Teaching teens

Carrie Holt isn't your typical teen. Holt, a sophomore at Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, stays busy with school, friends, acting and considering colleges. But she's been thinking about someone besides herself since Kayla Clements came into her life.

"Kayla has taught me so much," said Holt, 16. "She has taught my number one how to play. She has taught me to get to know people before I judge them."

Holt and 5-year-old Kayla, who has Down's syndrome, a chromosomal disorder, met last fall through Playing for Others, a Charlotte non-profit organization that gives creative-minded sixth- through 12th-graders an opportunity to make a difference in their community.

Each year, Playing for Others partners with a different non-profit organization that serves special needs children. This year's partner is the Down's Syndrome Association of Charlotte.

"Its important to teach kids to give back to their community, to think about the greater good by being a civic leader and being civically responsible," said Jen Band, founder of Playing for Others.

Last September, the teens in Playing for Others were buddied with a child who has Down's syndrome. Together the pairs have participated in activities involving music, art and movement.

Band, 28, said she started PFO in 2006, because in her theater work with teens, she found many teens who she describes as "selfish, and it's all about me."

Many times, Band said, their only concern seemed to be, "Do I have the lead role?"

Currently, the teens are working on a theater production at the end of March to raise money for the Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte. Some of that money will go toward an endowment fund for its Camp Horizon.

This year's goal is to raise $25,000, Band said.

The teens are involved in every phase of the production, Band said. Each teen participates in fundraising and serves on a committee for the show, such as ticket sales, marketing, promotion or the silent auction.

"The teens truly run the committees," she said.

Some teens are acting in the production, while others have sent out press releases or visited companies and community members to get sponsorships and donations, Band said.

"They are learning life and business skills," she said.

But it's not just the teens who benefit from the interaction, said Bill Thomas, president of the Down's Syndrome Association of Charlotte.

"It's a two-way street," said Thomas, who is also the father of a son, 5-year-old Will, who has Down's syndrome.

Thomas said the teens gain a sense of compassion and understanding for those who are different and learn to be a tutor. And the children gain acceptance, friendship and a role model.

"The children get a push and a drive to be like their role models," Thomas said, "They need that drive to reach their potential."

Down's syndrome is caused by an extra copy of genetic material on the 21st chromosome. The condition causes impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth as well as distinct facial characteristics, such as a broad head, round face and almond-shaped eyes.

Before the 1960s, many people with Down's syndrome were institutionalized or locked away from society, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. Today, many individuals with this disorder are leading active lives, earning high school diplomas and college degrees even holding jobs and living independently.

"A child with Down's syndrome, or any special need, wants to be like everyone else and in a lot of ways, they are," said Londe Brewer, a resource teacher at Mount Gallant Elementary School in Rock Hill.

Brewer, who is also the parent of teenagers, said many children with Down's syndrome don't have common teen attitudes, which may include self-centeredness. They tend to be very friendly and outgoing, getting along with everyone, so the interaction is beneficial to both.

Brewer said some teens can be self absorbed. They may not realize that the abilities that they take for granted are the very things that children with special needs struggle with on a daily basis.

Brewer said the interaction teaches teens that "we all have weaknesses and they are people just like they are."

"They can be an inspiration to one another," she said. "I have students that can do things, but don't want to. Those students can be inspired by watching the student that struggles so hard to do things we take for granted."

A study on the inclusion of Down's syndrome students in mainstream classes, conducted by the National Down Syndrome Society, found that the interaction of Down's syndrome students with students who don't have disabilities was beneficial to both. It named gains in communication, independence and self-esteem as advantages for the student with Down's syndrome.

Kristina Clements, Kayla's mother, found out about the PFO program at a picnic she attended with families from the Downs Syndrome Association of Charlotte.

"I jumped at the chance to get Kayla involved," she said. "Anything possible to get her involved with typical children."

Clements said her daughter was shy at first but it didn't take long for her to warm up to Holt.

Clements said Kayla has enjoyed being with Holt so much that she wished there were more activities for them.

"It gives Kayla a big kid to look up to," Clements said.

This weekend, Holt and other PFO teens will be busy preparing for their March 28 and 29 fundraising production of "A Year with Frog and Toad" at the Neighborhood Theatre in the historic arts district of Charlotte.

The children from the Down's Syndrome Association will get a chance to try out a show business career when they arrive in a limousine and walk the red carpet, complete with paparazzi.

Holt said she's had a blast working with Kayla and the other children.

"It's cool to know that I helped someone get to camp," she said.

Want to go?

Who: Playing for Others Arts Festival Weekend.

What: The family musical, "A Year with Frog and Toad," based on the award-winning books by Arnold Lobel. Frog and Toad navigate through an adventure-filled year joined by colorful companions.

When: 7:30 p.m. March 28 and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 29

Where: Neighborhood Theatre, 311 E. 36th St., Charlotte, in the historic arts district.

Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. For online tickets and details, visit www.playingforothers.org.

Who: Playing for Others Arts Festival Weekend.

What: The family musical, "A Year with Frog and Toad," based on the award-winning books by Arnold Lobel. Frog and Toad navigate through an adventure-filled year joined by colorful companions.

When: 7:30 p.m. March 28 and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 29

Where: Neighborhood Theatre, 311 E. 36th St., Charlotte, in the historic arts district.

Admission: $10 in advance, $15 at the door. For online tickets and details, visit www.playingforothers.org.

This story was originally published March 13, 2008 at 12:36 AM with the headline "Teaching teens."