Following is a speech our oldest son Kevin gave to his student body and their families about a year and a half ago.  Many of you have already seen it, but it’s worth hearing his message again.

Kevin remains a steadfast advocate even now.  He’s taken on this role all on his own.  We’ve never pressured him to vocally take a stand; we’ve only tried to instill in all of our kids compassion, tolerance, and kindness to people from all walks of life.

Kevin started high school this year – a new school, a vastly larger campus and student body than what he had come from in middle school – automatically putting him on precarious social ground.  And yet, he still speaks out.  During the first couple weeks of school a guy at school called something “retarded,” and Kevin calmly told him why it’s unkind and unacceptable.  The other kid was actually very receptive.

Being a teenager is already so fraught with difficulties, trying to fit in, trying to figure out just where your place in the world might be.  To take on such a potentially unpopular cause as this takes a lot of character.  I have so much admiration for him.

31 for 21, advocacy, Down syndrome, Down syndrome Awareness Month, r-word, retard, retarded, tolerance