End The R Word Day

This project was started to bind together families that have a member who share an extra something special.

This project was started to bring us together, to form another tie in our community and to share something other than the differing abilities those we love.

Today is a day that we go outside our borders and educate not ourselves, but others.

Today is the day we share how hurt we are when we hear the word "retard".

Today is the day we End the R Word.


Today is the day we take a pledge to educate, inform and advertise how painful it is to hear this word, whether or not it is directed at someone we love or used in general.

Look at the faces captured within this blog. Take a moment to cruise the links in the sidebar. Those are the faces you hurt when you use this word. Those are the hearts you break, just a little, when you choose to speak this deragatory term.

Join us, whether your child is differently abled, or typical.

Join us, whether you have a disability, know someone who has a disablitily, or have never even HEARD of the word disabled.

Join us today, and End the R Word.

Make the world a little better. A little more loving. A little more comfortable for those who cringe whenever the word is spoken.

Join us and End the R Word.

In the words of John C. McGinley:

"When you pick on that group, you've picked the perfect storm of cowardice to exercise your vitriol, because they're not going to return serve. They're equipped to hug not hit"

Leave the link to your End The R Word post in the comments and I will move them up here!

See what other's have said on this topic!
A Walk In Lily's Garden
Andrews Crew
Archie's Room
Audrey and Stella's Playground
Banana Migraine
Believing In Miracles
Big Blueberry Eyes
Class of 2008
Cornish Adoption Journey
Faulkner Family
Garden of Eagan
Gavin's Voice
The Incredible Adventures of Ian and Chase
Karli's Kingdom
My Life With Gabriel
Megans Got 47
Mosaic Moments
Mundo Bean
One More, More Than One
Opposite Kids
Our Normal Life
Our Unexpected Journey
Small Swift Birds
Life With My Special Ks
Sunflower Stories
Ten Squares, Three Squiggles
Life with Bubba, Chicky and Nika
The Zoromski Chronicles
Three's a Charm
Zip Perdue Dee Dah

Read more...

End The R Word Day

Hope's Family

The afghan spent some time with Debra and Hope in Iowa! Here are a few pictures of Hope taking "custody" of the afghan!




And here is Hope enjoying the Afghan!!





You can check out these posts on the blog Mom of 12 And Loving It:
The Traveling Afghan

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Hope's Family

FAQ's

1. Is is too late to sign up?

No!! It is not too late to sign up! The more the merrier!

2. Do I have to have a website or blog to participate? Do I have to be on MySpace or Facebook?

No! All families are welcome!

3. Does it cost anything to participate?

No, but yes. To participate, it costs nothing. However, the sender is responsible for paying the shipping costs to send the blanket to the next family. I try to keep the blanket within a single state for as many transfers as possible. When you sign up, you can opt to NOT send the afghan out of country. We have plenty of families that ARE willing. This is not meant to be a hardship on anyone.

4. What do we do once we receive the afghan?

You take pictures! Lots and lots of pictures! Then you email them to me at thet21travelingafghanproject@gmail.com or post them on the Facebook Group Photo Album. You will get your own page on the T21 Traveling Afghan Project blog which will host the pictures you take and a link to your blog or website (if applicable.) It will also link to any posts you make on your own blog or website containing pictures or information about the afghan.

You will get your own page, just like The Flege Family's!

5. What will happen to the afghan and journal when the journey is complete?

There has been lengthy talk about turning the pictures and the journal entries into a book that will be made available to any interested party. When we get a bit further into the project, I will begin to look into the affordability of this option. That way, everyone will get to see the pictures, read the entries and keep a piece of the afghan to always have.

As for the afghan itself, it has been suggested to present it to a family who gets an in-utero diagnosis or has just had a child with Down syndrome to welcome them to the family.

6. How do I wash the afghan? DO I wash the afghan?

You are more than welcome to wash the afghan and it is suggested you do so before sending it on if you have animals, smoke in the home, etc. The afghan is machine washable with like colors and you can toss it in the drier! If it needs mending at any point, I will have it sent back to me to do so. I will also be making a "copy" blanket, just in case!

