A.I.M. Heads OutdoorsThe weather has been chilly of late, but it's bound to warm up again. The MDSC's Advocates in Motion program, for self-advocates from 13 to 22, has several events planned over the next month; each of them involves hitting the outdoors. Mark your calendars and keep your fingers crossed for sunshine and blue skies. Monday, April 16th 116th Boston Marathon Join A.I.M and other supporters to cheer on our 10 MDSC runners! 11 a.m. @ corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Chesterfield Street. See "Cheering Section" item to right for complete details. Sunday, April 29th April AIM Event 12:30-3:30 @ Newton YMCA Employment & Outdoor Games Sunday, May 6th Walk for Hunger Boston Volunteer with AIM at the ice cream truck station! Meeting place & time TBD. For questions on any of the above, please contact Colleen Endres. |
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(L to R) Rep. Garballey; SAAC member Kate Bartlett; Liz Fancher and Dianne Glennon of the Mass. Developmental Disabilities Council; and MDSC Executive Director Maureen Gallagher. See the entire photo album here. |
MDSC policy advocates, including members of our Self-Advocate Advisory Council and Legislative Advocacy Task Force, blanketed the State House for our annual Advocacy Day yesterday. They were also joined by advocates from The Arc of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council. This year's efforts
were focused on our priority bill, HB523, An Act to Require National Criminal Background Checks. See our Fact Sheet here. Representative Tom Sannicandro, whose son David has Down syndrome, met MDSC advocates in the State House members lounge to offer words of advice. Then, our 12-person delegation spread throughout the building, meeting with more than 40 representatives and senators, including those on the powerful House Committee on Ways & Means, where the Background Check Bill now stands.  | |
Rep. Tom Sannicandro with Self-Advocate Advisory Council member Chris May
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The bill would require candidates who apply for positions to work with individuals served by the Department of Developmental Services to undergo a national criminal background check. Under the current law only a state check is required. See the bill text here. Please call your legislators and ask them to support the bill, especially if they are on the Ways & Means Committee. The MDSC has a variety of opportunities for members interested in statewide and federal policy initiatives that strengthen the Down syndrome community. See here for more information, or to get involved in our advocacy efforts, email timetospeakout@mdsc.org.  | |
Self Advocate Advisory Council members Ashley Wolfe (L) and Melissa Reilly (R) flank Sen. Jamie Eldridge of Acton. Melissa works part-time in Sen. Eldridge's office.
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Not up for running 26.2 miles on your day off? How about doing the next best thing... cheer on our slate of 10 Team MDSC runners as they participate in the 116th Boston Marathon on Patriot's Day, Monday, April 16th.
In less than two weeks, our dedicated runners will start their journey in Hopkinton and cross the finish line more than two dozen miles later in Boston, all to challenge themselves and make a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families.
These runners have spent the last several months training hard to collectively raise over $60,000 and generate significant awareness. They need our support and encouragement on Marathon Monday! Be on the lookout for our distinctive MDSC shirts racing by you. They will be worn by these folks: 
- Laurie Maranian
- Russ Trottier
- Emily LaMarca
- Liz Richard
- Brad Capello
- Erik-Jan Peerbolte
- Kristine Cox-Favier
- Josefina Oliva
- Anne McCarthy
- Sean Carroll
When: April 16, 11 a.m.
Getting there: Please keep in mind all main roads will be closed, so we encourage you to take public transportation (Use the Woodland T Station on the Green Line [D]) or look for parking nearby.
Where: The MDSC Cheering Section will form on Commonwealth Avenue opposite Chesterfield Street in Newton. You'll see a nice grassy area, where we'll gather. See a map here.
What to Bring: Chair, blanket, food/snacks, beverages, and your cheering voices.
Who to Look For: Angela Ortiz, MDSC Development & Communications Director, along with her husband Manny, as well as the MDSC's Advocates in Motion (A.I.M.) members.
What to Expect: We will have posters for you to decorate, as well as pom poms, noise-makers and other items to keep the runners motivated.
Let Us Know: If you or your family is planning to attend to cheer on our runners, please email Angela Ortiz.
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Outgoing Board member Tom Myshrall with fellow board member
Ann Bersani (center) and Board Chair Louise Borke.
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The morning of our Annual Conference, the MDSC held its Annual Meeting, which is open to all members. At the meeting, the MDSC welcomed three new Board members: Dr. Harlowe LaBarge, David Southworth and Dr. Margaret Pulsifer. See their bios here.We also offered appreciation to our outgoing board members, who collectively served 42 years on our board: Tom Myshrall (15 years), Charlie Gadbois (10), Ashley Wolfe (8), Abbey Haber (7) and James Shay (2). Please join us in thanking them for their service. 
