Good Things to Know About...MADSS 5/22/2009

Good Things to Know About...

Madison Area Down Syndrome Society
May 22, 2009

In This Issue

Recent News

Old Fashioned Benefit

Speech & Hearing Month

T21 Afghan Project

Greetings!

I can't believe I'm writing this already, but Happy Memorial Day weekend!

MADSS has so many events coming up, it's a little scary moving into this summer season so quickly. I know you're probably overwhelmed with emails and events and requests for help. Please take the time, when you have it, to check out what we have planned. Even if you can't help us out, maybe you'll be able to forward this to a family that could use some of these events or a volunteer with some extra time.
We really appreciate anything you can do. Thank you.

Here's hoping for some sunny skies and relaxed time for reflection, family, and friends.

Andrea

In The News: How Down Syndrome Stops Cancer

For decades scientists have known that people with Down syndrome, who have an extra copy of chromosome 21, get certain types of cancer at dramatically lower rates than normal. Now, partly by using stem cells derived from the skin of an individual with Down syndrome, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have pinpointed the gene that appears to underlie the cancer-protective effect...

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/22681/

MADSS on Facebook!

Why not make the most of your time-sucking Facebook account by signing on for MADSS news?
Over 1,000 members, including Mayor Dave!
Don't miss out...

http://www.causes.com/MADSS

May/June: Visit The Old Fashioned!

The Old Fashioned, the great supper-club/tavern inspired restaurant on the Square, has generously made MADSS their charity of the month (for TWO months!) in May and June.

Proceeds from the Shake of the Day and Sunday Brunch Meat Raffle will benefit MADSS. Visit on your own or join MADSS on Sunday, June 7th, for a 10am brunch! (kids or not, your call). RSVP to Andrea for 6/7. Whenever you go, please be sure to thank you Patrick and Marcia for their kindness and generosity!

23 N. Pinckney St.
Madison, WI 53703
tel. 608.310.4545

www.theoldfashioned.com

MADSS @ the Mallards!

Tuesday, June 2nd
7:05 pm game vs. the Rochester Honkers

Join us at 6pm for tailgaiting!

Cost: $5/person (includes ticket and dinner). Bring your own beverages.

RSVP to Andrea (andrea@madss.org or 608.692.7653)

Lose the Training Wheels!

MADSS 3rd Annual Lose the Training Wheels Bike

June 15-19, 2009
Oregon High School, Oregon, WI

For one week at the beginning of summer, we will work with 25-40 kids (ages
7- adult) with all kinds of special needs to help them learn to ride
two-wheeled bikes.
SPACES REMAIN FOR BIKERS

This is an incredibly tough, exhilarating and rewarding
week for the riders, families, and volunteers.
We need help to make this great event happen. I hope you'll consider joining
us by donating, participating/referring families, or volunteering!

Applications for riders and volunteers available at: http://www.madss.org/content/view/18/44/

Walk 2009

Mark your calendar! The 2009 Walk date is on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th.

This year's event will be held at our all new location: Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center. Registration will open in July.

If you would like to be involved in the planning of this year's event,please contact Sue Dahlen, chair of the Special Events Committee, at sue.dahlen@att.net for more information.

2009 Golf Outing

The 2009 MADSS Golf Outing. will take place on Thursday, August 6th, at the Oaks Golf Course.
presented by Winston & Strawn, LLC

Save the date! Registration opens in June.

If you're interested in helping out during the planning of the outing or on the day of the event, please contact Sue at sue.dahlen@att.net

Communication Sensation

Jackie Carter, a certified and licensed speech-language pathologist with Communication Sensation LLC, has a few openings left for summer evaluation and/or therapy at her office on Monona Dr. in Madison. Mom to 12-year old Jeffrey, who has Down syndrome, Jackie recommends children with Down syndrome continue to improve their communication skills throughout the summer months. Few school districts give extended school year services to our children and, if they do, these services are far too limited to provide adequate benefit. Jackie provides research-based treatment in speech, language and reading deficits and has extensive experience working within the public schools prior to establishing her private practice. She is also Hanen- trained in teaching parents to develop communication skills within their children and consults on IEP development.

You can check out her website at www.communicationsensation.com

Jackie's contact information is Jackie@communicationsensation.com and (262)949-4119.

Funding For Families

In response to families' needs and feedback, the Learning Enhancement program has been revamped. To increase flexibility and ease of use, $400 per person with DS will now be available each year. The funds can be used for materials, conferences (including family members), program, therapies, classes, and other disability related education. Please see www.madss.org for the application form (front page) and more information.

Community Building/Circles of Support

Community Building/Circles of Support Training
May 27-29 in Stevens Point

This is a great opportunity for 50 people to be part of a three day learning event with David and Faye Wetherow on Community Building, PATH and Circles of Support. Both of these events last fall filled quickly and had waiting lists, so we encourage people to sign up soon. There is no charge for the event, but it is imperative that people register in advance, since the size of the group is limited.

The learning from this training is inspiring, thought-provoking and pragmatic. Family members, care managers, ADRC staff, citizens with disabilities, advocates, and service providers are applying the learning and the connections from this event. It is particularly powerful in helping people within the system and those who rely upon the system work to develop Self-Directed Supports within a county, Family Care, or IRIS.

