Jeff attends Birmingham
schools because of his Down syn-
drome. West Bloomfield does not
offer a special-ed program for stu-
dents with his special needs.
On days when he does not
have swimming, West Bloomfield
school buses take him to and
from Groves.
Morning practice ends at 7
a.m., and Jeff eats a second
breakfast in the Groves cafeteria.
Classes start at 7:30, including
an individual needs class for
many of his subjects. He is main-
streamed with regular students
for world cultures, choir, person-
al fitness and English.
Classes end at 2:30 p.m., and
afternoon swim practice begins.
Three hours later, at 5:30, Fay
Stone is grading papers in the
parking lot while waiting to take
Jeff home.
On the day of a swim meet —
usually Tuesdays and Thursdays
during January and February —
Jeff rides a West Bloomfield bus
home after class, makes himself
a snack, and is picked up by Fay
to go back to Groves. After the
meet, the Stones drive home to-
gether.
The schedule gets more com-
plicated for meets away from
Groves. For the Jan. 30 meet at
West Bloomfield, Fay drove Jeff
back to Groves to ride the team
bus to West Bloomfield High.
Following the meet, his parents
followed the bus back to Groves,
then retraced the bus route to go
home for the night.
"It's a lot of driving," said Mrs.
Stone, "but we think it's impor-
tant for him to be part of the
team."
And Jeff has made an impact
on Groves' Emerald Tide. The
swimmers comment on his en-
thusiasm, his upbeat nature and
his cheering. The Stones appre-
ciate the attention he's received
from the coaches and the swim-
mers.
Coaches Jon Teal and Chris
Zoltak have worked with his
stroke, trying to get Jeff to keep
his arms closer to the surface of
the water during the freestyle re-
covery. Senior swimmer Rick
Mida made sure Jeff had a ride
and dinner when the team at-
tended an Oakland University
meet in Rochester in January.
Asked who his friends are on
the team, Jeff rattles off the
names of the swimmers who
practice with him in lane 6: Marc
Barnes, Dave Herkowitz, Paul
Kleppert. He also mentions Soji
O'Hama, and senior co-captain
Adam Smith, who was a life
guard with Jeff's brother Robbie
last summer at the Sports Club
in West Bloomfield. Given the
time, Jeff will name every team-
mate and call him his best friend.
But his brother Robbie has a
special place in Jeff's heart, and
vice versa. It was Robbie who
taught Jeff the butterfly a few
years ago, and it is Robbie's placed in regular bunks, but have
swimming career that Jeff may additional counselors.
be emulating. Robbie, now 20 and
He also swims on Saturdays
a sophomore at Michigan State, — even during the Groves' sea-
was co-captain of the West son — at the Jewish Communi-
Bloomfield High swim team and ty Center. His grandfather,
plays water polo on MSU's
club team.
The brothers are "real
close," according to Robbie.
The telephone bills, the e-
mail and letters attest to the
closeness. "My being on the
swim team influenced him
a lot," Robbie said, "but Jeff
had a choice in the matter.
"He's a funny kid, and a
good kid with a good sense
of humor. He's always fun
to be around, and he's
smart." Robbie taught Jeff
the butterfly stroke five
years ago during a Florida
vacation. "And he learned
it in five minutes."
The Stones say that Jeff,
like many Down syndrome
individuals, is double-joint-
ed. It gives him an advan-
tage in the butterfly by
allowing his shoulders to ro-
tate more easily.
Jeff's family is intent
Reuben Isaacs,
Over the years, Jeff has during his race: Fay,
takes Jeff to Tem-
utilized several programs grandparents Reuben ple Beth El's spe-
and Irene Isaacs,
within the Jewish commu-
cial. needs Shabbat
brother Robbie and,
nity. He has taken drama
program on Satur-
in back, Stuart.
classes and private English
day mornings. Mr.
lessons from Nancy Gurwin. He Isaacs also helps him with He-
has attended Camp Tamarack's brew and tutored him for his bar
Horizon program, in which mitzvah at Congregation Beth
youngsters with disabilities are Achim three years ago.
On Saturday afternoons, the
two go to the JCC for Jeffs week-
ly swim lesson with coach Jon
Carr. Mr. Carr gets in the water
with Jeff, and puts him through
a difficult workout. On occasion,
it has led to misunderstandings.
"Some JCC members com-
plain that Jon works Jeff too
hard," said Mrs. Stone. "Jon once --)
asked some of them, 'If he was
normal, would it be too hard?'
They answered, No,' and Jon re-
sponded, 'Then you're the ones
with the problem.' "
According to his parents, Jeff
is very independent. Unlike
many individuals with Down
syndrome, he knows how to op-
erate a microwave and a toaster,
and makes his own snacks and
lunches. "He's big on keeping
schedules," adds his mother.
Jeff likes school, but says it is
hard. "I have lots of homework
this semester."
When his parents said they
were happy that his swimming
was improving, Jeff interjected:
"I want to be a top swimmer. I
want to be faster. I want to earn
a [high school athletic] letter."
He also wants to play water
polo like Robbie. The Stones
haven't talked about Groves' wa-
ter polo team, one of about 20
high-school teams in the state.
But they are already used to the
routine:
Morning practice starts at 5:30
a.m. ❑