Thanks to PALS Volunteer Sean Doon for his National Volunteer Month submission!
I volunteer with PALS because I believe young adults with Down syndrome deserve their own haven where they can sing, dance, goof around, and just be themselves and be accepted for who they are.
Especially with the bias in today's society toward people with intellectual disabilities, PALS is a place for young adults with Down syndrome to be themselves and be accepted and included.
This is my 3rd year volunteering with PALS. I’m also involved with PALS leadership. I am a huge believer in acceptance and inclusion among young adults with Down syndrome. I've met campers who, before PALS, had never been to a summer camp before. They had been rejected because they had Down syndrome. To give up a week of your time from your job or school to offer your friendship through this immersive experience is incredibly rewarding. That's what keeps me coming back each and every year.
I believe in acceptance and inclusion. I believe people with Down syndrome are people, just like you and me – the only difference is in the way they may do certain things. Some of my friends who are unfamiliar with PALS or the disability community tell me, "Oh cool! You took a week off to volunteer at a summer camp for people with special needs." However, I see it as taking a week off of my time and life to provide a friendship and immersive experience to young adults with Down syndrome.
Why do I volunteer for PALS? Oh boy… it's hard to choose. One memory that sticks out to me is this past February, when I traveled from Northern Virginia for 3- 4 hours to the Great Wolf Lodge Adventure in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. When my roommate’s family asked me where I was from, and how long of a drive it was for me, they said, "You drove that far just for one weekend?" I said, "Absolutely." They then told me to thank my dad for driving the distance so I could hang out with their son for the entire weekend.
Considering the impact you make on the campers, as well as the impact they make on you, PALS has really changed my life and inspired me to become more involved in the Down syndrome community, plus it’s given me a much stronger insight into the Down syndrome community. After my first summer at PALS, the campers made such a huge impact on me that I bought a blue and yellow Down syndrome bracelet that I wear every day. I tell people I wear my PALS friendships on my wrist, because of the huge impact they’ve made on me.
The impact the campers make on you and the friendships you develop over the span of just a week, will last a lifetime.