My name is Sara Greenberg and I live near Buffalo, New York. I am 21 years old. I created this web site when I was 14 years old.
My name is Sara Greenberg and I live near Buffalo, New York. I am 21 years old. I created this web site when I was 14 years old. I am a premedical student at the University at Buffalo. I attended my first year of college in Israel. I also did a bit of advocacy work there. I worked with adults with different abilities who are trying to become independent, in Tiveria. I also spent some time at Prof. Feuerstien's center in Jerusalem. And experienced an institution in Israel, first hand.
My passion, if you haven't already figured out, is Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome are a huge part of my life. My goal, is to know everything about DS and meet as many people with DS as humanly possible.
- independently ran the first Annual Buffalo Buddy Walk which raised $2,800 for the NDSS and promoted acceptance of people with DS in our community
- started a Best Buddy Program at my High School
Worked as an inclusionist at :
- "Play It Again" JCC Drama for Kids
- Temple Beth Zion, religious Preschool
- Camp Lakeland of Franklinville, NY
I have also volunteered for :
- Yad B'Yad (orginization to promote inclusion)
- Buffalo School #82 ECC
- Life Skills Class at Lockport High School
More recently, I've...
- Headed the Multiples-DS session at the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Conference in Washington, DC
- Teach an inclusive classroom at TBZ Broder Center School
- Respite sitter for Western NY
- Started and Administrate the Multiples-DS listserv (for families with twins, triplets, or higher order multiple births and DS)
I am a constant day-to-day advocate. I attend school board meetings, correct printed material that does not use PC People First language, and meet with new parents of children with Down syndrome. I have also been a guest speaker to elementary and high school classrooms about Down syndrome and tolerance training.
I can do it, because a little girl opened my own eyes and made my heart a better one. Her name is Kaitlyn Mary Brown and she was born in early August 1994. She had strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes, and Down syndrome. I had agreed before she was born and before we knew she'd had Down syndrome to be her nanny. A little nervious at first, I fell in love at our first meeting. We grew together and our parents would often comment on the strong bond in which we both shared. She became my best friend and I spent all my time with her. At 7 months of age, Kaitlyn needed open heart surgery. She came home a month later, but she was not better. I could hear her pain in her cry and that night she returned to the Hospital. Kaitlyn Mary Brown passed away on the first day of Spring 1995, she was 8 months old. It was the saddest time of my life.
In return for all the love I recieved from both Kaitlyn and her family, I set myself out to make sure Kaitlyn's life had meaning to other people that will never have the chance to meet her. So many people can only dream of angels and I held one in my arms.
My best friend, Darren, who is the same age as me and happens to have Down syndrome, is my partner in advocacy. We have done some presentations on DS together. He keeps me going when I think I am having no effect. He was my date to my Senior Prom in High School and has really made my life a more exciting one. But, mostly, we just do normal people stuff together, such as talking on the phone and playing golf ! (Love you D !)
Other heros I have, include Chris Burke. You probably know Chris as "Corky" from the TV show "Life Goes On." (That's me and Chris on the right) He's a great guy ! And Emily Perl Kingsley ... an amazing women to say the least !
You can get intouch with me by e-mail.
I would love to hear about you and your family !!