7. What if we have an afghan emergency and need to get ahold of you ASAP?

My phone number is on the inside cover of the journal traveling with the afghan! Feel free to use it for any reason, even just to say, "We have the afghan and wanted to say hello!"

If I have left any unanswered questions, please leave a comment and I will be sure to answer them here!

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FAQ's

Updates Galore!

Lots of news and updates!!

1.) Our afghan is with the next family in Iowa! Debra and Hope have the afghan and we anxiously await pictures of their family!

2.) Martin, Ben's dad, has updated our Google map to reflect the most recent afghan travels. Thanks, Martin!!

3.) Mayson has started our first little one with "An Afghan of Their Own." You can see pictures of her with her new afghan on her mom's blog or here. If you would like an afghan for your little one (done in the same pattern and size of the traveling afghan with your choice of colors) please visit An Afghan of Your Own.

4.) To date, I have blanket orders for Joaquin, Rhett, Avery and my future son-in-law, Tyler. If I am missing anyone, please speak up!!

5.) And what you've all been waiting for, a tentative schedule for the afghan! Keep in mind there are a number of events the afghan is wanted for, so this schedule will need to be adhered to as strictly as possible!

Iowa
Until mid-April

Illinois
Mid-April to the end of April

Tennessee
End of April to the beginning of May

South Carolina
Mid-May to end of May

North Carolina
Early June to early July

Kentucky
Early July to mid-July

Ohio
Mid-July to end of July

California
End of July through early September

Alaska
Mid--September..then on to Canada!!

This is as far as I have gotten with the foreseen path. ALL states and countries will be covered at one point!

6.) We have added the states of Louisiana and Alaska to our included states! Please continue spreading the word so we can get all fifty states involved!! We only have fourteen to go! Woo hoo!!

7.) Don't forget to join our Facebook Group!

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Updates Galore!

Afghan Engagements

There are certain events people have asked to have the afghan for. If you would like to reserve the afghan for a specific period of time, please email me and I will try to accomodate you! I am already taking reservations for 2010!! Get your request in now!!

The afghan has been requested for the following dates and events:

2009 EVENTS

May 9
Team Eian

July 10-12
IMDSA Conference: IMDSA Website

July 31 - August 2
NDSC Conference
Care of: Life with Annelies

September 12
South Dakota Buddy Walk
Care of: The Drolc Family

September 18
Alaska Buddy Walk

Care of Judy Waldron of the Alaskan Chapter of the National Down Syndrome Congress

September 26

New Hampshire Buddy Walk

Care of Hodge Podge

October 3
Massachusett's South Shore Buddy Walk
Care of: The Kunselman Family

October 10
Richmond, Virginia Buddy Walk
Care of: The Carpenter Chronicles

October 17-22
Buddy Cruise:
Facebook Group

October 24

Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk (Missouri)

Care of Little LC Boom Boom

October 31

To Love Endlessly

2010 EVENTS

March 21

Sky Diving project for Down Syndrome Day

Care of Down Right Faith

July 19

Buddy Cruise

MDSC Massachusetts Buddy Walk

Care of 2 Pirates and A Princess

DSSASI Buddy Walk

Care of Gabi's World

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Afghan Engagements

On The Road Again!

The afghan is moving on to our next family in a day or two! Little Miss Mayson grew quite attached to the T21 Traveling Afghan, so I whipped her up one of her own and it is on it's way as of today!

Once Amy gets it, she will be shipping it off to the next family! I am working on making an extra afghan or two to keep on hand in the event that another child has troubles with passing the afghan on. This way we can keep things rolling!

There is now no doubt the afghan has been held and loved!

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On The Road Again!

An Afghan Of Their Own

Due to a Mayson forming a strong attachment to the T21 Traveling Afghan, I decided to provide afghans for anyone who is interested.

The afghan can be done in any color combo or scheme.

Since this afghan whips up in a relatively short amount of time, here is the deal.

You pay for the yarn.
You can send me a gift card, paypal me the funds, order the yarn online and have it shipped directly to me or buy it yourself and mail it to me.

