 9, and she will not have the chance to accomplish that milestone before she gets too old if we do not get a bike that is just her size! Every child should have that chance to ride a bike! Every child should be able to run out that door and say “see ya, mom! I’m going to ride my bike!”.  Every child should feel the wind in her hair and feel that freedom that only a bike can offer! One day, with this special bike, Claire will be able to do just that! She will be able to ride with her big sister with a beautiful grin on her face on her very own bike! Hair in the air, confidence in every push of her legs! YES! Another milestone reached!

Claire is so much more than the Down Syndrome. If anything, the Down Syndrome is just a small part of her persona. So often, we forget to mention she has Down Syndrome because it just is not who she is! She is a typical little girl of 8 who loves to sing and dance to the Hannah Montana songs. She loves to run and play at the playground. She loves to wear pretty clothes and “be beautiful” She even jokes around and teases her big sister…driving her crazy! Just like a little sister would do! She loves to draw and paint. She loves books and to be read to. She has just learned to read some simple words on her own!. One day, she will be the reader her Mama is. She also loves to play soccer! She is now part of Special Needs Soccer team on Sundays. She has had some challenges, which have been difficult to overcome, such as correct social behaviors with other children. Sometimes, she is overwhelmed by too much noise and activity in a classroom with typical kids. This makes her push out or hit. This is why she is in a Special Needs Classroom at church! This classroom has only up to 5 kids with two adult volunteers as teachers! A perfect environment for Claire. She thrives in more intimate classrooms like this and is now growing out of her pushing and hitting behaviors as I am typing this! She is beginning to recognize that smaller children need her gentleness and care and not a pushy attitude! Also, Claire can be a strong willed, independent, and stubborn little girl which makes it difficult to watch as she tries to ride a bike geared for typical children. She tries and she tries and she tries. Of course, she wants to do it all by herself! “I do it! Mom…I do it!!” Our hearts break when she cannot. At 8 years old, Claire has become a beautiful little girl with so many passions, riding a bike being one of them. We would love to be able to provide to her this one gift of freedom that she has been longing for ever since she has first seen her big sister ride.. The victory of that first bike ride! The freedom that only a bike can provide! The ability to be one of the kids in the neighborhood! Not different…not excluded…not watching from the outskirts, but included in the squeals, laughter, yelling, and play of all the kids riding bikes in the neighborhood….. One day as a family, we will be able to ride together. We all need the exercise! “See ya, Mom! I’m going to ride my bike with my friends” Yippee!

 

Donate to Claire’s campaign

You may also mail your check to…

My First Bike
185 Shelli Lane
Roswell, GA   30075

What: Van Michael Cut-A-Thon - Portion of the proceeds to benefit My First Bike. Monies raised will be put towards a Freedom Concepts bike for Anthony Smith! Click here to check out Anthony’s Story.

When: Monday, June 20th; 3:00-7:00 p.m.

Where: Van Michael Salon – Buckhead. Address: 39 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30305. Ph: 404-237-4664

Anthony Smith was born on 12/15/2005.  During delivery Anthony experienced great trauma.  Four failed attempts with the vacuum led to more force on his head when he had to be pushed back up into the birth canal for an emergency c-section.  Because of this severe trauma, Anthony is delayed.  He currently suffers from Lennox Gastaut (a severe type of epilepsy), Cerebral Palsy, Cortical Visual Impairment, he is G-tube dependent, and wheelchair dependent.

Having his own bicycle would give my son’s physical being strength in his legs, confidence, a sense of independence, and the opportunity to play and engage with typical functioning kids.  Thank you for your consideration in donating to Anthony’s very own bicycle!

Libra Smith, Anthony’s mom

Donate to Anthony’s campaign

 

You may also mail your check to…

My First Bike
185 Shelli Lane
Roswell, GA   30075

With no geographic restrictions for admission, students come from a ten county area of metro Atlanta and south central Georgia.  Throughout its 26 year history, The JSS has grown in enrollment from serving 6 students in 1984-85 to 70 students in the current school year through its various programs and services.  Programs include:

• Early intervention, Primary, Elementary and Upper School programs
• Autism-Spectrum Module
• Speech/Language Program
• Occupational/Physical Therapy
• MOVE® International Program
• Fine Arts Program
• ASPIRE (After School Program-Inclusive, Recreational, and Educational)
• JSS Readiness/Tutorial Clinic
• Extracurricular Program
• Parent Support/Educational Program
• Consultative Outreach Program
• Internship Program

The JSS maintains a commitment to finding and utilizing the most effective methods of training and educating children with disabilities.  A piece of equipment that is so simple to most of us can be a major hurdle in acquiring when dealing with a child with special needs.  It is therefore essential for our students to have the opportunity to enjoy a fun and recreational activity that also benefits them physically and that most people would take for granted.  The bikes would be used at school with our students, but would also be available to families to check out on weekends.  A bicycle is a vehicle that almost everyone learns to ride in their lifetime and we feel they should be available to all persons regardless of their limitations.

Interested in learning more?  Click here to read a letter of recommendation for the Joseph Sams School from Heather Kontos, PT at Kool Kidz Inc.  Click here to read a letter of recommendation for the Joseph Sams School from Stacey Caldwell.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Read the full article from The Times-Herald here.

Read about suzy here.