A Map Through The Valley: March 2025

Spring Training, Special Olympics

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Image: Rebecca, student athlete with Special Olympics Spring 2022

This week the theme of the Special Olympics continues. Although Down Syndrome may be the most well known, there are other conditions that can result in intellectual disabilities. Participation in sports has many benefits, including improvement to physical health, team participation, and achieving goals. Connections between families are formed. The Special Olympics website has many stories of the impact on communities, both here in the USA and around the world.

Special Olympics Organization

The happy smile on Rebecca's face shows how much she enjoyed her participation in the Special Olympics. Here is a link to the full story:

https://www.cheltenham.org/district-spotlight-hub/21-22-spotlights

Trisomy 21 Day

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

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Image: The Kachnycz "Brothers" Mike & his brother Tom, the kids, Josh & Jesse (fall 1999)

This Friday, March 21, is "Trisomy 21 Day" (3/21). This designation highlights the inclusion of those with Trisomy 21 (also known as Down Syndrome). Mike's brother Tom was born in the 1960's, when children with special needs were usually placed in institutional schools, rather than remaining in the community and being educated in the least restricted environment. In that era, advocacy by family members and other concerned individuals resulted in legislation to change this. My post from 7/31/24 outlines the landmark decisions:

https://amapthroughthevalley.blogspot.com/2024/07/july-disability-pride-month.html

As spring approaches, I would also like to feature the Special Olympics. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics is "a global sports movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities." To learn more, or find a program near you, use this link:

Special Olympics Organization

recipes

RECIPE: Baking for Lent & Egg Substitutes

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

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Image: https://www.bakingmad.com/baking-tips/how-to-substitute-eggs-when-baking accessed 3/10/25

Last Wednesday, March 5, was Ash Wednesday, which is recognized by Christians as the beginning of Lent. If you have given up sweets for Lent, I am including the link to my recipe for Baked Oatmeal which uses only bananas, dried fruit, and spices for sweetening. Spreading the oatmeal bars with peanut butter can create a delicious no-sugar treat. These days, with the price of eggs, using an egg substitute may also be needed. My recipe recommends using mayonnaise. That condiment is made of whipped eggs and oil, with a little vinegar. The vinegar is not detectable when used in baking. However, since mayonnaise contains eggs, you may find that the price of that commodity is also increasing. Other egg substitutes are featured in today's post. The chart above is a quick reference. If you want more information, you can go to the site using this link:

https://www.bakingmad.com/baking-tips/how-to-substitute-eggs-when-baking

Here is the link to my previous post for Baked Oatmeal:

Banana Baked Oatmeal

Government/Legal/Financial

Change Website to Contact Elected Officials

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

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Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/usa-flag-us-flag-american-flag-239620/

Change Website to Contact Elected Officials by Gail K. Kachnycz 4 March 2025

I recently wanted to express my concerns to my Federal Elected Officials (President, US Senators from PA, US Representative). I went to the website I recommended after the November elections, https://myreps.datamade.us/ and learned that this website was shutting down at the end of March. Included in this announcement were recommendations of three other sites that would provide contact information for elected officials. I checked them out, and found that each wanted me to sign up to receive newsletters or updates in order to proceed to the screen that would allow me to search for the contact information I wanted. If you want to receive that type of political information, you can check for the sites they recommend here: MyReps Website

However, like Joe Friday, I want "Just the facts, Ma'am." After searching and clicking, searching and clicking, I finally happened upon the government website link for contacting elected officials (Federal, State, and Local). The information can be accessed by entering only your street address. Once you are on the website of the elected official, your street address is required (to confirm that you are indeed a constituent) but you can usually skip the email or phone, or select that you do NOT want newsletters or updates. The link is included below. I hope this is helpful.

usa.gov/elected-officials

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