Ted's Summer Adventures

Summer is coming to a close and it’s time to head back to school. One Shawnee Mission West Student, Ted Clayton, shared the details about his summer, his activities, and what he loves the most about summer with us.

Like most high school students, Ted loves to sleep in during the summer. During the school year, he has to be ready to go when the school bus comes to pick him up at 6:45am, which means getting dressed, eating breakfast, having his backpack ready, and finding his signature smile in time to make it to the bus stop! That’s a lot to do so early in the morning, so the extra time asleep is appreciated. Instead of having to listen to an alarm clock, Ted gets to be woken up by doggie kisses from his dog Bear, which is a much better alternative!

Although this sleeping in is nice, Ted still manages to get up early on Saturdays to meet up with his friends at Master Shim’s dojo for Korean Tae Kwon Do. This summer, he advanced to a yellow belt with stripes! The group he is in likes to focus on self-respect, power, concentration, learning self-defense, as well as strikes, kicks, and more. They even get to break boards.

During the week, Ted stayed active with Inclusion Connections, an afternoon summer camp. Through Inclusion Connections, Ted got to meet with special guests, go on field trips, attend park outings, watch movies, eat special meals, do art projects, attend theater classes, Zumba, and be involved in interactive fellowship with his peers and high school volunteers. The large amount of volunteers that show up at Inclusions Connections has been paramount to Ted’s love of the camp. There are so many peer mentors that allow him to be part of their gang. Ted has also enjoyed going to the movies this summer. Although he loved how exciting Jurassic World was, his favorite was the Minions movie! Probably because he can relate to the fact that the Minions communicate so much without using a lot of words. Something Ted manages to finagle daily.

Ted also got to spend some time out of town this summer. His vacation adventures included visiting Camp Barnabas in Purdy, Missouri, as well as another fun week at Barnabas at the lake, spending time at Table Rock Lake, enjoying the water at Lake of the Ozarks, and visiting his brothers in Lawrence. With summer coming to a close, he is still trying to sneak another KU weekend into his busy schedule. Although he loves high school at Shawnee Mission West, he really wants to be a Jayhawk already!

Being 18 and a Senior, Ted is very excited to show off his new basement apartment for the school year. His apartment lets him be more independent in taking care of himself. Enjoying his pool table, big screen, and game room doesn’t hurt either! He is very excited to be a senior this year at Shawnee Mission West, and is proud to be a Viking. He plans on competing in the Mr. Viking competition this year (we wish him the best of luck!), and although he will miss having the opportunity to sleep in, he is ready to see what the new year will bring.

Walker's Walkers Celebrate Step Up Walk's 20th Anniversery

Sharon Walker has been with First Downs for Down Syndrome at the Step Up Walk before it even was called the Step Up Walk. We caught up with her to discuss her experience with this amazing event, the impact it has had on her and her children, Dan and Elli, and the growth she has seen in the past twenty years.

How did you first hear about the Step Up Walk?

The Down Syndrome Guild was looking for a fundraising event to support the
ever-growing needs of the Down Syndrome community, so the board decided to try what was then the Buddy Walk. The first year the event was held between the stadiums and involved a few dozen families and friends. There was no year printed on the t-shirts in case they needed to be used the next year. It was both fun and successful and has continued to be both as it has grown into the Step Up Walk that exists today.

What made you decide to be a part of the very first walk?

The Down Syndrome Guild meetings were held in the basement of a church when my older daughter Elli was a baby.  We wanted to support the effort so that staff could be hired to help run the Down Syndrome Guild and offer more services to individuals and families.  Having staff would enable the services to grow and better meet needs of the Down syndrome community.

What has been your favorite experience with the walk?

Watching the Walk grow over the years has been remarkable and the sense of community at the Walk is always moving! On a personal level, the Walk is an opportunity each year to share the accomplishments and joy-filled lives of Elli and Dan. I am so grateful for the support we have received from friends and family and the Walk is an opportunity to share that gratitude. It is also a fabulous opportunity for Elli and Dan to feel the love!

