Sending your child off for the first day of school can make any parent nervous, but when your child has special needs, it's a day filled with mixed emotions.

Jennifer Mooradian is sending her 4 year-old daughter, Emi off to St.Peter School in St.Catharines for the first day.

Emi has Down Syndrome.

Mooradian tells 610 CKTB while she wants Emi to do all the things other children are doing, but she worries that she will get lost in the mix.

Emi is smaller than most children her age, weighing in at 26 pounds.

Emi will be boarding the bus, however she will be using a car seat.

Mooradian is hoping parents in Niagara will take some time to talk to their kids about how not all children will be the same at school, and to put the focus on ability instead of disabilities.

Mooradian is involved in planning the Buddy Walk during the Niagara Wine Festival parade September 22nd. For more information go to http://buddywalkniagara.com/