The founder and director of The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential of Brazil, Raymundo Veras was the first to treat large numbers of children who were labeled as "Down syndrome" or "Mongoloid". Over the last forty years it has become the tradition at The Institutes to refer to these brain-injured children informally as "Veras children" in honor of Dr. Veras.
These are the stories of ten children who all started life as babies with "Down syndrome" but who have lived their lives instead as "Veras kids."
Some of these children stayed with the Intensive Treatment Program until they were able to perform as well as their peers and so achieved full graduation from the program. This is our goal for every child.
This article was written in 1993.
CARLA GIOSUE
Carla Giosué, from Ascol: Piceno, Italy, is twenty years old. She began the program at the age of eight and a half, and after only twenty-six months earned the certificate of full graduation.
In addition to her native Italian, Carla speaks, reads, and writes in both English and German. After graduating from the program, she entered high school, where she was able to earn her degree after only three years. She then enrolled in a hotel workers' training school, where she received training in waitressing and bartending. At this time she hopes to develop a career in the hotel trade.
Carla reports that physically she is above her peers. During her spare time, she frequents the gym, she swims, and she continues with ballet lessons. She also enjoys traveling with tour groups.
She describes herself by saying, "I am independent in everything and I have a sweet personality."
FRANCESCO AGLIO
Francesco Aglio, from Cremona, Italy, is nine and a half years old. He began the program at the early age of fifteen months, and formally graduated from the program when he was five years old.
His parents explain, "The program helped Francesco overall in developing his intellectual potential. As a matter of fact he is a tireless, insatiable reader." In addition to the intellectual program, they also credit the physical and physiological programs for his overall development. They write, "The three programs are strictly connected one to each other, and if one of them is not executed, the results of the other two are compromised."
Since his graduation Francesco has attended a regular primary school and is now in the fourth grade. He is completely independent in school, where he excels in history. His long-range goal is to receive a university degree.
At school Francesco works and plays well with his classmates, preferring those who are calm and well-mannered. His parents praise the Civil Code Program in particular, saying that it "has made Francesco more responsible, well-mannered, capable to face any social situation, and able to reach complete self-control."
Although he suffered poor health during the first few years of life, Francesco achieved physical and physiological excellence. He now plays volleyball and does gymnastics, and after a vacation in the Dolomites Francesco became very interested in mountain hiking. Since then he has climbed to an elevation of 2800 meters independently. He serves as an altar boy in his church, and enjoys reciting and singing parts of operatic tragedies with his friends and grandparents.
Like others, the entire Aglio family benefited from doing the program together. In their words, "We did the program with determination, enthusiasm, and cooperation, which strengthened the bonds among parents and grandparents, who helped us with the program. The result is that Francesco is a sweet and very kind child."
KJERSTI CECILE MIKALSEN
Kjersti Mikalsen, from Tranby, Norway, is fourteen years old. She began the program when she was nearly nine years old, and remained on the program for four and a half years.
Her parents state that the program helped Kjersti develop her physical abilities, coordination, eyesight, muscular strength, balance, and ability to concentrate, all which lead to increased overall organization.
Kjersti entered a Steiner school in the fall of 1993. She quickly joined the sixth grade, where she functions very well in class and with her fellow classmates. While her language, reading, and writing are at peer level, her understanding and mathematical ability are slightly below. "Socially she functions fine, but she obviously has less experience in this area," writes her parents.
At home Kjersti continued with her physical program of gymnastics and running, and she swims for pleasure. She also shops and travels by bus independently. Kjersti's immediate plans include completing high school.
Her parents write that "Our daughter's abilities and potential have increased in all areas." And although it demanded a great deal of them, "every day of hard work has been worth it."
ALAN SAMPAIO PASCOAL
Alan Sampaio Pascoal, born in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is now sixteen years old. He was first evaluated by the staff of The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Barbacena, Brazil, when he was fourteen months old. His visual and auditory competence were good, but his language, tactility, and mobility were below age level. In mobility he could crawl but not yet creep.
At the age of ten he graduated to life. He entered regular school but continued with his physical program for four hours each day. He succeeded in school, and received full graduation from the program in March 1990, when he was thirteen and a half years old.
Presently Alan is in seventh grade in a regular school. His articulation is now good, he reads with complete comprehension, and he is completely independent in all situations.
Due to his physical and social development, Alan is able to enjoy basketball, swimming, volleyball, and soccer with his friends. Thanks to his parents' determination and love, he now faces a bright future.
