Sam's Journey to "Reach for the Stars"

In this article, the author shares her experiences as a parent of a child with Down syndrome. Although her son Sam's first years were filled with numerous hospitalizations and visits to pediatricians, which she feared would further delay his development, she soon discovered an organization known as the National Association of Child Development (NACD), founded by Robert J. Dorman, Jr. NACD's programs are based on the philosophy that all children--challenged, typical or gifted--can learn faster and accomplish more if they are provided with the opportunity. The key to success is parental involvement. NACD has, over its twenty years of existence and through its work with 25,000 clients, developed a unique and effective view and approach to enhancing the development and function of children and adults.