The positive impact the Amina Grace Speech & Language Program will bring to McHenry County…

As a mother to a 4 year old daughter with Down syndrome, my hope is that she will be able to participate fully in all life experiences, including school, sports, work, and relationships. One of our biggest challenges to her future success is her ability to communicate effectively. I share this concern with other families that have children with DS. Having access to high quality, targeted speech therapy services is essential to future success. By bringing the Amina Grace Speech and Language program to the McHenry Playhouse, local families like ours will be able to receive free weekly speech therapy for our children, helping to set them on a path to success.

It is our hope that as our daughter enters kindergarten in two years, she has the communication skills to succeed.  Our home elementary school does not typically accept children with Down syndrome.  It would be a great opportunity and experience for our elementary school and the students to have someone with Down syndrome enrolled.   Helping to build and increase her ability to communicate her needs, connect with friends, understand academics is necessary to give our daughter the opportunity to be included in our community schools. In turn, it gives our community and schools the opportunity to create a more diverse population and expose children to those with differences. The Amina Grace Speech and Language program would be an important tool to achieve this hope of inclusion into our community.

I know that the Amina Grace program is greatly desired by many families, including families that visit the McHenry playhouse frequently and families who would be new to the playhouse. This is an opportunity for the playhouse to bring in more families and increase participation, thus increasing its value to the community.