Button Making Ideas - Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day

Mar 23, 2018

ABM Button Making Ideas highlights the best button ideas shared in The Pinback Button Making Community. This week, we are celebrating Leo and World Down syndrome Day.

Hillary Schuster is a member of TPBMC and this week she shared her very personal story about her precious son, Leo. Leo's picture instantly stole the hearts of the group and we knew Hillary's button honoring World Down syndrome Day and helping others to understand Ds was going to be our weekly winner!

In celebration of World Down syndrome Day, Hillary made informational cards about Leo and what Downs syndrome is for Leo's classmates to help them understand that he is "more alike than different" to them. She also attached a button that the kids can wear to help facilitate discussion and remembrance of the day. Hillary is dedicated to educating others about Ds and to helping other new parents who are learning to care for their special child. She openly and lovingly invites others to reach out to her with any questions about her experience or advice she can offer.

When I spoke to Hillary she shared her touching story. "We found out Leo likely had Down syndrome when I was about 13 weeks pregnant--we knew for sure at 16 weeks. I didn't know anyone with Ds growing up, nor did I know any other parents with kids with special needs. To say we were terrified and upset would be an understatement. We started doing research and so much of it was dire. We eventually found a few families on Instagram who were inspiring to us. They showed that having a special needs kid was just one small part of their lives. It wasn't limiting their experiences."

"Fast forward to having an amazing 4 year old with Down syndrome and I try really hard to be that inspiration for other people. Offering people glimpses into our rich life."

"World Down syndrome Day is an opportunity for me to share. I made this card to send home with Leo's classmates--so their parents would be able to hear from me directly (I work full-time and don't have much contact with the other parents at school). I also made some extra buttons for the kids and sent along some books for the teacher to read. She had all the kids wear blue and yellow (colors associated with Down syndrome awareness) and had them do a craft together. I guess all of the kids kept saying "Leo! It's your special day!"

"If anyone wants to know more or connect, I can be found posting one million photos of my kids on Instagram at @hillaryschu. If you want to learn more about Down syndrome, check out the National Down syndrome Society (https://www.ndss.org/). To donate to an awesome cause, check out Ruby's Rainbow (https://rubysrainbow.org/), who raises money to award scholarships to individuals with Ds."

I'm pretty confident in saying that if you need some help with buttons like these to help spread the message, Hillary would be more than happy to help with that, too! This is just one of the great designs she has shared with us in The Pinback Button Making Community. She also makes incredibly beautiful wedding place cards with her buttons! Watch for those and others in our upcoming article featuring all of the great button ideas for wedding season that will help make the day perfect!

See all of the fantastically creative ideas being shared every day in The Pinback Button Making Community by joining us today. Then share your own button ideas for a chance to be our Friday Featured Weekly Winner and get your very own ABM Gift Card! Besides the all important gift card for FREE ABM merchandise, you will also be the proud owner of your very own blog in ABM Button Making Ideas and become a part of ABM history which as we all know is simply priceless! Until next time....happy button making!

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