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| Joe and Jennifer Kaufman's lives changed after they worked with Abilities United. |
Two
minutes after her son Joe was born, Jennifer Kaufman’s pediatrician
walked into the delivery room and coldly said “your son shows all the
signs of Down Syndrome.” He then turned and walked out of the room.
“Seven
weeks later I brought Joe to Abilities United,” says Jennifer. “The
first teacher I met reached for Joe with joy and said ‘A baby!’ She
didn’t see an infant with Down Syndrome, she just saw a beautiful baby.”
Jennifer gets emotional at recalling the moment. “Abilities United saw
past the diagnosis. I will never forget how they loved him for being
Joe-Joe.”
Through physical therapy at Abilities United, Joe would learn to walk and take his first steps when
he was three years old. “That was monumental,” says Jennifer.
Jennifer,
who had previously been a teacher herself, was so impressed with
Abilities United that she applied to join the organization. With her
energy, compassion, teaching background, and experience in raising a
child with a disability, Jennifer has been a wonderful fit. For eight
years she’d been a teacher in the Abilities United Early Intervention Program, working with children from infancy to age three. She is a
beloved teacher and friend for many children with disabilities, as well
as their families.
Today Joe attends a
public school, and together with several other kids at school, he has
the job of raising the flag each day. Jennifer is proud of Joe having
this responsibility.
Looking forward,
Jennifer’s dreams for Joe will, in their essence, sound familiar to most
parents. “I look forward to him contributing to society at whatever
level he’s capable of doing. I hope that he’ll be a happy adult, who is
loved, and who is appreciated for all that he is.”
Abilities United is proud to have worked with Joe, and we’re fortunate to have wonderful staff such as Jennifer.
Based on a 2012 interview with Jennifer Kaufman. Written by Bob Thomas. Edited by Jennifer Kaufman and Wendy Kuehnl.
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