“I love doing math, and hanging out with my friends Austin and Vince," says Daniella Caracci, who is just finishing her freshman year at Nequa Valley High School.
She recently suffered a tremendous loss. “My grandpa passed away. He liked to garden. He taught me about flowers. Sunflowers are my favorite.”
Here's the rest of Sam’s interview with Daniella:
“My favorite place to be is Walt Disney World. We went there a long time ago for my birthday. I was scared when I got on the airplane, but my mom and dad helped me. I loved meeting all the characters, and I liked the tea cup ride and the roller coaster. I also love when it gets dark, and the castle glows, and the fireworks are so loud.
“I’m happiest when I go to Iowa to visit my big brother, Nick. He’s a freshman this year at University of Iowa.”
Favorite activities? “I like Best Buddies, Five-star Tennis, Special Olympics bowling and track, and play practice. We did Shrek, and I was proud because I remembered my lines.”
Goals for the future? “I’m going to camp in August for a couple of weeks! I’ve never been before.”
Austin Underwood, 39, went to college right out of high school, and studied to be a prep chef. He’s lived on his own ever since graduation, but since jobs in the restaurant business were hard to find, he worked at a local grocery store for 13 years before asking a local restaurateur for a job. And in the last two years, it’s incredibly exciting to hear how his dreams have begun to unfold!
Here’s more of Sam’s interview with the proud owner of Austin’s Underdawgs:
Best and worst things about owning your own business? “I like making money, and I like the people who work for me. My mom works for me. She does a good job. I also have four different people working for me. I have a friend, Daniel (he has Down syndrome too), who works for me along with his sister.”
The worst thing is the clean up. You have to clean off the grill and everything, and the make it nice for the next party.”
Of all the dogs you sell, what’s your favorite? “My favorite is the Straw Dog. It has raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce with bacon bits, and crispy fried onion straws, on a Vienna beef hot dog.”
Is there anyone who you see as a role model? “I love to cook, and my role model is my boss named David Campisi. I work for him four nights a week, at his own restaurant. I’m a host by the door. I can walk there, it’s four or five blocks away. At night, Uber takes me home.” Austin also now has an item on the menu: “We call it Austin’s Famous Banana Pudding! My grandma made this pudding herself, and then she taught me.” After Austin made it for all the employees at the restaurant, they decided it needed to be on the menu, and people now ask for it at the door!
Austin attended Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell right out of high school, studying to be a prep chef. What did you learn in college that has helped you? “I learned cooking and stir-frying. I was the stir-fry chef at the college cafeteria. I learned how to put in what people want in it—shrimp, rice. I enjoyed doing that.”
Would you recommend college to others? “Yes. They can live in the dorm by themselves, they can learn how to go to the grocery store, and buy their own groceries.”
What do you like to do in your free time? “I like to play tennis, and go to the movies. I also like to go bowling, or go workout, and I like to ride my bicycle. I like to hang out with my parents at their house and have dinner. That’s what I like the most. Sometimes they call me and I walk over for dinner.”
Where’s your favorite place to be? “I like to go the beach, and I like going on cruises. I’ve been on four Disney cruises. I like all the food, the shows, and movies. It’s nice they have a schedule so you can tell what time everything starts and when it’s over.”
What are you most looking forward to? “We might do something with Tim Harris, so he might go with me to Lubbock—he’s a lot of fun and a great person.”
What are your goals for the future? “I like cooking hot dogs because it makes me feel good. I like working in my new RV. I want to expand my business.”
What advice do you have for others with Down syndrome? “I want people with Down syndrome to be like me and have their own business and their own place—to learn to be independent. That’s what I want for them . . . and also to listen to their mothers and fathers. My advice is for people to learn how to make money, cook on their own, do laundry, and clean their houses.”
This year Austin and Jan plan to turn Austin’s Underdawg’s into a franchise that will give back—by providing many more people with disabilities the opportunity to own their own hot dog businesses, and by donating a portion of the Underdawg’s proceeds directly toward starting a vocational program for people with intellectual disabilities on the well-situated property (by 3 major colleges and universities), which Jan inherited from her family.
Bridget Shannon is a fourth grader at St. Raphael Catholic School in Naperville, where she’s been with the same class of children since kindergarten. Bridget's thankful for her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Bartelt, “because she pushes me to learn.”
