Hi , I really love spending time with children. I raised nine children myself, 5 bio 4 adopted from China and I fostered four others. I have really enjoyed working with children with special needs of all kinds. I have advocated for children in China with down syndrome to be adopted. My cousin's daughter also was born with Down syndrome. I have had exposure to these special kids who rock that extra chromosone When I was working on my degree in psyschology (graduated 1986) I took extra classes in early child edc, child psych, gifted and special needs children. I have had children who have had special needs. Particularly some with speech issues who needed speech therapy ( I also adopted one son with a cleft lip and palate) . I have had experience with my children with learning disabilities, auditory processing issues, and medical issues. I think children with down syndrome are pretty special little ambassadors of love, though I hear they can be stubborn at times. (grin)