USA Today — "Mary Alten remembers being determined, yet afraid, when she enrolled her daughter in preschool.
Toni Alten-Crowe was born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes delays in physical and mental development. Alten had ignored recommendations to place Toni in a special school and moved to Loveland after hearing parents say the district tries to include students with disabilities in regular classes and activities.
Even so, she was concerned for her only child.
"I imagined that she would be snubbed and made fun of and not be given opportunities," Alten says.
Instead, something wonderful happened. Toni, now a senior at Loveland High, was crowned prom queen two weeks ago. Her friend, Drew Anderson, also a senior with Down syndrome, was crowned king by their classmates.
"What I had imagined for her turned out to be the exact opposite," Alten says.
Students in mainstream high schools are increasingly honoring their special-needs peers at school events, says Michelle Diament, co-founder of Disability Scoop, a Memphis-based website that covers news about developmental disabilities.
As examples, Diament points to the popularity of the Special Olympics and the TV show Glee's inclusion of children with disabilities."
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