A Community Wrapped in an Afghan
Our family lives in Mesa, Arizona which is actually a massive suburb of Phoenix. The greater Phoenix metro area is a very interesting place not only because of the vastness of space it consumes and its incredibly large population but also because within this sea of people, it is still very difficult (for us) to feel that we are a part of a community.
I have always longed for the small town life where everyone knows who I am and more importantly everyone knows and loves my son Teddy. It just seems like it would be simpler and safer. So, in my attempt to build out a community here at DownSyndrome.com, I was introduced to CJ and her T21 Traveling Afghan Project.

The T21 TAP is a community wrapped in a blog wrapped in a blanket. CJ has built the sense of intimacy and familiarity in her community that just makes you want to get that little afghan in your hands as quickly as possible and never let it go
The project is genius because it combines a very personal item like an afghan with the very personal experience of loving a family member or a friend with down syndrome. Bringing these items and feelings together creates that sense of community that I think we’re all longing for.
I am continually impressed by the creativity of the people in our society not only to bring us closer but also to make us more comfortable in our own skin (or blanket in this case) …
“There is a very special blanket making it’s way from one family to another all over the world.
The common tie? Down syndrome.
Each family who receives the afghan for one week has a member with T21.
They get the blanket, take photos with their family and pass the blanket (and an accompanying journal) on to the next recipient.
One blanket. Fifty US states. Many countries. Hundreds of families. One common thread!”
CJ has posted some fantastic photos of the Afghan’s travels and those families who have been lucky enough to have had the it in their “grasp”.
See the wonderful photos below but more importantly, visit CJ’s great site and check out all the wonderful kiddos that have embraced the blankey.
Thank you CJ for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful community!


Check out the google map of where the traveling afghan has been and where it is going:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=de&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107262760150343642409.000463e8a94bed98e64ff&ll=43.173135%2C-90.439453&spn=5.54419%2C11.096191&t=p&z=7
Our family has signed up to have a visit from the traveling afghan. It’s really easy and it is a fun way to connect to other families touched by DS.
hi CJ,
congrats to this article! can’t wait to get the afghan into my own very hands… and mom and dad want to read the journal.
and: greets to mesa! dad lived there from 1990 to 1991 (well, phoenix, not mesa – but it’s all so close, right!?!?
ben
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That which we do today will echo throughout the generations to come
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Education »
That which we do today will echo throughout the generations to come
One of our wonderful visitors wrote in asking for activities to do with a group of people to help them get an understanding of what it might be like to have Down syndrome. The activities included are great for parents to present to their child’s class, a teacher to present to their class, or even a student to present to their class as a project. We appreciate this educator’s commitment to making the world a better and more accommodating. Thank you for everything that you do.
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Thank you Laura for bridging the relationship with such a wonderful organization. If you live in the Long Island area or if you have the inclination to help their wonderful support group, please consider providing assistance in the form of either volunteerism or financial support. Additionally, the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Fund has an online store that further supports important DS research that hopefully will benefit all of our loved ones in the future. Support for DSRTF can be in the form of purchasing items from the Down Syndrome Store.
What is Down Syndrome? »
What is Down Syndrome?
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that delays in physical and intellectual development. The condition varies in severity, so developmental problems may range from mild to serious.
Down syndrome is the most common genetic cause of severe learning disabilities in children, occurring in one in every 800 infants. Every year, as many as 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome in the United States. The condition is named after John Langdon Down, the doctor who first identified the syndrome.
There’s no medical cure for this condition. But increased understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions make a big difference in the lives of both children and adults with Down syndrome.
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