Down Syndrome Awareness Month Story – Paul
The story below was written by Paul’s dad, Ron. We thank Ron for sharing this story with DSACO!
Nearly eve
ry weekend for the last several years, when the weather cooperates, Paul and I head to one of the many nearby parks in central Ohio for a hike in the woods. It gets us outdoors and provides a bit of a peaceful break for the family. As you can imagine, we’re not the only ones hiking at the parks, and our weekend journeys allow us to cross paths with many people, both young and old. Through the years and many, many hikes, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are three different categories of people we come across during those weekend adventures.
The first category of people we come across on the trails are those who never acknowledge Paul. The person or group of people will approach us as we’re walking, and no one is looking at me or Paul. Heads are down or even looking away. Paul says his usual high-pitched hello, extends his arm in a wave, and starts making his kissing sounds as he throws some love to the passersby. But, heads remain down or away, and not a word is spoken by our fellow hikers. Paul takes a momentary glance backward as we pass, only to resume our journey seconds later.
The second category of people we come across will manage a forced smile or a hesitant wave but will attempt to move quickly past. However, their eyes are fixated on Paul, laser focused, as they try to figure out what’s wrong with that boy. What is he mumbling? What is his quote, unquote problem? Again, Paul glances backward as we move by, but with this group, they tend to keep watching Paul as if the main attraction in a comedy routine, until we’re over the next hill and out of site.
The final category of folks we come across out on the trails are few and far between, but these are the people we talk about when we come home. They will see Paul and me coming down the trail, and heads are up, looking straight ahead, sometimes at me, sometimes at Paul, and still sometimes enjoying the nature that has led them on their adventure. However, as we meet on the trail, they don’t walk by. They stop. How are you? What’s your name? Are you enjoying your walk with Dad? Where do you go to school? Paul is not avoided, he is not subject to gawking, but he is being engaged in conversation. After a few minutes, we’re on our way.
If only for a brief moment, lives have been touched, probably in ways our fellow hikers will never understand.