Inclusion
Perspectives on Parenting©
by Nancy L. Davenport
Nancy Davenport's Column:
For Richardson News 11-14-99
Copyright Nancy L. Davenport 1999
"Full time work Is Not Just A Dream"
Jenny got up for work this morning a little after 6:00 A.M. That first step out of bed was easier now that daylight savings has given her an extra hour in the morning. She had chosen the night before to wear a nice pants suit today which she and her mother had a good time shopping for last weekend. It was neatly laid out on the chair by her bed. After dressing and eating, she walked out the front door, beeper and cell phone in hand, at just after 7:30 A.M. to catch the bus to the train station.
Steve, the bus driver, was his usual friendly-self, always happy to have Jenny sit right behind him on the bus. When she got off the bus, she saw that the train was already in the station, but she knew she had a few minutes before it left. She visited with the driver and hailed the policeman by his first name who always rides the train. Once the train left, she was downtown in less that 20 minutes. After walking a couple of blocks, she entered Patton Boggs law firm where she works from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday.
The day went smoothly for her. She managed to keep up with the stack of things assigned for her to do and have time for a break with a soft drink mid-morning. Lunch time found her with a co-worker at the deli across the street from the office tower in which she works. As usual she was tempted by the chocolate ice cream, but managed to resist this time. The afternoon whizzed by as she distributed papers, sorted and delivered faxes and mail to employees on two floors and carried out a few other duties that were necessary to keep the office running smoothly. During her afternoon break she filled out more forms about her health insurance and her 401k plan. It seemed as if the forms would never end.
Long shadows reached across downtown Dallas and found her rubbing her feet while on the train back to the bus station. She made a mental note not to wear those shoes to work again until they were broken in. Steve greeted her on the bus, and fortunately there was a single seat left at the front, otherwise she would have stood all the way back home. She did not like sitting very far away from the driver.
It was already dark. The bus stopped a half block from her home, and she walked back to the house in her stocking feet. She didn't care how dirty her feet got. Those shoes were not going back on. It was good to walk in the door, sit down, and put her feet up. Jenny mconsidered her day to be nothing unusual, so she was not surprised at what she has accomplished, but I say: not bad for a four-foot eleven inch tall young woman with Down syndrome.
In addition to Jenny's supportive family and intrepid spirit, credit needs to go to Special Care and Career Resources for their excellent job coaching and to Patton Boggs law firm for seeing Jenny's potential in their place of work.
Return to
Top of Page
Return to
Table of Contents
Return to Home Page
Nancy Lambert Davenport
EMAIL: ndavenport@ticnet.com
URL: http://www.nancyldavenport.com