This site is inspired by the journey of a little boy named Isaac who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Isaac is a child with Down syndrome. He is my son. As I write this introduction to our viewers, Isaac is participating in Field Day at his elementary school. He is 8 years old. Yesterday, we met with an administrator from the school district to discuss Isaac’s future. I must say, it looks very bright and, because of Isaac, my future looks brighter than I had ever imagined. This site tells the story of Isaac’s journey, his daily life and his interactions with others. The purpose of Good Job Buddy is to depict the real life existence of a person with Down syndrome, one day at a time.

This site will be a forum for discussion and hold many resources for those who seek them. These resources are of a broad variety ranging from entertainment to health care. We address issues of any type. We discuss the challenges, the blessings, the comical, the tough decisions, the controversies, the opinions, the perceptions, and the history of Down syndrome on a global level and on a personal level. We will also share topics of a spiritual nature, showing how people like Isaac are here to teach us about ourselves and to how find happiness in our lives.

Our goal is to shift the perceptions of those who may be misinformed. We will present our belief that individuals with Down syndrome are not mistakes or errors of nature. Instead, they are teachers that help us learn about ourselves and about life. People with Down syndrome show us how to love and be loved.

Thank you for visiting Good Job Buddy. REGISTER AS A MEMBER! This will allow you to post your own stories and perspectives as they relate to the world of Down syndrome. Visit the My Story link below to read about our members, their perspectives, and how someone with Down syndrome has touched their life. Please return daily to witness the growth of our site.

Welcome to Holland

When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, Gondolas. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It’s all very exciting. After several months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, Read more>>>

The language we use can create barriers or reinforce stereotypes. It is important to choose our words wisely when we describe people with Down syndrome. People are so much more than the labels given to them by society. The vision of Good Job Buddy.org includes the perspective that the Down syndrome community benefits society as a whole. We feel blessed for having been touched by the life of someone with Down syndrome. Therefore, Read more>>>

When faced with the knowledge of a Down syndrome pregnancy, over 90% of women choose to terminate. At the same time, there are adoption organizations with waiting lists of families who specifically seek to adopt children with Down syndrome. One such organization is reecesrainbow.org. For every unwanted child with Down syndrome, there is a family with a deep desire to celebrate and embrace him or her. It is understandable to be shocked and fearful when learning that your baby has Down syndrome. Some women find out during their pregnancy, others find out after giving birth. In every situation, the initial news may create the feelings of loss, grief, and fear. There are several explanations for this reaction. First, this is not what we were planning for. We had visions of sending our children to Harvard or being drafted to play in the NFL. We hoped for a “healthy” child. We had expectations of a smaller version of ourselves to be raised in our own image, or to make up for our own failures. We prayed that our child would grow up to be somebody “special” or “important.” Our truth: People with Down syndrome are more advanced than the general population in many ways. They have intuition and an innate sensibility that most people will never achieve or, sadly, will never seek. Read more>>>

• Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal phenomena
• One in every 691 babies is born with Down syndrome.
• There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States
• Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels
• Most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives
• Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual

Have you recently found out that your baby has Down syndrome? Are you fearful of a Down syndrome diagnosis? We have all faced this at the beginning of a new and exciting journey with our child with Down syndrome. It is scary. Initially, we are shocked by the Down syndrome diagnosis. Then we grieve. It’s not because we don’t love our new child. It’s because it (a Down syndrome pregnancy or a Down syndrome diagnosis) is not what we were expecting (see Welcome to Holland below). Good Job Buddy would like to speak to those who are seeking an answer. A woman who just came from a prenatal doctor’s appointment and has received news about her pregnancy. “The baby has Down syndrome.” This woman is asking herself... Read more>>>