Maybe you know my daughter - blonde hair, blue eyes, pig-tails flying in the breeze. Infectious smile, always ready with a bubbly "Hi!" Enjoys football, basketball, baseball and loves to run - most of the time I can't keep up with her. Loves to watch Jeopardy. Loves pizza, Coke, peanut M & M's, bowling and roller skating, even though she's not very good at either one. Can flash that smile and make the clouds disappear. Doesn't read very well, but she's working on it. By the way, did I mention she's mentally disabled?

Maybe you know my daughter - she' s the one who insists on wearing that god-awful baseball cap after spending hours on her hair. she's more at home in blue jeans and a sweatshirt, but boy, is she a knockout in a dress. A sense of humor that's slightly warped - takes after her Dad on that one. Loves new clothes - hates to shop - takes after mom on that one! Has about a billion stuffed animals - always says her favorite is the last one she got, but when push comes to shove, always picks her musical teddy bear. Likes birthday cake, birthday parties, especially hers - Christmas, Easter, and eating at McDonalds. Did I mention she doesn't talk very good and uses sign language?

Have you met my daughter? She loves to terrorize her brothers - then comes running to Daddy for protection. For some reason she just can't resist the temptation of their baseball cards, tapes and posters. I guess theirs must be better than her own stuff. Loves to fall asleep on the couch  with Dad while watching cartoons on a lazy Saturday morning. Hates early bedtimes. Hates getting up in the morning. Loves school - gets "bored" during church. Is learning to ride a bike not very good yet. Wants desperately to keep up with her brothers - sometimes they slow down to give her a chance, sometimes they don't. Loves being outside, loves animals, especially her dog, Sandy. Loves walking in the rain and splashing in mud puddles. Looks like an absolute angel when she's sleeping - sometimes has devil's horns during the day. Oh, she also goes to a special class.

Maybe you know my daughter. I love her intensely, and wouldn't trade her for anything in the world! Could you, maybe would you, try to see how much she's the same instead of how little she's different?