About

The purpose of this blog is to allow for a shared space where the people who are working, playing, caring for and spending the most time with Matai on a day to day, week to week basis, can see and share his progress and development. 

I will document milestones, share goals and hopefully fill in some of the background of what is happening for Matai.

My hope is that you will learn some information about Matai, Down syndrome in general, get some ideas on how to best work with Matai at any specific point in time and be able to share your own ideas, stories and information about Matai as feels appropriate, along the way.

This need for a 'sharing space' has arisen because I am finding that I am often interacting with many people on a weekly basis about how Matai is progressing.  I glean many gems of wisdom from various professionals and often there are important ideas, information and experiences that I wish that other people in Matai's world could know too. Until now I am the only person that holds and facilitates all that information, and I feel that if I share it better, then a 'whole picture' of Matai's progress might help the different 'parts' be able to plan and be more focussed in their work (or play :).

Please know that there is no obligation to read here frequently. I know you are all very busy people!
I offer it as an option and hopefully a way of making your job easier.

These are the people that are currently working regularly with Matai:

Occupational Therapist (fortnightly) - Kath Macdonald (Early Intervention, Southland Hospital) -
Private Speech Therapist (weekly) - Bridget McArthur (Shout Speech Language Therapy, Alexandra)
Early Intervention Teacher (weekly) - Jenny Tattersfield (Ministry of Education)
Gladstone Preschool (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings) - Jacqui and the awesome team of early childhood teachers.

Equally important as the above professional services,  Aaron and I have two large extended families here in Invercargill who are very involved in Matai's daily life.  He is lucky enough to have 4 doting grandparents, 7 cousins, and many committed Aunts and Uncles.  He is a lucky boy! Some of these family members may also choose to read here as they are just as involved in his development.