Growing up, my best friend's brother had down syndrome. He was only a year younger than us and I never noticed anything different until he started to be left out of everything we got to experience, whether just going to friends houses, playing on sports teams, and going to school dances. Since then, I've worked a lot with people with special needs to make sure that they are understood and get to have the same opportunities as everyone else. I've babysat for a girl with Williams syndrome who I have known for her entire life. Through my work with Special Olympics, I've made many friends with peers with special needs and I have a lot of experience working with them. I also used to volunteer twice a month at an elementary school for kids with special needs.