Testimonials

In our lives, people will come, and people will go. I was 39 years old when the person who would make the biggest impact on my life came to me in the birth of my only child, my son Ray. It was the day after Ray was born that we learned of his genetic condition, Trisomy 21, better known as Down Syndrome. I was handed pamphlets and given phone numbers of other parents with children who had the same condition who were willing to share with me their time, knowledge, and experience. I wasn't really interested in sharing my son with people that I didn't know. I knew that I loved him and that I would care for him to the very best of my ability. It was through the district 19, part C, early intervention program headed up by Greteta Holliday that I realized that I could not be everything for my son. He would need much more than I could provide to even have the fundamental skills that would help him meet his potential so that he might live a life that is healthy and fulfilling. Greteta possessed the knowledge of the specifics of this program that most of us would find overwhelming. She was extremely effective in heading up "team Ray" by giving me perspective and providing the tools that I needed to implement each phase of Rays progress, empowering me as I would soon take the lead when he moved on to begin public school full time at the age of 2 1/2 years old. Gretetas knowlege amazes me but it is her bedside manor and ability to communicate, empower and engage those around her that I believe sets her apart from the rest. It is clear to me that she has a great desire to make a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities.