Brianna Fallon Blask Erika Cottet Nicole Iafe Brianna

Brianna Fallon Blask Erika Cottet Nicole Iafe

Brianna • • • Full of energy and out going Extroverted personality Loves hugs and sharing Loves to play “hard” She enjoys competition Active child that explores her environment with great enthusiasm • Interacted well with other children of different ages • Very smart, identified all the letters of the alphabet by age 5

Quote: “She could sort of get away with looking real dainty and catch them off guard, then suddenly giving them a sock or something, or jumping on their back. I don’t worry about other children picking on her, to the contrary, I warn older kids to be careful, she’s not as harmless as she pretends. ” – Paulette

Home Life • Raised in a strong Christian home. • Enjoys time with older sister Netta. • Lived in suburban neighborhood in a single family home. • Paulette tried to work mostly from home. • Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. • Brianna spent most of her time downstairs in the playroom with her toys.

Adoption • Brianna was known as “God’s Challenge” • Brianna was adopted by Paulette at 5 months old • Born with Down Syndrome • Placement process took 2 months • First lesson in Paulette learning to be an advocate for Brianna

Advocacy For Life • Paulette took a class so she could adopt a child with a disability • Paulette then became a stronger believer in the Pro-life movement • Paulette negotiated to work from home to raise Bri

Child Care • Bri with foster mother was receiving Early Intervention and continued when she was adopted. • Paulette struggled to find adequate child care. • People continued to make excuses to not take Bri because of her disability. • Initially provided 6 months of day care at home. • Final day care provider with religious instruction: Mrs. B. • Good fit: structure, other children, collaborated with early intervention staff.

Child Care and Early Intervention Collaboration • Few issues: – Therapist was not a good fit – Various adults working with Bri assessed her differently • Paulette wanted better coordination with services. • Services provided on-site and in-facility. • Switched coordination services from the school to The ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens).

What do you think? • “People working in the special education system come in with biases because of their training and lack of exposure to typical children with different abilities. ” -Paulette

Inclusion: • Paulette wanted Bri to be in a general first grade class. • Bri attended child care program from age 1 -4 – Unique inclusive placement at Mrs. B. ’s – Family child care: more like home – Bri’s interaction with other children was similar to that of siblings • Paulette valued interactions and wanted Bri to be in general child care as well as special programs. • Preschool was viewed as preparation for school with assistance from special ed. when needed.

Visions of the Future • Paulette’s idea of inclusion changed – Concerned about negative exposure children receive in the public school environment. – Paulette believed Bri needed a more sheltered environment until she could determine what is appropriate and safe to imitate.

Bri Growing Up! • Paulette emphasized normalcy • By age 5 Bri was very attractive in appearance and personality. – Model – Attention • Marriage: “I am beginning to be one of those people who want to choose their daughter’s husband. ” • Expects Bri to marry a typical man but may fall in love with someone with a mental or physical disability. • Priority is a man who is a Christian.