Self Advocate of the Year Award

"I wish I had known that this would be an incredible journey, and that everything would turn out just fine...I wish I’d known to listen more."

In last week's post, guest blogger Addie Daabous looked back at her life with her nephew, Robert Pio Hajjar. In her eloquent poem, "I Wish I Had Known", Addie echoes what so many of us struggle with: the regret, or more precisely, the wish that we had done things differently. If only I had listened more...if only I knew then what I know now...are words that haunt most of us in the dead of night. But this is where the author of the poem and the reader part ways.

Recently, Robert Hajjar, and Ideal-Way Co-Founder, Addie Daabous, travelled to Regina, Saskatchewan to speak at the 2010 Canadian Down Syndrome Conference. We knew that between Robert's motivational speech and Addie's presentation, there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house. And yet, we were on pins and needles. Robert had been nominated for one of their annual awards.

"The Canadian Down Syndrome Society Awards are given annually at the CDSS National Conference. These awards recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations who support the vision and mission of the CDSS and work to enrich the lives of people with Down syndrome and the communities where they live and work."

Self-Advocate of the Year Award "is given out to encourage and help promote self-advocacy in Canada. The CDSS wants to honour the work and accomplishments of one self-advocate with Down syndrome each year."



As Ian Gillespie wrote in an article for the London Free Press,

"He graduated from high school, set a Special Olympics record in 25-metre freestyle swimming, has volunteered extensively, received the city of Toronto’s “Unsung Hero” award on the International Day of Disabled Persons last December and, last weekend, was awarded the prestigious “Self Advocate of the Year” award at the Canadian Down Syndrome Association annual conference held in Regina, Sask.

The award recognizes Robert’s extensive work as a motivational speaker — he’s scheduled to give 18 speeches this month and next, including a five-day stint in California."



All of which begs the question: What if Addie Daabous hadn't listened to her nephew? When Robert asked her to start a charity for people like him, what if she had listened to her own fears instead? What if Robert had handed over his life savings of $62.05, which he had kept hidden under his bed in a wooden box, as IDEAL-WAY's first donation, and she had put it in a high interest savings account instead?

Instead, Addie Daabous chose to embrace Robert's dream. As Ian wrote, "now, with projects that include painting and decorating group homes, national literacy and art competitions and a $50,000 giveaway of day-to-day items such as clothing and toiletries, the Ideal-Way charity is helping others like him.

“I stopped and listened to him, and that was when my life changed,” says Daabous. “He just inspires people to the Nth degree.” "

Congratulations, Robert, on winning the "Self Advocate of the Year Award"! And while we're at it, thank you, Addie Daabous, for stopping and listening to him. To paraphrase a quote, our best decisions, the ones that we never regret, come from listening to a Down syndrome man's dream.

Photos courtesy of Addie Daabous, co-founder of IDEAL-WAY.ca.

I Wish I Had Known

I Wish I Had Known
by Addie Daabous

I wish I had known that this would be an incredible journey, and that everything would turn out just fine.

I wish that I had known that my heart would heal one day, and that Robert’s love was the cure.

I wish I had known that Robert’s birth was not the end of the world.

I wish I’d known to listen more.

I wish I had known having Robert in my life would change the person I am.

I wish I had known that life would not be defined by misconceptions I had about Down syndrome, but that it would be as “normal” as normal gets … and that Robert would fill my life with love and joy beyond my expectations.

I wish someone would have told me that Robert was going to change my outlook on life and make me a better person.

I wish I had known that Robert was so abled.

I wish I had known that Robert would be so full of life.

I wish I had known that it is a privilege to be Robert’s aunt.

I wish I had known that the universe would unfold as it should.

I wish I had known that Robert would be just like you and me!

Wordless Wednesday - "I Have a Voice"

(GiGi's Playhouse, Down syndrome Centers, promotes Down syndrome awareness through its "i have a voice" Travelling Gallery. It features images of 30 Down syndrome children, by renowned photographer Thomas Balsamo. "A beautifully crafted coffee table book of nearly 40 portraits and first person and family accounts, entitled 'i have a voice', showcases their potential and humanity to open minds and change lives."

The goal of the campaign is to "seek to change outdated perceptions and replace those images with beautiful, thought provoking, intelligent images.”

“GiGi's is committed to the important mission of spreading positive and accurate information about Down syndrome through education. We know that by helping individuals with Down syndrome reach their highest potential, we can change outdated perceptions that people may have. The end result is a world that is empowered with knowledge, compassion, and inspiration - what a better place for all of us!”)