DEAF-BLIND

THE RICHARDSONS FROM CHARLOTTE, NC

We want to thank the Richardsons for sharing their family with others. Shelby is 6 years old and will attend the first grade at Cotswold Elementary School in Charlotte this coming fall. She is in the total communication class and uses sign language. Her communication skills have really blossomed during the past year with the support of her parents, other family members and friends. Shelby is enjoying her summer. She just returned from attending the 13th Annual Conference for Families of Children Who Are Deaf-Blind. She enjoyed her trip to the beach and walking with her mom in the waves. She loves to swim and rides in a therapeutic horseback-riding program during the school year. Shelby likes to watch videos, read books and play with her favorite stuffed animals. Her newest phase is asking "what's first, second, third..." and then retelling you the steps. Shelby is a happy child and lives with her parents, Margaret and Dick, sister Bonnie who is 21 and brother Derek who is 19. Her mother, Margaret, is the co-chair for our state parent organization, the Deaf-Blind Multihandicapped Association of North Carolina, and is devoted to her family. Margaret continues to seek information on the latest research and techniques, which she can use with Shelby to help her make gains.

The Richardson family is an asset to our state and we thank them for sharing a little piece of their life with us.