Ornament of artist with Down syndrome hung on White House Christmas tree

From WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ohio:

PARMA, Ohio -- A Parma woman who has Down Syndrome has returned from the White House after seeing one of her creations hung on the White House Christmas tree.

Judy Sabol had the honor of being selected to design one of the ornaments for the White House tree. She has been a student in the VSA Arts class for people who have disabilities. The class is held weekly at Parmatown Mall.

Judy and her sister Jeanne spent part of Tuesday as guests of First Lady Laura Bush as she welcomed artists from around the country to the White House. For Judy, it was her first visit to Washington and her first ride on an airplane.

"Judy insisted on sitting by the window and she really enjoyed looking at the lights beneath," said Jeanne of their return flight. "She stayed awake all the way home looking out the window and enjoying the view."

They sent photos of Judy entering the White House, inside near the front door, and in front of a portrait of Jackie Kennedy. "We were free to go wherever we wanted to," said Jeanne of the tour of the White House.

"Who would have thought my sister would ever be at the White House?" Jeanne told us. "Who would have thought that I would ever be at the White House!"

"Everything was beautiful," Judy told Channel 3 News. "I had a barrel of fun!"

Judy was selected for the White House Christmas tree ornament competition by her Congressman Dennis Kucinich. She has studied art for more than four years in the VSA Arts program with her teacher, VSA Arts coordinator Jerry Devis, who also traveled to the White House.