Amaury says it with his words. What he likes is riding a bicycle, hooping, going to the park, baking cakes, and his horse Ukraine, which he appreciates during his sessions at Équi-sens in Dijon… Nothing could be more normal for a child of 5 years, with the difference that Amaury is a carrier of Down’s syndrome. A handicap detected shortly after his birth, at the Sainte-Marthe clinic in Dijon.
“I had found that Amaury had particularly almond-shaped eyes,” explains his mother Caroline de Smidt, 36 years old. Two days later, the trisomy was confirmed. A shock for his parents. “From then on, we contacted the Trisomy 21 Côte-d’Or association to understand that it was this form of handicap. There are many questions that arise at birth and about the future ”, testifies Julien, 40, the boy’s father.
Very well accompanied
“We have been very well supported,” says Caroline. “Immediately, two mothers of children with Down’s syndrome, members of the association, came to the house. We were able to question them. They reassured us and explained to us this form of handicap, and that their children had gained a form of autonomy. “
“Finding out that our child had Down syndrome was a massive blow from which we recovered very quickly,” continues Caroline. “At the beginning, many dreams disappear; I told myself that I would never be able to play soccer and dive with my son, ”continues Julien. “Today, I tell myself that I will do it anyway, and ski too! Over the years, we have other dreams, just as beautiful! “
At the kindergarten in Plombières-lès-Dijon
Amaury made his return this year in the middle section at the kindergarten of Plombières-lès-Dijon: four mornings, and one afternoon per week, the others being intended for care: physiotherapy, speech therapy, psychomotricity … parents of the little boy, it is that an individual AESH * is assigned to Amaury, as soon as he goes to school, “when he only has ten hours a week and is in the midst of an acquisition phase, ”they regret. “The town halls should also be helped to take charge of this type of child in their extra-curricular arrangements… We want our child to be better supported in ordinary settings. “
Today, Amaury’s parents fight every day to bring her the best in order to give her every chance of gaining autonomy in terms of work and home later on.
Julien became treasurer of Trisomy 21 Côte-d’Or, a departmental association not only offering activities, but also working a lot to develop the autonomy of people with Down’s syndrome and intellectual disability.
* Supporting students with disabilities.
We want our child to be better supported in an ordinary environment.
Amaury’s parents
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