How about this? Mariah Slick wins Homecoming Queen!

[Munjibunga]

Mariah Slick has Down Syndrome. She was elected Homecoming Queen at Azle High School in Texas. It's a testament to the fact that there are positive social changes taking place in the world. My brother Tom had Down Syndrome (he died a couple years ago at the ripe old age of 55), and was one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. It makes me feel good to see people looking past others' challenges in life.

Here's the write-up from the Huffington Post, and a link to the video of her victory.

Originally Posted by Huffington Post

Mariah Slick is the first Azle High School homecoming queen of her kind.

Slick, a high school senior, has Down syndrome. But according to KVUE, that didn't prevent her classmates from crowning her the queen of their homecoming.

Despite her warm personality, even her parents were surprised by the nomination. “I never dreamed she would be nominated homecoming queen, especially since she has special needs,” her mother, Susan Slick, told CBS DFW.

The 18-year-old high school student is one of the school's biggest fans, and according to ABC, hardly misses a game. It seems everyone has something nice to say about her as well.
“She is well-liked by everybody,” her friend Jordan Arnold told CBS. “She is sweet -- a real sweetheart!”

Slick bested three other contestants to win the title during halftime of the school's homecoming game Friday night. The look on her face is priceless, and you can see it for yourself in the video below.

[Brad Johnson]

With all of the crap going on in this world, this is nice to see.

[bradjonesbass]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

With all of the crap going on in this world, this is nice to see.

Plus a million. Kids get a lot of (mostly well deserved) flack these days, but this would not have happened when most of us were growing up.

[bassteban]

Approval/endorsement.

[Spinal Tapper]

Great to see. Sometimes the world doesn't look like such a f'd up place afterall...

[dozicusmaximus]

Awesome that almost made me a little teary eyed.
Turns out our new guitarist, has a 2-3yr old daughter with down syndrome. I didn't know until this Saturday.

Now this made almost really made me cry. What the hell is wrong with me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsOo3...eature=related

[Funky Ghost]

That is very very cool.

I'll pass it along here at work. We live for this kind of thing

[smperry]

Ah man, I've got something in my eye.

[GregC]

My girlfriend works with folks with Down's Syndrome, she showed me this late last night. Great stuff.

[EricF]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing this.

[fourstringdrums]

That is fantastic. Though and not to diminish it, I have to wonder how many people vote with pity or sympathy. I grew up as someone with a permanent disability from birth and I know that there were times I received treatment from people that only was a result of people feeling like they had to be nice to me.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by fourstringdrums

That is fantastic. Though and not to diminish it, I have to wonder how many people vote with pity or sympathy. I grew up as someone with a permanent disability from birth and I know that there were times I received treatment from people that only was a result of people feeling like they had to be nice to me.

I don't get the impression that her votes were from anything but being a great person. My brother was loved by a lot of people, even though his handicap was relatively severe. When we were kids in the '50s, it was typical to put children with Down's, autism and other handicaps in horrid, squalid state homes.

In our case, Tom was mainstreamed from the beginning, and none of the neighborhood kids picked on him because he was so easy going. He also made a great lineman in our sandlot football games because he was incredibly strong. He couldn't attend regular public schools, but he went to centers where he made many lifelong friends. He worked at a plant nursery for the last 20 years of his life. In the extended family, he was by far the favorite relative of all.

People with Down Syndrome are usually held in high regard by the people around them.

[nutdog]

Awesome. I had an uncle with Down's, and two of my friends have Down's kids. I love those little guys. But one keeps taking gloves out of the dugout.

[dave64o]

Originally Posted by smperry

Ah man, I've got something in my eye.

Me too.

[IconBasser]

Originally Posted by dozicusmaximus

Awesome that almost made me a little teary eyed.
Turns out our new guitarist, has a 2-3yr old daughter with down syndrome. I didn't know until this Saturday.

Now this made almost really made me cry. What the hell is wrong with me
29 years old and hearing myself for the 1st time! - YouTube

I'm very confused. The video description says that this was the first time she had ever been able to hear in her life. How did she know how to speak english?

[onosson]

Originally Posted by IconBasser

I'm very confused. The video description says that this was the first time she had ever been able to hear in her life. How did she know how to speak english?

Here's one of her comments on that video:

"My whole life I've been complimented on how well I speak. I don't really have an answer for you other than I have always had a passion for reading, grammar, and English. My hearing loss was/is considered severe to profound. I've worked very hard to be able to interact and blend in.....only thing I can say is 'God is good'."

Deaf people can learn to speak through training, and especially if they are highly motivated to do so.

[onosson]

As to the OP, this is great.


I just wish I didn't read YouTube comments sometimes...

[peledog]

It made me all goose-bumpy. Good for her. Her dad was really proud. He raised a great kid.

[MakiSupaStar]

Awesome.

[cassanova]

It's nice to see an uplifting story in today's bad news, sensationalist media.