Meet Ellen Jane Peterson............
Ellen Jane
is a 17 year old high school senior who was born with down syndrome.
Down syndrome causes delays in physical and intellectual development.
Ellen Jane puts it this way, "All down syndrome means is that it takes
me longer
to learn things."
Most of
the day Ellen Jane spends time in a regular classroom with other kids
and the
rest of the day she goes to a resource room to reinforce her skills.
Ellen
Jane enjoys swimming, being a member of a community club for girls
with down
syndrome, playing sports, and working part time at the animal hospital
She has
an older sister, a younger brother, and a pet snake named George!
Mental Retardation Script
"Who's George?"
When Melody visits Ellen Jane, she is surprised that Ellen Jane has a pet snake. Melody is
afraid to touch George, the snake, but relents after Ellen Jane explains that snakes are smooth, not
slimy like many people believe. This triggers a conversation about people fearing others who may
be a bit different from themselves.
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