In a world that focuses on limitations, meet Claire, a radiant light who illuminates everything she does. Claire’s story starts when she was born, instead of being born with 46 chromosomes she was blessed with one extra. The medical term for this is Down Syndrome. She has lived with this for 16 years and has not once let it hold her back. Claire attends Dee-Mack High School along with her sophomore class. Some things you might not know about her, is she 
sports her bright headbands everyday due to her having some hearing loss. These headbands hold a hearing device so she has a better auditory perception. Claire doesn’t seem to have any issues with hearing when she wears it as when she comes to school she is always happy, helpful, and brings so much positivity wherever she goes! Her schedule consists of CBI, practical math, P.E, lunch, english, choir, and science. She attends all of these classes with either Ms. Weishaupt, Ms. Morgan, or Ms. P, all three of her amazing teachers who are with her throughtout the day!
Mornings with Claire are typically the same each day. One of her paras Ms. Morgan adds, ”People with down syndrome often have an amazing memory for routines and a big love for social connection, that describes Claire perfectly!” Her first class of the day is CBI. CBI stands for community based instruction. This usually consists of packing snack bags, which she loves, but she definitely enjoyed a change with her field trip to the Midwest Food Bank! After CBI, Claire goes into practical math. She has this class with Ms. P and Mrs. Weisaupt. In this class she loves to listen to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” She has this very cool device which plugs into her computer, completley wireless, and plays directly into her cochlear implant. Once practical math is over, Claire goes to PE where she gets to be her energetic self, getting to run/walk outside on the track. After letting this energy out, she goes into the cafeteria which is her favorite part of the day! She gets excited to help stack and wash trays while also getting to greet and say hi to everyone! She also loves working there as she gets to be independent. Claire goes to English after her lunch, from there she will go to choir with Ms. Weisaupt. Claire has a deep love for music and is very passionate about it. Ms. Weisaupt expresses this as she says, “The choir is a lot of fun with Claire. She loves to sing, and dance with her peers. Music is a deep love for Claire. She is an Alto in choir and she 
works really hard.” After her fun in choir, she is off to science to end her day!
She loves passing periods because she gets to see everyone in the hallway and give them fistbumps as she walks by. Claire is very sociable and could talk to anyone. Ms. Morgan comments on her ability to be sociable as she says, “She interacts wonderfully with other students and will truly be friends with anyone.” Everybody Claire interacts with would tell you what a bundle of joy she is and how her positivity rubs off on you. Claire loves it when people will take the time to learn handshakes with her as she does not forget them! On Fridays, she has “Fist Bump Fridays,” where she greets everyone on the benches in the morning with “HAPPY FRIDAY!” and is something she looks forward to doing every week!
Outside of school Claire also participates in horseback riding lessons at CIRT (Central Illinois Riding Therapy) which is “a nonprofit organization serving teens and adults as well as veterans with mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities, from Tazewell and surrounding counties, in a therape
utic comprehensive and recreational horseback riding program.” watches her brother Gus play football, and goes to church with her family! Claire is very close with her family as she lights up whenever talking about them and the individual nicknames she has for each of them.
“I want to encourage everyone to always be kind and accepting to others, especially those with special needs, because they are just as important as anyone else. Claire reminds us of that every single day.” Ms Morgan appreciates this very special girl and often brags she has the best job in the school because of the one on one time she gets to spend with Claire everyday! She truly is a great girl who deserves to be recognized for her unwavering optimism and ability to brighten anyone’s day! If you see Claire in the hallways give her a fist bump!