Lady Bird Johnson once said, “Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” During National Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re especially thankful for all the teachers who believe in and nurture the great potential inside every child.
Here’s more of Sam’s interview with Bridget:
Favorite activities? “I like art and music at school. I also like sports—track and basketball. Basketball is my favorite, because I play on a team and we won our game, and I scored.”
Favorite place to be and why? “Forever Yogurt, and at any park. I play tag, swing, slide, climb, jump, and always make friends.”
Proudest moment? “Making my first communion. I took classes and learned to pray, and I loved playing on the swings in my big white dress.”
Someone you admire? “Katy Dumais, because she actually plays with me. She plays school with me, and sings karaoke, and dances, and shoots hoops. Our families go out to dinner together sometimes, too.”
Goals for the future? “I want to learn to drive a car, and I want to be a waitress someday at Traverso’s (an Italian restaurant).”
If you could change anything about the world, what would it be? “I would get to see everyone. Everyone would live close by, and no one would move away.”
Garrett Anderson, 28, learned to drive in high school. His mom, Sharon, first had his capability evaluated at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, and he did his behind-the-wheel instruction through Marianjoy as well.
Here’s more of Sam's interview with Garrett:
When did you learn to drive? “I learned when I was a sophomore in high school. Mom taught me. I love driving, because for example if my parents get old, then I will help drive them.” [He is already helping out at times, when his parents have needed another driver. For the most part, Garrett doesn’t drive on expressways. He says, “People are impatient with me.”]
Garrett attended Eastern New Mexico University Roswell for 15 months, and later graduated with a certificate in early childhood education from Harper College in 2011. Although he went away to school at a tumultuous time for the family, and went through some very difficult times while away from home, he and his mom say he learned valuable lessons in money management, self-care, navigating bus systems and airports, and using discernment in developing friendships.
Would you recommend college to others with Down syndrome? “Yes, I would recommend college to people with Down syndrome because I want people to be included. Sometimes they want to pursue a career. I want them to advocate for themselves because they have a voice and they need to be heard.”
Where are you working now? “I work for two jobs. They are both paying jobs. I work at a movie theater, Regal Cinema in Lake Zurich. I am only the greeter. I take the tickets and tell people which theater they are going to be in, and where it is. Then I say, ‘Thank you and enjoy your show.’
“Second, I have my passion job. I love working with children. I work at Bright Horizons in Deer Park. It’s a daycare. I give teachers their bathroom breaks, and I am a sign language instructor. When I was really young, I couldn’t talk, so I had to use sign language.” [Because he was interested in early childhood education, he and his mom took American Sign Language classes when he was in high school.]
Where are you performing tonight? “I’m in a Jazz Cabaret. I’ll be singing, ‘Ain’t That a Kick In the Head,’ and improvising a dance somewhat. I’m also going to be speaking about the fact that I come from a theatrical family and watched everyone else participate. We love theatre. I wanted to be on stage. Now I usually do two shows a year. Being in theatre has changed, ‘I can’t’ to ‘Let’s try.’
“Out of all the shows, my favorite was Fiddler on the Roof. It was my first time being a lead. I was Tevye.”
Besides theater productions, what do you like to do in your free time? “I hang out with my girlfriend. We go on dates—bowling, miniature golfing, we go out to eat (my favorite thing to do), or go to Great America (also my favorite thing). I love upside-down roller coasters!
“My anniversary with Ela is in May. We’ve been dating almost three years. We are planning for our future. I would like to marry her. She is a perfect match for me.”
As he sat with the rest of the Homecoming Court at his high school pep rally, Josh Sylvie remembers keeping his fingers crossed while waiting for the announcement of the names of the Homecoming King and Queen. When his name was called, he says, “I was really excited and really happy.” Of all the events that memorable week, he especially loved “all the dancing” and “the Disney theme.” Here's the rest of our interview with Josh:
If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? "I would stop people from bullying. In my senior year, I got bullied. I was upset. The boy apologized. He has grown up now."
Who are your heroes? "My teachers: Mrs. Bamford, Mrs. Anderson, and Miss Hammer. They are my heroes because they teach students to become adults."