Also at the Annual Meeting, Executive Director Maureen Gallagher presented our official Annual Report, to the MDSC membership. In the report, which you can see in its entirety here, she gave an overview of our program highlights, membership updates, capacity building initiatives, financial status and strategic direction. (One of the slides is above.)
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Danielle Cassiani and Anthony Decotis with Matthew, the inspiration behind the Matthew's Troops Buddy Walk Team, which raised nearly $15,000 last year.
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Each spring, we honor our Buddy Walk All-Stars, walkers who raise $500 or more for our signature event, the Buddy Walk & Family Picnic in October.
These fundraising champions pave the way for the MDSC to strengthen and expand our advocacy initiatives and support services for people with Down syndrome and their families. In addition to this exclusive luncheon, All-Stars also receive special recognition in our our communications and special All-Star signage (below) on the walk route.
Buddy Walk teams are forming now, so sign up, get a head start and maybe we'll see you at next year's All-Star Luncheon! There are also other ways to participate in our Buddy Walk and support the MDSC. See here for our "How You Can Help" page.
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Chris Donnelly Named the MDSC's Buddy Walk Man of the Year
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MDSC Buddy Walk Man of the Year Chris Donnelly with Michaiah
of Michaiah's Army at the Buddy Walk All-Star Luncheon.
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Winthrop High School teacher Chris Donnelly was named the MDSC's Buddy Walk Man of the Year, a new honor given to an individual who has excelled in promoting the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome in the community. The award was presented at the MDSC's Buddy Walk All-Star Luncheon.
Chris has been a special education teacher for over 30 years. In 1990, he developed the school's Life Skills program, which he has run ever since. Chris has not only served as an exemplary teacher to students with Down syndrome; he has also supervised countless other "peer mentors", helping these students come to understand the value of people with disabilities. Last year, Mr. Donnelly orchestrated over 100 students to participate in the Buddy Walk & Family Picnic, under the appropriately named Team Love.
See the video below that Chris put together at Winthrop High for the 2010 "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign. Read MDSC Board Chair Louise Borke's complete introductory comments.
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New Self-Advocate Advisory Council Takes Role to Next Level
The Self-Advocate Advisory Council (SAAC), the MDSC's newest initiative to give voice to self-advocates 21 years old and older, has shown its strength in the last couple weeks.
At our 28th Annual Conference, SAAC Members played a major role, leading a variety of Young Adult track workshops. For example:
- Kate Bartlett held a poetry workshop, sharing her expertise with writing and poetry.
- Chris May led a photography workshop, sharing his personal techniques and tips
- Melissa Reilly, drawing on her experience as a Special Olympics Global Messenger, ran a fun & fitness workshop
- Ashley Wolfe led an art workshop, sharing her passion of drawing
- Louis Sciuto introduced workshop speakers throughout the day and lent his volunteer assistance.
The SAAC was also a force at the MDSC's Advocacy Day on Tuesday. SAAC members partnered with the MDSC's Legislative Task Force to advocate for the passage the MDSC's priority bills, including the National Background Check bill.
The SAAC is open to adults with Down syndrome interested in developing leadership and self-advocacy skills. Email saac@mdsc.org for more information, suggest a project or sign up to the SAAC listserv.
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Dr. Skotko to Join Mass. General
MDSC Board member Dr. Brian Skotko announced that he has accepted a position as Clinical Co-Director of the Down Syndrome Program in the Division of Genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital.
MGH already has an exceptional clinic for young adults and adults with Down syndrome, championed by Dr. Jose Florez and his team.
Together with Co-Director Dr. Allie Schwartz, Dr. Skotko will lead an expanded Down Syndrome Program that will include the full pediatric population, beginning at birth. Dr. Skotko will begin there on July 1, and details will be forthcoming on how to request an appointment. In other Dr. Skotko news, last Wednesday, he was presented with the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities' inaugural Allen Crocker, M.D. Health Services Award. Dr. Skotko was unable to attend the awards ceremony at the State House, but DDS Commissioner Elin Howe offered a wonderful introduction. See the video below.  |
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Who knew? It was uncovered recently that Kate Bartlett, an MDSC stalwart and member of our Self-Advocate Advisory Council, was a childhood TV star of sorts.
She and the entire Bartlett/Tobin family were featured in two classic episodes of Sesame Street. One, from 1990, is titled "Mom's Having a Baby" (right). It walks us through as Kate's mom, Jan Tobin, goes to the hospital and gives birth to Kate's baby brother, Michael. Kate was 4 years old at the time.
The other segment, which you can see here, is a song called "Katy's Growing" that also features Kate and her family.
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