NINA BUCKMAN
Nina Buckman, from North Carolina, USA, is fourteen years old. She began the program at age three and a half, and she continued for three and a half years, until she entered first grade.
According to her parents, "The program helped to improve our child academically, physically, and socially. Under the staff's guidance her reading skills progressed rapidly and along with them her self-esteem.
Nina attended a Montessori school for two years and then entered a regular public school, where she was reading at a level far above that of her peers. She remained in a regular classroom until this year, when she was placed in a class where she can receive extra help. Last year she won her classroom spelling bee and represented her class at the school-wide competition.
In addition to her academic programs, Nina is very adept on the computer, using it to perform research projects and to assist her parents with their business. She has taken Suzuki violin lessons for four years, and is playing quite well. Her poetry has been published twice in a local newspaper, and she has sung solo in several church concerts.
Nina's health has been outstanding. She has had to see a doctor only twice in the past six years, and for minor problems. Her mother reports, "She is so healthy, and my pediatrician told us at Nina's birth that she would be in his office every month." Her physiological excellence allows her to enjoy horseback riding, kayaking, and many other water activities.
As for her future plans, her mother explains that "they change from week to week, but are never limited by the fact that she is a Veras child. She wants to go to community college when she graduates from high school."
Nina's success is an inspiration to the parents of other Veras children. As Mrs. Buckman states, "We had been expecting too little of our child. The Institutes gave us a common goal to work towards and a belief that we could make a difference in Nina's future. We learned to pull together and cry on one another's shoulders and bounce back up and go again. Her brothers always treated Nina like a regular sister. Our belief in the potential of children became stronger and stronger."
ANDREW LEE JONES
Andrew "Lee" Jones, from Kansas, USA, is nineteen years old. He was fortunate to begin The Institutes program at seventeen months of age. His parents continued the program for over five years, until they felt that Lee was ready to enter regular school.
Initially Lee attended half-day kindergarten sessions at the local public school, where he was one of only two children in his class who could read. He then enrolled in a private school until seventh grade, when he returned to public school. Now a high-school junior, Lee attends all regular classes and spends an hour a day in the learning center for a study period.
Lee puts a great amount of effort into his studies, and with the exception of one quarter, he has been on the honor roll since entering high school. He is now beginning to look into continuing his education after high school.
Mrs. Jones tells us that Lee has "an extremely good self-image and a tremendous amount of drive." This is evident in his various interests, which include karate, piano, golf, scuba diving, traveling with his family, participating in his church's youth group, and serving as manager of his school's varsity baseball team.
His favorite activity, however, appears to be acting. He has performed in three theater productions and for three years has done volunteer work at the local children's theater. While his main job there is ushering, he has also done facility maintenance and paperwork.
For the past two years Lee has held summer jobs at the Marine Corps Reserve. His first position was as an office assistant, where he did filing and mailings and computer data input. This past year he worked as a computer aide, performing computer inventory, and assisting with computer installation and computer maintenance.
According to Mrs. Jones, "Lee has been as successful as he has due to his drive, motivation, organization, and determination. These are all results of the years he spent on the demanding program at The Institutes. The program made us realize that no one should put limits on what anyone else can do. Lee has proven that he can achieve almost anything he wants to."
JENNIFER ALCHIN
Jennifer Alchin, from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is fourteen years old. She began the program at twenty months of age and stopped her formal program at age eight.
Jennifer successfully entered school while still on the home program, and she now attends a regular school. In her mother's words, "The program helped to develop Jennifer mentally and physically. To the lay person she appears normal. She walks and runs like her peers."
Also as a result of the program, "She has become a well-balanced, outgoing person." Jennifer enjoys modern dancing, fishing, boating, camping, and nature conservation. She has traveled extensively on school trips, and above all she loves reading.
Although Jennifer has a heart problem that limits her stamina, she continues to participate in swimming and athletics at school.
As Jennifer continues to reap the benefits of a program done lovingly and early in life, she looks forward to a career as either a nurse or a teacher.
And what about the side effects of all those years of hard work on the family? "The program made us closer as a family," says Mrs. Alchin.
XAVIER MARQUER
Xavier Marquer, from St. Jacques de la Lande, France, is twenty-three years old. Unlike Lee Jones he began on the Intensive Treatment Program at the age of fifteen years, not fifteen months. He worked hard on the program for five and a half years.
