Self Directive Learning Project

Expecting Adam Summary

• This is a memoir by Martha Beck about her experience of events that would lead to her surprise pregnancy of her son Adam. She discusses her difficulties of carrying her son, then leads to the journey of discovering that he would be born with Down Syndrome. With this pregnancy, doctors gave them the option of adoption, but they viewed him as a human being and adventure they will embrace as he gets older with his disability. Eventually, Martha Beck grows to love everyday with her son and understand his difficulties.

Portrayal of Down Syndrome

• Adam has strenuous difficulties with communication and often becomes frustrated with speaking.
• Adam had a look of confusion and spacey when he was a baby.
• Adam often needs consitant attention to prevent him from wondering off.

Family Functions

• Adams family consists of both parents and and two siblings. Ex. While the families at home, Adam loved to chase and play with his two sisters.
• Often growing up, Adam was with his mother and sisters while their father was in Asia doing research and working. Ex. Adam and his mother with his sisters shopping. Adam wondered off to the flower department and was found smelling the entire selection of flowers. His mother and sisters joined him to support his interests.

Reactions

• My main reaction was uncomfortable at the beginning due to the phrase "mentally retarded".
• I did love the aspect where Adam is dressing himself to look like a character from Miami Vice. I thought this showed his independance.
• I respected the Beck's a lot when they decided to keep Adam and view him as a human being instead of giving him away due to him having Down Syndorme.

Three Favorite Quotes

• "With Adam, I had more fears than usual to plague me during those long,long nights.
• " He is the one who taught me to appreciate rainbows--not only in the sky but also in lawn springklers and dish-soap bubbles and patches of oil."
• " But Adam the fashion slave has set us free. He has only himself to blame."

Implications

• Providing Adam with a speech pathologist will help him work on his communication and pronunciation skills so he will not become so easily frustrated when speaking.
• A working portfolio would be a great help to keep track of Adam's academic strength/weaknesses by having his parents and teachers provide a better understanding where he needs help in.
• Assess Adam with pictures to see if he responds by recognition of the images given.
• Use word response technologies to help Adam vocalize what he is trying to say in the classroom.