Inspired by Down syndrome

I love this story, posted in TELESCOPE magazine, because it shows that some of our most powerful lessons are those that we learn from our children.

By Heather Ronaldson

Before Julie Hertzog’s son, David, turned three years old, he had already undergone three open heart surgeries, a tracheotomy and required a breathing ventilator. David was born with Down syndrome.

“There was no doubt about it: My son wasn’t like his peers,” said Hertzog in a self-authored article online in 2010.

As David was preparing to enter kindergarten, Hertzog feared that David would become “a poster child for children expected to be the targets of bullying,” she said, as David was nonverbal, had delayed cognitive abilities and received his nutrition from a feeding tube.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching, Hertzog decided to do something about it. She became David’s advocate: talking with students, faculty and staff to educate them about Down syndrome.

“I remembered how kids with disabilities were treated in my generation, so I didn’t want that to be his experience,” said Hertzog.

Hertzog joined the PACER Center, a resource for children and young adults with disabilities and their families in 2000 and soon after headed itsNational Center for Bullying Prevention in Minnesota. Through it, Hertzog has created replicable peer advocacy programs for students across the country in the same way peers first helped David.

“The concept sounds simple, but because my son can’t tell me what happens during the day, I depend heavily on these peers to act as his voice. Now, what started as four kids in sixth grade has evolved to a school-wide project with more than 40 students volunteering to become peer advocates so they can help David and other students who are different,” said Hertzog in her article.

“It had amazing outcomes,” said Hertzog.

The peer advocacy model is now available online so other schools can create programs in their cities.

David is 17 now. “He is always at the core of my thoughts when I’m thinking about anything,” said Hertzog.

Hertzog has developed classroom toolkits, curricula and other resources through the National Bullying Prevention Center. She also created nationally recognized events such as PACER’S National Bullying Prevention Month, Unity Day and Rock, Walk, Roll Against Bullying, in October.

On Unity Day, people are encouraged to wear the color orange to show solidarity, said Hertzog. “That event has continued to grow and evolve and we expect it to be bigger than ever.”

Measuring the success of anti-bullying programs isn’t easy, as “we are looking to change the social paradigm,” said Hertzog.

But there are positive outcomes.“People are starting to understand the topic better than before. We’re starting to see real change happening. That to me is so encouraging.”

Hertzog recalled one year when Blue Earth, Minnesota was temporarily referred to as “Orange Earth” in honor of bullying prevention month. General Mills even dressed its 55-foot Jolly Green Giant statue, which stands in Blue Earth, in orange.

Hertzog said one student said, “I wish the Green Giant would wear orange year-round so it’s not an issue today, but an issue year-round.”

While her work can be overwhelming, Hertzog said that in those moments, she looks through the lens of her son.“I look at myself first and foremost as a mom and I think that my son David has taught me to see human dignity for all regardless of who you are—that you have the right to go to school to feel safe, valued and respected. He’s been such an important piece of always keeping me grounded,” said Hertzog.