What does Down syndrome mean to you? "I like being Down syndrome. It makes me special. We have a fashion show every year. It’s my 12th year being in the fashion show [for the National Association for Down Syndrome]. I get to wear fancy clothes, and invite my whole family to come."
What are you up to now? "I graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in 2015. Now I’m in transition. I’m learning about budgeting. We also cook food in transition.
I work at Culvers. I clean chairs and tables, check the condiment bars, and deliver the food to the customers inside and outside. Sometimes I get to see my friends when they come to Culvers. I love that a lot. I also work two days a week at the community center at North Riverside Village. I clean the rugs and the mats on the walls. I don’t like the cleaning, but I do like to vacuum."
What are you learning? "I learn about what my job is, about being on time, and about having a good attitude."
What would you like people to know about you? "My coworkers love me. I do my best. I always like to get work done."
What’s the most important thing in life? "The most important thing is having all my friends in my life—and my cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and my sister."
What are your favorite activities? "I play Special Olympics basketball and track and field. I won gold at state in 2013 in the softball throw! They gave me a plaque at my high school, and my Best Buddy [Spencer Purcell] announced me. They put my picture up in the hall."
What are your plans and dreams for the future? "In my future, I will be working at Culvers and I will be working out. I will be getting in shape at the YMCA in LaGrange. I also want to be in my family band. Right now I’m the manager of the family band."
Miles Evans has won numerous awards for his photography, and has presented his work at shows. He also sells his framed photos and photocards. For Down Syndrome Awareness month this year, proceeds from his sales went to benefit the Adult Down Syndrome Center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and the National Association for Down Syndrome.
How did your photography business get its start? "My grandma Judy had the idea. My favorite class is art. I'm taking photography now. I take pictures of nature, and sometimes birds. I like to go to the Morton Arboretum. I have lots of pictures. My favorite is the 'Strength' bench from the Morton Arboretum. I like 'Change' too.
"My aunt is an artist. We go to Chicago to take pictures. We go to the beach, the greenhouse, the Lincoln Park Zoo, lots of places.
"I sent my pictures to the NADS [National Association of Down Syndrome]. They are hanging in the office now [in Park Ridge, Illinois]. I sent them the 'Strength' picture, and 'Love.'”
Favorite activities? "I like to listen to rock-n-roll. Two of my favorite bands are the Beatles and ZZ Top. I like Best Buddies [a non-profit program devoted to providing opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities].
"I also like hanging out with my friends—going to breakfast, dinner, and brunch—and hanging out with my family.
"I go to Camp Chi in the Wisconsin Dells. I am staff-in-training there. We do swimming, water parks, crafts, outside cooking, photography, horseback riding, and we celebrate Shabbat."
Tell us about how you met Dusty Hill from ZZ Top. "I was going to go to see ZZ Top, but Dusty got hurt, so they had to cancel. I was worried about him, so I wrote to him. I wished him well. I got invited to come to his concert at Ravinia. I got to meet him. He’s a nice guy. He has a really long beard all the way to his tummy. He also sent me a poster for Christmas."
Who’s your hero? "My Dad, because he’s a nice guy. He’s got a job at ComEd. I’ve got a job, too. I work at The Red Apple on Schmale. I bus tables and I get tips."
If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? "I would move to England. My mom, dad, and brother have been there. I would go to the Beatles store, and to see the Harry Potter [exhibit] and Downton Abbey. I like their music, too."
What are the accomplishments of which you are most proud? "I’m on the track team and I do varsity cheer at my high school. I walk to school by myself. It takes 15 minutes.
"I smile at my mom all the time."
“Being a good friend is being nice, and caring about your friends. I’m really good at making friends, and I’m really good at bringing people together.
“My friends and I do FaceTime, Facebook, and Snapchat, and we go down state [for Special Olympics]. We also do Best Buddies [a non-profit program devoted to providing opportunities for friendship, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities], where we play games and go places like the Brookfield Zoo.
“I’ve done the talent show at my school for three years. The first year, I played the piano. The second year, I played the guitar. Last year, I was one of Blues Brothers, and I sang 'Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.' This year, I have a big idea! It’s going to be a comedy. I’m going to do jokes and elaborate pranks.
"Last Friday, we played a prank on my teacher. She was sick, but she wasn’t at home, so we all wore gloves and health masks to her class.