While on the program Xavier made significant gains in his physical and intellectual development. He became a strong gymnast and runner. Even now he continues to run every evening when he returns home.
To further promote his social development, Xavier now integrates his academic studies (English, French and mathematics) with business training. He has also been trained in the development and maintenance of parks and gardens. He recently enrolled in a two-year agricultural course, where he will prepare to take the aptitude test in greenhouse cultivation and growth.
According to his parents Xavier still has some problems with organization and manual dexterity. On the other hand, "he has a vast knowledge in many areas, much above that of other adolescents."
On the local level, Xavier's abilities have challenged the professionals' opinion of what a Veras child can achieve. His mother writes, "He has amazed all his teachers and the two physicians who just gave their permission for him to enroll in a driving class to prepare for the driving test. It is the first time that those two physicians gave a favorable recommendation to a Veras child in our region."
She further states, " The program gave Xavier self-confidence. We share Glenn Doman's point of view that 'Success creates motivation; failure destroys it.' It was Xavier's success that enabled him and us to pursue a program whose goals seemed unreachable."
LISA WILSON
Lisa Wilson, from California, USA, is fifteen years old. She began the program at only eleven months of age, and she remained on the formal program until she was seven years old.
Her mother reports that, "The program helped her develop physically (a real challenge with her), psychologically, socially, and intellectually. Barely able to survive at birth and for a long time afterwards, she is now a healthy, robust, active teenager."
Now Lisa is being home-schooled using materials from the Calvert School in Baltimore, Maryland. She is in the eighth grade, with her grades in the range of A or A-. Her immediate plans include high school graduation and receiving her driver's license.
Lisa has continued a strong physical program that includes ballet, trampoline, running, swimming, tennis, and bowling. She especially enjoys musicals, which she can identify and sing easily. She is active in a church group, girls' camp, and a teen club. Her mother writes, "The program has influenced strong physical and intellectual development. She is interested in so many things, has a great deal of self-confidence, and is extremely independent. Lisa enjoys practically everything and brings happiness and love to all who know her. Lisa enjoys caring for small children and animals, and performing household chores and yard work."
For the baby who was not expected to live, Lisa Wilson is experiencing a full and happy life.
LAURA LAI
Laura Lai, from Paris, France, is eleven years old. She began the program at the age of thirty-five months and stopped formal program at age six.
Compared to her peers, her parents state that Laura "excels in languages (speaking three fluently), general knowledge, music, maturity, and understanding what is important. However, she is below her peers in math, concentration, and some areas of manual competence."
Laura is a responsible young adult who cheerfully helps with housework, cooking, and ironing. Her immediate goals are to complete school and then learn a trade or be trained in child care or teaching. She is also interested in becoming a dancer, physician, or musician.
Because Laura continues to have difficulties in speech and pronunciation she attends a school for children with language problems. She is in the second year and doing well. At home her family continues some of her neurological program, specifically running, brachiation, and piano. In addition, she enjoys reading, karate, dancing, skiing, trampoline, hiking, yoga, and acting.
Because Laura undertook the program at a young age, she quickly learned the benefits of discipline and hard work. But the entire family benefited as well. Her parents write, "We learned to work hard cheerfully, not to lose any time, and to be better organized. We learned to cooperate with each other and to face difficulties together."
MARIE-LIESSE RICHARD
Marie-Liesse Richard, from Annecy-le-Vieux, France, is twenty years old. She began the program at eleven years and graduated to life at nineteen.
While on program, Marie-Liesse improved in visual convergence, coordination and balance, and writing and speech. She made very good physiological gains, especially in the area of respiration.
She also has grown socially. The advanced stages of her program included internships in a toy store, a hotel, and a clothing store. Marie-Liesse now attends a professional junior high school, where she is preparing for a career in tourism. Her courses include English, word-processing, cooking, and food service.
At home she continues with a program of French, mathematics, reading, problem-solving, and oxygen enrichment. Marie-Liesse excels at gymnastics, swimming, and classical dance. Her interest in acting has lead her to train in theater and musical comedy.
Marie-Liesse is an outgoing, independent young lady. She has visited England three times, living each time with a British family. At home she cares for her young nephews, and she shops and prepares meals for her family. Her goal is to have a job where she helps and cares for other people.
Her parents write, "The program taught her to make efforts with tenacity, increased her curiosity, and helped her realize that she could overcome her limitations. As a result of the program, the entire family is more cultured, more athletic, more curious, and more aware of all possibilities."
