When our twins were born on November 10, 2006, we were full of joy, happiness, sorrow, anxiety, loss, and worry. You see, one of our twins, William, was born with Down syndrome, and his sister, Hannah, was born as a typical baby without any issues. We experienced a range of emotions that day but mostly due to the anxiety of not understanding William’s disability or what it meant for us as parents and to our family.
As months and then years progressed, we learned more and more and found help through a variety of means and organizations. One of those organizations was TNSTEP. As William came closer to the age of moving from TEIS into a public school setting, our anxiety, and nervousness increased with each approaching day. We began to look for organizations that could help us understand the process and attended a transition workshop sponsored by TNSTEP. We did not know what to expect from the workshop nor had any idea about William’s rights as a child with a disability. The instructor explained the process, and laws, and eased some of our anxiety for us. As parents of a child with a disability, we often become vocal advocates of what is best for our child once they enter school. TNSTEP helped and prepared us to take on this role – a role that must be learned. We are grateful for TNSTEP and all it has done to make us a better advocate for William. Thanks!
