Hello everyone! My name is Maleah Dearing, and I am in the 8th grade, while I was in 7th grade, we were asked to design a festival or event. I knew what my task was going to be, since then the idea has grown into something wonderful.
My nephew was born in 2016 with Down Syndrome. We have had to adapt our lifestyle around his needs, when he was born, he had Bilateral Choanal Atresia, which is known for having blockage in the nasal cavity, within 24 hours he was flown to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, my sister was in St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, IN. When she finally got released from the hospital my mom, my then 2-year-old niece, my sister and myself, headed to Cincinnati to join my nephew.
When we arrived, we learned there was no room for my sister to stay at the Ronald McDonald house. Where was she going to go? How was she going to eat? She had to stay in the NICU, it was a tiny space just big enough the nurses and the babies. With no room available and the cafeteria at the hospital and vending machines being so expensive, yet her only means for food. A hotel was too expensive because he was going to be there for an extended amount of time, which ended up being 3 weeks. For her to eat out for 3 weeks was astronomical. He had his first surgery on his nose at 2 weeks old. He had a total of 9 surgeries before he was 3 years old. He is now 6 and attending Kindergarten. He is doing well, but there are still many challenges that we face with him every day.
This brings me to why I started Differently Able, INC. I watched her struggle for weeks and felt helpless not knowing how to help or where to turn. For years I wanted to help but not sure how or where to start. My school project was just the push that I needed to know how I was going to help those like my sister and nephew.
In the 1st – 2nd year plan, we plan to those caregivers who, like my sister, were unable to find a room at the Ronald McDonald House.
In the 3rd – 5th year plan, we plan to help caregivers of Special Needs Individuals, a much-needed break. Often, while they love their person, t is taking on a single person or even a couple. We plan to give them a few hours to just regroup and unwind. It is amazing what a little break can do.
In the 6th – 10th year plan, will be the most ambitious. We want to have an all-inclusive Special Needs Park in Dubois County, equipped with specialized equipment that those with all kinds of needs can enjoy. So, I say, let’s be a leader in designing and overcoming the stigma of Special Needs People. Let’s give them a chance to be on a playground where they can play everywhere.
As you can see, we have nowhere to go but to reach the sky – because the sky is the limit for Special Needs.