County libraries update resources with donated Down syndrome material

By KATIE SEMINARA

Local organization donated more than 200 updated resources.

Librarians across five counties added new resources to their shelves this month courtesy of the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and the association wanted to make current materials available to the Valley to show that people with Down’s are living independent lives, said Dave Oravec, an association board member and parent of a child with Down’s.

“My daughter just turned 4, and when she was born there were no materials,” said Oravec of not having information readily available in the area.

A lack of information locally was one of the reasons the association was formed. Before that, parents had to travel to places such as Cleveland to gather information on Down syndrome, said association board member Michele Jones.

The association formed 15 months ago as a group of parents with Down syndrome children. Today it boasts more than 200 members including educators, therapists and others.

“We wanted to do something that would make a lasting difference,” said Oravec of donating the materials.

After raising more than $50,000 with the association’s Buddy Walk in August, the decision was made to use some of that money to purchase Down syndrome resources to be distributed among libraries in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties.

The association selected 12 resources that can be used for parental education, to aid those with Down’s, and can also act as sources for students researching the topic, she said.

“These books cover the entire life of those with Down’s,” said Oravec.

Resources from 30 to 40 years ago do not accurately represent the lives people with Down’s are experiencing today, he said.

“What they are finding now is that with early intervention the disability isn’t as severe,” said Oravec.

Introducing educational programs in the early stages of life are enabling those with Down’s to become productive members of society and live independently.

“This girl here swam the English Channel,” he said while pointing to a picture on the cover of the book “Adults with Down Syndrome,” edited by Seigfried M. Pueschel.

Libraries are not the only facilities the association hopes to provide with educational materials.

Donating resources to local universities, colleges and hospital libraries are also a priority for the organization, said Jones, who is also a parent of a child with Down’s.

Plans for Down syndrome library displays are already in motion for next October’s awareness month, she said.

Amy Geisinger, director of the Community Library of the Shenango Valley, happily accepted the new materials, noting that the current resources in the library are not nearly as extensive as those being donated.

“To have an organization provide their expertise is wonderful,” said Geisinger.

Members of the library will take advantage of the new collection as well as the facilitators who work with people who have Down’s, she said. Whole Life Services in Sharon works with people with Down’s and visits the library a few times each month.

“The coordinators will be happy to see us updating our information,” said Geisinger.

One of the popular resources in the collection is the video and book set “Everyone Counts,” made by Nickelodeon. It helps with inclusion in schools and conveys the appreciation of diversity, said Jones.

The book written by Chris Burke of the television series “Life Goes On” is also part of the collection. His book, “A Special Kind of Hero,” tells his story of being a person with Down’s.

“From the librarians’ perspective they are thrilled,” said Jones.

Deborah Liptak, development director for the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, said patrons will definitely benefit from the new collection.

“We were very glad to accept the donations because it’s quite a variety of materials,” said Liptak.

Cheryl Bush, public relations manager for the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library, shared the same sentiments as Liptak and Geisinger.

“They [materials] will be very helpful and informative to the community,” said Bush.