Jennifer Cooper's son Eli faced challenges transitioning to middle school due to his Down syndrome. Instead of her giving a presentation on communication, Eli and his friends took charge, later leading to the creation of a book titled "Eli Explains Down Syndrome." Over time, they shared their insights in various settings, enhancing understanding of Down syndrome. Key themes include the importance of independence for those with disabilities and the '10-second rule' for better communication, which stresses patience and allowing individuals to express themselves fully without interruption.
"We got this," Eli remembers his friends saying at the time. "It's the kiss of death to have your mom come." The boys got together to give the presentation themselves.
Cooper continued giving presentations with Eli, "and then he and I sat down and refined the presentation into the book we have now," Cooper tells TODAY.com.
Eli needed to learn to do these things on his own. The book also mentions the "10-second rule," which refers to waiting 10 seconds for someone who has trouble with speech or language.
Rushing or interrupting "defeats the purpose" because it takes longer for the speaker to complete the thought.
Collection
[
|
...
]