Please register on line at http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?5S,M3,0c6d50a4-6164-432c-ac3b-b0acaf3818d0 . Contact Nate Smith (smith@eri-wi.org) or 608-246-3444) if you have questions or need help registering.

Familias Unidas con Ninos Especiales (FUNE)

*We are a Support Group for Spanish speaking families with Special
Needs Children.* *We welcome also service providers and family members who care for
children with disabilities or limitations of any type.*

*When? Last Saturday of every month*
*Where? **The Epilepsy Foundation*s offices at *
*1302 Mendota St.**, Madison WI*
*Time: **2:30 PM * 4:30 PM*
*For more information please call 442-5555 or 906-9010*

**
*FUNE (Familias Unidas con Ni�os Especiales) *
*Grupo de Apoyo de Padres Latinos*

*Para familias que tienen ni�os con discapacidad o cualquier clase de
limitaci�n, tambi�n para proveedores de servicios y para personas que cuidan
ni�os con discapacidades.*

**Cuando? El ultimo S�bado de cada mes*
**Donde? en las oficinas de la Fundacion de Epilepsia en la calle 1302
Mendota St., Madison, WI*
*Hora: 2:30 PM * 4:30PM*
Para mas informaci�n llamenos
(608) 442 5555

T21 Traveling Afghan Project- Don't miss out!

Created by CJ, one of our own WI moms:

One blanket. Many states. Many countries. Hundreds of families. One common thread!

The T21 Traveling Afghan Project was begun to link families all over the world who share the common bond of raising a child with Down syndrome. The afghan travels from one family to another, along with a journal. Each family takes pictures of their child with the afghan, which then gets posted on the project blog.

It is never too late to sign up!

For more information, check out The T21 Traveling Afghan Website at http://thet21travelingafghaproject.blogspot.com

There is also a visual map showing the path the afghan has taken to date. If you click on the button over a location, you will see a picture of the child who held the afghan at that location, as well as a link to their blog, if applicable.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=de&msa=0&msid=107262760150343642409.000463e8a94bed98e64ff&ll=42.30169,-91.955566&spn=6.280148,11.206055&t=p&z=7

Times Square Video Contest 2009

Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Buddy Walk� by entering the Times Square Video Contest. The video, which showcases individuals with Down syndrome from all over the world, will air on a jumbo screen in the heart of Times Square on September 26, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. The New York City Buddy Walk will immediately follow the video presentation at the Great Hill in Central Park.

Each year, NDSS receives thousands of photo submissions for the Times Square Video Contest. Because the Buddy Walk promotes acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome, the winning photographs feature children, teens and adults with Down syndrome working, playing and learning with friends and family.

For more information, or to submit a photo, please click here. The deadline for submitting photos is July 15, 2009.

ONE photo per individual can be submitted to the contest. Please note that this is different than in the past. If you send more than one photo, NDSS will only use the first submission.

Winners will be contacted by a representative from NDSS via email starting the week of August 3, 2009. You will not be contacted if your photo is not selected. Photographs will not be returned.

Fishing for People with Disabilities

Where: Kalscheur's Pond
When: Saturday June 13, 2009
9:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Who: Individuals with Disabilities
Remember the BIG ONE that got away last year? Well, he's a year older, a
pound heavier, but not much smarter. Let's get him!
Expert fishermen from TROUT UNLIMITED will be there to help you reel him
in. Everything needed for a great day of fishing will be furnished. A
delicious lunch will be served at noon. The first 50 people who respond
will be accepted. Please complete the following and return it by May 20 to:
Please assume your reservation has been accepted unless you are
notified otherwise. You may want to bring a lawn chair!
*This is not a MADSS event*

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, I want to land one of the "BIG ONES".
Name of fisherman: ________________________________
Number of persons accompanying fisherman: __________
Telephone number:_________________________________

Colleen Campbell
2129 Commonwealth Avenue
Madison, WI 53726
845-4526

Summer Classes at Imagine a Child's Capacity

ICC's summer class schedule has been announced! Check out the website to learn more about yoga, friendship groups, and parent trainings!

Imagine a Child's Capacity
kpierick@icc-wi.org
www.icc-wi.org

Autism Study at Waisman Center

Autism Intervention Study

Parents and their children with autism under the age of 5 are invited
to participate in a language intervention study at the
Waisman Center, UW-Madison. This research project is based upon More
Than Words - the Hanen program for parents of children with autism
spectrum disorders (www.hanen.org).
More Than Words is a family-centered, naturalistic language
intervention program designed to provide parents with a set of
practical strategies they can use to support their child's language development.
The program will be implemented by an ASHA-certified speech/language
pathologist who is licensed in Wisconsin and has received specialized training
from the Hanen Center. The intervention project will begin on June
and will last 8 weeks. Participants will receive a pre-program assessment and
consultation, 5 parent education sessions, 14 small-group parent-child play sessions
and 2 individualized parent-child coaching sessions. There is a follow-up visit 8
weeks after the end of the program. Interested parents are invited to attend
an orientation session on either May 4 or May 11th from 6:30-8:00pm in room 114
of the Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison. Contact us at
608-263-3123 if you have questions.
Thank you for your support of our research!
Courtney Erickson
PhD Student, UW-Madison
Waisman Center

" The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds. "
Tryon Edwards

Andrea Wipperfurth
Madison Area Down Syndrome Society