What is the most memorable story you have from participating in the walk?

As I read this question all sorts of memories come flooding back!  Big brother Jack and his friends running laps around the stadium while we walked in a slow moving mass, pushing strollers and carrying kids, losing Dan- frequently, the first year with a Walker’s Walker banner, the first year with a team tent area, wind blowing our tent over, younger sister Abby who wasn’t born when the Walk started now being old enough to be a volunteer, having a team spot saved for us, new friends that join our team and the friends and family that join every year, every weather condition imaginable- cold, rain, hot, sunny, wind, but also, perfectly beautiful days!  These memories mesh into a quilt of Walk memories that reflects the endurance of our Walker’s Walker team, and a day filled with gratitude, joy, and love.

What would you say is the best thing about being part of the Step Up Walk?

The kinship and celebration by teams is my favorite thing about the Step Up Walk, as well as the activities for every age and interest imaginable!

How has the walk grown/changed in the past 20 years?

The growth has been phenomenal!  Growing from a few dozen folks to over 10,000, and from hoping to break even to making over $430,000 is truly unbelievable. The number of activities that are going on during the Walk has grown exponentially too. The exact location of the Walk at the Arrowhead campus has varied quite a few times to accommodate the size of the Walk. The team tent area in the center of food and activities is another change as a result of growth and inspiration by organizers.

It’s important to note the consistencies also. The Chiefs have supported the Walk each year and the location has been at Arrowhead as a result of this ongoing relationship. The Arrowhead location is a cornerstone of our KC Walk.  Also the commitment to not only raising money for First Downs For Down Syndrome and the Down Syndrome Guild, but also providing a fun-filled day for families and teams has always been a priority, regardless of the overall size of the Walk. Having teams be the focal point of the Walk is something organizers have been committed to over the years in spite of various challenges, including having team names printed on our shirts.  Step Up Teams love the Arrowhead location, fun atmosphere and team shirts that have been consistent over the years!

Will you be continuing to participate in the Step Up walk?

I’ll see what happens now that both Elli and Dan are out of K-12 education. We’ve made it this far and hope to keep the Walker’s Walkers going!

How has being a part of this event impacted your life?

The Step Up Walk is like a special birthday or anniversary for our family. Each year, the Walk is an opportunity to reflect on and be grateful for the support we have and to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. Feeling supported, being grateful, and sharing joy are incredibly uplifting acts that help sustain our extraordinary lives.

What is something that you learned through participating in the Step Up Walk?

Time flies! I am so grateful to have taken the time to enjoy our Walker’s Walkers team each year. Year by year Elli and Dan have grown and our team has grown, shrunk, and endured. Our challenges now are with post high school education, employment, and independent living. Those challenges are a long way from walking, talking, and potty training! The Walk became part of our lives, so did taking the time to celebrate Elli and Dan, their accomplishments, the gratitude for never ending support, and the team’s gratitude for all we have learned from Elli and Dan. I am grateful to see so many new teams each year and hope they continue to build happy memories around the Walk as we have, because time does fly!

Is there anything you would like people to know about the Step Up Walk, or reasons why you would encourage others who haven’t participated to participate?

The effort is worth it! There is time involved in organizing a team, but it is well worth it! Take the time to enjoy and celebrate the lives of your honorees and your support system, and all that they bring each special year of life.

The success of the Walk has enabled First Downs for Down Syndrome and the Down Syndrome Guild to grow into what they are today providing opportunities for education, support, and services to individuals with Down syndrome and the Down syndrome community. There is a great deal of work and commitment from staff and volunteers behind the scenes which have enabled the Step Up Walk to be all it is today. Their efforts combined with Step Up Teams and donors benefit our Down syndrome community and our entire KC community.

This experience has definitely been a big part of the entire Walker family’s lives, and impacted countless others as well. For information about how you can get involved with First Downs for Down Syndrome, or participate in the Step Up Walk, visit the Step Up Walk website.