Michael Leon, UCI professor of neurobiology and behavior, explains how challenges due to neurological disorders and genetic disorders –including Down syndrome– can be reversed or very much emulated by a sensory enrichment environment. Guess what! Scientists have known this for a long time. But enough effort hasn't been put it in developing proper interventions for our kids. Why? Because we live in a paradigmatic society. See the video below where Professor Leon talks about sensory enrichment environment to reverse neurological disorders:
A good living example of what a sensory enrichment environment can do for kids with Down syndrome is Pablo Pineda. His mom truly believed that her son was more capable of his Down syndrome label. Pablo Pineda is a proven example of what Prof. Leon explains in his presentation about sensory enrichment environment. Here is Pablo's short biography:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pablo Pinda is a person with Down syndrome who has obtained two bachelors degree. The universtiy's curriculum was not modified for him. So he obtained his diplomas as you and me. He didn't study acting, but he won an international award for his performance in the movie "Me too." He is busy traveling to different countries as a motivational speaker. He has gotten beyond of what this paradigmatic society could ever imaging because he has lived in a enriched environment nurture by his family, Pablo even mentioned this in his interviews to 20Minutes.com. Click here for the complete interview in Spanish. Bellow there is a translation of some questions of the interview:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pablo Pineda (born 1974) is a Spanish actor who received the Silver Shell award at the 2009 San Sebastián International Film Festival for his performance in the film Yo Tambien.[1] In the film he plays the role of a university graduate with Down syndrome, which is quite similar to his real life.
Pineda lives in Málaga and has worked at the municipality.[2] He holds a diploma in Teaching and a BA in Educational psychology. He was the first student with Down syndrome in Europe to obtain a university degree.[3] In the future he wants to make his career in teaching, instead of acting.[4][5] Upon his arrival back to Málaga, Francisco de la Torre, the mayor of the city, welcomed him with the "Shield of the City" award on behalf of the city council.[6] At the time he was promoting his film and giving lectures on incapacity and education, as he has been doing for many years.
Pineda currently works with the Adecco Foundation in Spain, giving presentations at conferences on the labour-integration plan that the foundation is carrying out with him.[3] Pablo has recently talked in Colombia (Bogota, Medellin), demonstrating the social inclusion of people with disabilities.
Pineda also collaborates with the "Lo que de verdad importa" Foundation.
Pablo Pinda is a person with Down syndrome who has obtained two bachelors degree. The universtiy's curriculum was not modified for him. So he obtained his diplomas as you and me. He didn't study acting, but he won an international award for his performance in the movie "Me too." He is busy traveling to different countries as a motivational speaker. He has gotten beyond of what this paradigmatic society could ever imaging because he has lived in a enriched environment nurture by his family, Pablo even mentioned this in his interviews to 20Minutes.com. Click here for the complete interview in Spanish. Bellow there is a translation of some questions of the interview:
Pablo Pineda: "My environment has stimulated me, I am not exceptional"
Perhaps there are people who think that "Pablo has studied a career because the Down syndrome didn't affect him much". The little or much does not matter. What affects is what surrounds that child. The family is essential.
Your family is different? Parents of children with Down often treating them always as a child. My mother also behaves like that with me. But it is more pronounced with Down syndrome. We are overprotected and we are treated between cottons. Even some parents prefer that we do not go to school. My family treats me as a child and not as a Down syndrome. My parents have always demanded that I go out, make friends, that I don't stay at home. They ARGUED that I attended school. My advice is to stimulate the child a lot and trust in his/her potential...
Does the integration is that all people with Down syndrome can reach the university as you? I don't like the word "integration." It is a bit fascistic if you are imperfect, so you have to adapt to the society that is perfect. I opted for the "normalization." Means the opposite, the society has to adapt to the difference. In such standardization there is no place for a disease (disability)...
Trailer of the Movie "Me Too"
Message from Pablo Pineda to Enterprises
When I promised to my son that I will never let him down –he was an unborn baby— I truly meant it. God is in my side, guiding me and giving me the strength to get to the bottom line of many things that have been kept away from us. I know that my battle to go against this paradigmatic society is not going to be easy. But I am not along. My love for my son has kept me looking for a doctor who will be go beyond of what most doctors do. I found him, he specializes in Environmental Medicine, a medicine practice that is based in human biology and chemistry and their interaction with environmental factors. For my surprised, this type of medicine practice works to find the underline causes of developmental delays (brain inflammation, interrupted methylation cycle, side effect to medications, etc.) regardless if the person has a genetic disorder. There is a small group of moms that have discovered that their kids illnesses and cognitive decline due to Down syndrome can be prevented or slow down if the underline causes are detected earlier. Living in a global world has brought us together, now we are united and we won't stop until we change people's mind, so our kids can get the the right medical treatments.
Mother's day is coming up, the best mother day's gift I can receive is your signature in the petition of *Down Syndrome Options: Click here! So the health care guidance for our kids can be revised and preventive care can be included. If this petition gets over 2,000 signatures, more stories as Pablo Pineda's will become public. There are stories of kids with Down syndrome that are unknown, people need to see it to believe it. These kids are doing exceptional due to their moms chose a different path to stimulate them and they are doing many things as their neuro-typical peers. But we won't be able to make these stories public without your support. Please sign the petition and pass it along to a friend or relative who may be interested in supporting us!
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!
_______________*The Mission of Down Syndrome Options is to increase awareness and educate parents and doctors on options for individuals with Down syndrome to help improve speech and learning as well as physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth and development. These options first, do no harm and second, look to epigenetic, neurological, biomedical, nutritional and environmental interventions which are supported by scientific information, clinical experience and parent observations
1 comment:
This is great, Rosa! Thanks for posting this much needed inspiration! I hope everyone who reads this will sign the petition as well.
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