Trudy's story
“I like coming into work and earning money.”
Trudy is 27 years old and has Down syndrome. She works for the charity. She took part in
Sue Buckley's first reading
research project and, at the age of four, we filmed Trudy for one of our videos
demonstrating the teaching of reading skills.
“I've been working at the Centre for about 18 months now and I come here by taxi with my
friends Roberta, Derek and Ellie, who also work here. I do the printing of the books that we
produce and punch holes in the books with the driller. My favourite job is folding things
and putting them in envelopes.
“I like to listen to music while we are working and at lunchtime I chat to my friends and
the other people at the Centre, or I read a magazine.
“I like coming into work and earning money. I especially like the pay rises! When I arrive
in the morning, I offer everyone a drink in the morning and I think my work colleagues and
my bosses are very friendly.
“My favourite hobbies are snooker, watching football and EastEnders. I like playing with my
niece and nephew and I'm really pleased because my cousin has just had a baby boy!”
Sarah's story
“I support Down Syndrome Education International because it helps children and grown ups with Down syndrome all over
the world.”
Sarah Duffen's continued achievements at nearly 40 years of age show some of the lifelong
possibilities for individuals with Down syndrome. It was Sarah's remarkable progress in learning
to read when she was a young girl that lead Sue Buckley to
start the charity's first research
project.
Sarah now enjoys an impressively full and active lifestyle, making cakes and jams for a farm
shop near her home. Amongst her pursuits she counts caving, rock climbing, surfing, windsurfing,
abseiling, canoeing, scuba-diving, skiing, water skiing, ice skating, barn dancing and swimming.
She also received considerable press attention by passing her driving test in 1987, when she was
21 years old.
"I like sport because it keeps me healthy and slim and gives me a lot to do. I also like it
because I meet my old friends and new people as well. I like some things better than others,
swimming is my favourite because I am good at it and I have been doing it a long time. I
started when I was three and I still do it three times a week. Water skiing and wind surfing
are the hardest but I do quite well at them."
"I like driving because I can go to all the shops that are too far to walk. There are no
buses...I usually drive when Mum or Dad are in the car because I need the practice and I am
a better driver than my Dad, he thinks I drive too fast. I used to take our neighbour Mary
to collect her pension every week because she couldn't drive. I enjoy driving most in
country lanes because it is quieter. Sometimes I like driving on the motorway because I like
driving fast."
“I support Down Syndrome Education Internationalbecause it helps children and grown ups with
Down syndrome all over the world. It helps them to learn to read and write and do all the
other things that the doctors said I would not be able to do when I was born but that I can
do now.”
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