“I was also part of the ensemble for Fiddler on the Roof at my school this year. I got to dance. I love the entire cast, and I also loved when all the seniors got together.
“I’m really good at everything I do. At home, I like to play guitar every day and play on my iPad. I also like dancing (doing the Nae Nae) and rapping. I want to be a D.J.”
What’s the accomplishment of which you are most proud? “My confirmation at my temple. And when I did my Bar Mitzvah, they asked me to lead the service in Hebrew. Then we had a big party afterward.”
Did you always want to be a firefighter? “Yes. I like how firemen save people’s lives.”
Tell us about your typical day at the firehouse. “It’s good and I love it. I come here and clean, and we stand by. I come five or six days a week.”
What are your favorite parts of the job? “Training and stand by.”
What makes you happiest? “Sweeping and mopping and getting the cleaning done. And when people make me laugh, and just being with my family at home and my family at the fire station.”
Who are your heroes? “Matt Horn and Shaun Lance, because they are my buddies.”
[Matt is a lieutenant with the fire department in Sandoval, Illinois, and Shaun is an assistant chief. Matt says, “Jason meets all the requirements I have to meet. He’s restricted on the cadet program. He can’t make the first entry into a fire, but when the danger has been mitigated, he’ll bring drinking water and tools to the other firemen. He helps us in a lot of different ways. The doctor gave him a physical, and signed off on him joining the program, and he does every training I do. In 2016, he responded to 60 calls.”]
What has been your most memorable experience so far? “My Aunt Nancy’s house caught on fire. Everybody was all right. I went after they got done, and cleaned up and put away the hoses. She was happy I was there.”
What are your dreams for the future? “After I get done with the cadet program, I want to get my tan fire gear. But that takes a long time.”
“Freshman year at my high school, I started taking a baking class and I really enjoyed it,” said 26-year-old Collette Divitto, describing the beginnings of her passion for baking.
“High school was not easy for me. I struggled a lot with friends. I got left out because of my disability.
“I went down to college—to the ClemsonLIFE program. Being in college was fun. I had really good friends down there, and had amazing experiences. My friends and I did a lot of activities.
“Probably the biggest thing I learned in college was independence . . . because look at me now. I live on my own—in my own apartment with a roommate—that makes me really happy. . . . My favorite things to do in my spare time are cooking, baking, playing games into the night, and doing fun activities.”
After college, Collette moved to Boston with her mom, where they thought there would be more job opportunities for Collette. But instead, she found people weren’t hiring.
“I want to give you all of my feelings—I was heartbroken. I would cry. I was really frustrated, sad, mad, angry—I had all of those emotions. Trying to find a paying job is a difficult thing a lot of times for all of us who have a disability.”
Baking soon went from her “fun hobby” to a job when she and her mom and sister worked together to start Collettey’s Cookies, and to sell Collette’s signature Chocolate Chip Cinnamon cookie.
“My mom and Liz have always been here for me, and we are such an amazing team. My favorite thing about my cookie company—is thinking about hiring more people with disabilities!"
Any advice for others with disabilities? “I would probably say for them to not give up on their dreams, and to focus on their abilities, not their disabilities.”
Supporting the employment of people with disabilities has never been tastier! To order Collette’s Chocolate Chip Cinnamon cookies: http://www.colletteys.com/home.html
“My best day in my life is being with my husband.
“Every Saturday we go shopping and get the meals for the week. We take turns paying. We enjoy cooking and just being together, or going out on a date. Sometimes we cook here to save money.
“When he asked me to marry him, he turned the lights down and got the dinner ready. He wanted me to try on a dress. And then he bended his knee down, and I said, ‘What are you doing?’
“Then he made a speech. He said, ‘I really want you to be my wife, and I want to spend all my life with you.’
“I was happy-crying and saying, ‘Yes! Yes! I love you.’
“We got married on June 27, 2015. I will never forget my wedding day, and especially the dance.
“We live in a townhouse with two bedrooms now. We have a dog named Gracie. Sometimes she’s bad and sometimes she’s good. She listens to my husband more. But actually she takes turns not listening. We do share the dog. If she has accidents, some days I have to clean it up. We take turns.
“I’m teaching now. I teach at Loveland School in the first grade. I give the kids some worksheets. They read to me. I help them with their reading and spelling. I sound words out. I work with them one-on-one.
