Welcome to our Inspiration section!  If you're having 'one of those days' and need a boost, or maybe you're a new parent with a head full of uncertainty about what your new baby could achieve, these stories are for you!

If you know of a good story yourself, send it to us for review! submissions@edss.ca

• Nella Cordelia: A Birth Story
  A new mom tells her birth story in a very powerful way
• The Iowa Spartan Sparkles
  A group of cheerleaders with a range of developmental disabilities - including Down syndrome.  This particular clip was featured on Oprah!
• Classes teach kids with disabilities to ride bikes – without training wheels
  A not-for-profit group in the states has developed a camp that helps teach kids with disabilities to ride a bike by themselves, and without training wheels!
• Daniel the Artist
  Artist Daniel Forsythe, 20, talks about his work at his home on July 24. Forsythe, who was born with Down Syndrome, will have two of his pieces of art on display after being named a finalist in a national competition.
• Everyone Has Dreams
  A number of individuals with Down syndrome talk about their successes and dreams for the future. Produced by the National Down Syndrome Society (http://www.ndss.org)
• The Education of Ashif Jaffer
  CBC's 'The Sunday Edition' featured an essay about one young man's dream of getting a full University Education. Listen the the podcast linked above - the essay appears in the middle hour of the three hour episode.
• Andrew Banar's amazing success
  Though he has only just turned 18, the Grade 12 Cardinal Carter student and drumming enthusiast has launched a surprisingly successful T-shirt company — made all the more impressive given that Andrew has Down syndrome.
  
• FITBuddies...Training the Athlete in EveryBUDDY
  Participants have gone from shy individuals lacking confidence, repeatedly telling me “I can’t do it, it’s too hard” to exclaiming, “I can learn something new; it just takes practice!”
• Unique focus for young photographer
  AN INSPIRATIONAL young man with Down syndrome has realised an ambition to have his work exhibited at a centre named after a famous rock star.
  
• Inspiring skater wins national video competition
  A young man with Down syndrome wins a competition for a video he made about inclusion in the sport of speed skating.  
• Supportive employer a true role model
  After going against the wishes of her mother, a young lady with Down syndrome applies for and gets a managerial position at the coffee shop she works at.  
• Regina swimmer sets seven world records
  A young swimmer from Regina brings home 7 gold medals from an international swimming competition.  
• Simple Truths of Service
  An inspirational movie intended for corporate service improvement.  This film was shown at a function at my work recently and I found it pretty moving and a wonderful story to boot. 
• In Memory of Dr. Azza Darwish
  A eulogy for one of Edmonton's finest pediatricians.