For the past 2 years, Poudre School District’s Integrated Services Department has been fortunate to have Hettie Hueber as a part of the team. As a mother of four children, the youngest of which has Down Syndrome, she has offered a unique perspective and insight to a department that is charged with the care and wellbeing of students with disabilities.
To understand Hettie, you must rewind the clock eight-plus years. After raising two children to adulthood, Hettie found herself the mother of a toddler with another baby on the way. When Cora, the youngest of the four came along, life changed forever. Cora was one of about 6,000 babies born in the United States each year with Down Syndrome, making it the most common genetic condition according to the National Down Syndrome Society.
“In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes. Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.” (For this information and more regarding Down syndrome visit NationalDownSyndromeSociety.org)
Apart from concerns related to a heart condition Cora was born with, the Hueber family was elated to have their beautiful baby join their clan. Hettie did not let the concerns of others weigh her down. “I never needed to grieve,” shared Hettie, though she did wish that people would have congratulated her on her baby girl rather than offer condolences. Life had changed forever, by offering a brighter outlook on life! Cora has brought perspective and spunk to the family. “There are enough negative things happening in the world; it helps you focus on the positive and what is important,” says Hettie.
When asked what she wished people knew about her, the most important take-away was that being the mother of a child with a disability is not a tragedy. She believes the most important thing you can teach your children is to be kind. “You can be tenacious, driven and successful in this world and still be kind.” As a self-proclaimed “inclusionist”, Hettie’s desire is that all students everywhere be taught together. By helping children understand and embrace kindness, combined with growing up together all throughout their school years, she trusts that a world of accepting and inclusive adults will be formed.
We wish Hettie good luck on her next journey of student teaching in Early Childhood Education.
Boltz Middle School has gotten into the unified spirit. In partnership with Special Olympics, Boltz Middle School is offering Project Unified classes. Four classes are being offered, 2 for 6th graders and 2 for 7th and 8th graders. 
The Project Unified Classes provide an opportunity for students to develop relationships as peers as well as build leadership skills and job skills. “We always start class with a journal question usually encouraging them to self-reflection, leading to growth and leadership,” says paraprofessional Joy Mcneil.
from Integrated Service paraprofessionals, Braden
advertisements to be shown on the morning announcements. Students went so far as to contact
the Denver Nuggets to request someone attend the event. Graciously, Nuggets coach and Community Ambassador Mark Randall made the trip from 
Denver to be a guest coach for one of the teams. Students also organized a half time game of crab-walk soccer, consisting of Coach Randall, players and 
students from the audience. Before heading back home, Coach Randall presented Boltz Middle School with a signed basketball and
high praise. He doted on the school for starting programs of unity early, instead of waiting until high school level where they are more common. The evening wrapped up with a full gym dance party. The perfect ending to a great evening.
The Project Unified flag football games are in full swing. While the players are on the field, another group of students are showing their school spirit off the field. 
Each week a group of students operate a concession stand for the football games. The concession stand is run by student volunteers from Fort Collins High School. Colleen Reyes, the Speech and Language Clinician for FCHS, started the concession stand as a way for students to support fellow Lambkins while also gaining job skill training. Reyes says the concession stand “is 
giving students opportunities to work with peers, practice customer service and money skills, as well as generalize communication skills outside of the classroom/ therapy setting.”
stand up, exchanging money, and supporting their school. Volunteers consist of students with and without disabilities. The proceeds from the stand go toward the Fort Collins High School Autism Program.
basketball league with not only one but four unified high school basketball teams. Unified Sports are teams consisting of students with and without intellectual disabilities. The heart behind this project is that when you practice together, play together and learn together, understanding grows and friendships are formed.
Integrated Services Poudre School District 
