This essay was first published in the May 2011 issue of Family Times: The Parenting Guide of Central New York (www.familytimes.biz). Photo by Mike Davis, Photographer for Syracuse New Times.

I open up Amanda's sixth-grade school planner and find a yellow sheet of paper with three famous historical quotes. The directions say that each student is required to choose one of the quotes, stand in front of the class and recite it. Attached to this yellow sheet is a pink sticky note saying, "We are not sure if Amanda will do this but thought it was worth a try."

My first thought is "Are you kidding me?" These are big-worded, long-sentenced quotes. There is no "Mr. Gorbachev tear down that wall!" My daughter has Down syndrome. Articulation and voice control are issues. In addition, she has vocal cord damage as a result of a surgery, which makes it even more difficult for her to speak intelligibly. Public speaking is not something we have ever considered.