“My favorite part of the job is being with the kids, just being there and being happy every day. The kids love me and I love them.
“I work two days a week at the school. Wednesday through Friday I work in the athletic department at the [Southern Kentucky] University. I work with the athletic director and I meet lots of people. I help him with staff meetings, and during home basketball games. I also deliver mail and put things together in binders and folders.
“I went to Southern Kentucky for four years. I studied early childhood education.
“My favorite place to be is to be here with my husband. We met when we played soccer together. We dated about 10 years. Now we’re married.
“My advice to others about living independently is to just go for it. It feels good to be on your own. Here’s the key for you: Never say goodbye to your parents if you want to live on your own. That would be too sad for me. My parents live only 10 minutes away. Ryan’s parents live 5 minutes away.
“My dream for the future is to be a teacher’s aide. I just want to teach the kids. That’s all I want to do—and to be happy and be healthy.”
“People think I’m a really stand-up guy because I stand up for kids that aren’t having a good day. Like if my best friend Daniella isn’t having a good day at school, she hugs me and then she feels better. I kind of cheer her up.
“I’m part of Young Life Capernaum—I went to away camp this year for the very first time. It was so much fun! It was in Michigan. I went with my leader and some other friends. We had to wake up, and be packed and ready to go to the church because the bus left at seven. I was there six nights.
“The hardest thing I’ve ever done was I had to do a ropes course at camp. We had to jump down to the ground. I was kind of scared because it was my first time at camp, and I was all by myself. But I conquered my fear and I made it!
“My favorite activities are swimming and basketball. I love basketball because my friends cheer me on, and I pass to my teammates. And I like swimming because I’m fast. Last year, we had a swim meet and our relay team won, so we went to state!
“In the future, I want to go to college, and I want to have a job. I don’t want to live with my mom and dad. I want to have a wife, and I want to have a car, so I can drive.
“I want to work as a veterinarian, because I love animals and I can take care of them. I want to check them so they can have a nice, steady health. We have black lab mix, and I’m the man! I take care of him.”
“My dad taught me how to skate when I was three years old. He’s been making me a better hockey player since. He used to play hockey. Now my dad and brother are coaches for my team [Chicago Blackhawks Special Hockey].
“I play center and offense. I really want to get more goals. I was just nominated to be an alternate captain. I’ve never been nominated before. I do love all the great games and practices, plus we have the best fans in the world! I go to the banquets every year.
“My senior year, my boyfriend asked me to prom at the banquet. I was happy crying. My mom got really emotional too.
“I’m also a global messenger for Special Olympics. I do lots of speeches for events and fundraisers.
“Right now I go to COD. It stands for College of DuPage, but my friend calls it ‘College of Dreams.’ My friend and I are taking a horticulture class there. I’m also in the [STEPS] transition program. I take some classes and right now, I’m working on Mondays at Buffalo Wild Wings and Fridays at Cici's Pizza. On Tuesdays, I work at Teacher Peach, where I do office work—lots of filing, shredding, and packaging. I want to challenge myself.
"What I want to do in the future is move to Florida. My dad and I are going to start a business together. We have a dream of building a waffle shack on Marco Island. It’s my favorite place to be. We go a lot. I like to go the beach and fall asleep listening to the sound of the waves. And I always go to the hot tubs—they are calling my name.
“My world is beautiful because I love to hang out with lots of people.”
After graduating high school in 2015, Blake and his parents met Tim Harris (of Tim’s Big Heart Foundation) at a gala. Thanks to inspiration from Tim, they opened Blake’s Snow Shack in May of 2016. The biggest surprise for all of them has been the overwhelming response from people near and far—with some customers driving three and four hours to come see Blake and try some of their most popular snow cone flavors . . . including the hands-down favorite . . . Dill Pickle!
Best thing about owning your own shop? "Meeting people. Going cool places."
Hardest thing? "Long hours."
Favorite things to do at your shop? "Putting out chairs. Pouring snow cones. Talking to people."
Favorite snow cone flavor? "Blue Coconut"
What makes you happiest? "My mom. Friends. Seeing people."
What does Down syndrome mean to you? "I’m going to D.C.!" (This April, Blake and his family will travel to D.C., where NDSS will award the very first Blake Pyron Entrepreneurship Scholarship!)