The afghan costs a flat $30. I use I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby.

If you prefer a different type of yarn, your cost will depend on the cost of that particular yarn.

The afghan takes about thirty-five ounces of sport weight yarn (which is approximately six five-ounce skeins).

You can also order yarn online from one of the following links and have it shipped directly to me (then you would not pay the $30 cost for yarn, since you are providing the material yourself):
Red Heart
Mary Maxim
Joann


I am more than willing to use whatever yarn you prefer.

Shipping:
You are responsible for the cost of shipping the afghan to you once it is complete. This will vary by your location. I am located in the Midwestern United States.

Alternately:

Instead of paying for the yarn, make me an offer for some type of swap for the afghan.

You send me something, I send you a finished afghan and you only pay for shipping.

You still pay the cost of shipping the finished afghan.

Once I complete your afghan, I will email you a picture of it. If you want it, it is on its way to you! If you would prefer a different color scheme, etc. I will make up one more afghan, at my cost, and send you a photo. You get to decide between the two afghans and shipping is due at that time. The afghan you did NOT choose will be auctioned off on this website for another family.

The cost of yarn and shipping is due at the time of order.

Afghans will be created on a first come, first made basis (meaning the first yarn/funds received.) I finish three to four afghans per week and typically mail them out on Fridays.

The pattern I use for the afghans is the same pattern used to make the T21 Traveling Afghan. However, the yarn type and color is the choice of the receiver.

I will post a picture of each afghan I made with a link to the family's blog who will be receiving it (if applicable). Photos are also posted in an album on My Facebook Page.

That's all there is to it.

If you receive the T21 Traveling Afghan and THEN decide you want one of your own, please email me as soon as possible so I can have the afghan to you before you ship it on to the next family. I don't want to traumatize any children who grow attached to the traveling afghan!

You may also purchase an afghan to be sent to someone as a gift in your name.

If you are interested in having an afghan of your own, please fill out the form below OR email me with the subject line "I Want An Afghan!" and the following information:
Your Name:
Method of Payment:
The Name of the Recipient:
Is this a memorial or gift afghan:
What colors or color scheme would you like:
Mailing address for the afghan:
Your email address:


Please email me with any questions, comments or concerns! chandosjoy@gmail.com

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An Afghan Of Their Own

Order An Afghan Of Their Own

If you would like to order an afghan, please email me at chandosjoy@gmail.com after reading this page.

The afghans are provided for the cost of yarn and shipping.
-Yarn is $20 unless you want a more expensive one.
-Shipping varies by location, but is under $10 for US States

A donation to the T21 Afghan Fund is appreciated, but not required.
The money donated to this fund goes towards providing afghans to children and assisting in the shipping of the traveling afghan, when necessary.

You can check the Queue to see pictures of the children who have received their afghans and to see how many children are awaiting their afghan. I finish three to four afghans per week and typically ship out on Fridays.

You can send an afghan as a gift (a card with your name on it will be included) or as a memorial to a lost life.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel fee to email me at chandosjoy@gmail.com.

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Order An Afghan Of Their Own

The Flege Family

The Flege Family and the afghan!

Here are some pictures of Mayson with the box and the afghan! I'm sure Amy will get us plenty more pictures, I was just excited to get these posted!








And the journey has begun!!

Click on the following links to see Amy's posts on The Flege Farm regarding The T21 Traveling Afghan:

It's Here! It's Here!
Day One
Day Two: Baby Doll
Day Three: Story Time
USA State
Snuggle Time
Sharing The Afghan
Wagon Ride
A Blankie of Her Own
Off To The Next Family

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The Flege Family

Emmalee's Family!

Ok, I think this is what you've all been waiting for, pictures of the afghan!

For everyone keeping track, the afghan originated in Wisconsin with Little Miss E:



The afghan is now on it's way to Amy of The Flege Farm! From there, who knows!

The journey has begun, folks! Woo hoo!!

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Emmalee's Family!

Where It Has Been

This post has been made into a page and can be viewed here.

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Where It Has Been