MDSC Masthead
This Week
Free Lunch with Buddy Walk Registration
Run Falmouth for the MDSC
Test Drive Adaptive Gear
MDSC Wins Legislative Victory
A.I.M. Hoists Its Sails
Special Needs Bullying Toolkit Available
Registration Extended for D.A.D.S. Family Outing
May 30, 2012 | No. 6
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Free Lunch? 
Register Now

 

Do you get tired of deciding what to bring or order for lunch every day? Then we have a deal for you!

Register a Buddy Walk team by Tomorrow, May 31 and you'll be eligible to win a week's worth of free lunch from D'Angelo's
or a week's worth of free Cheese Pizza from PapaGino's. You just might be one of the six winners.

The contest applies to both our upcoming Buddy Walk events: 

Run Falmouth for the MDSC

There are only 3 spots on Team MDSC for the 40th running of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race on August 12, 2012. 

 

 

Join the cause for fun day on the Cape that will make a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families. 

 

For more information or to apply for one of the remaining spots, email MDSC Development & Communications Director Angela Ortiz at [email protected].

 

 

Test Drive Adaptive Gear

 

 

On June 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., people of all ages with physical and cognitive disabilities are welcome to try out an array of adaptive equipment at the Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston. The event is hosted by Piers Park in collaboration with New England Disabled Sports at Loon Mountain. 

 

Trained staff will be on hand to help participants use the equipment, which includes adaptive cycles of many shapes and sizes. 

 

You must register for a session time of 10 a.m., 12 p.m., or 2 p.m. See here for complete information or call 617.561.6677, ext. 15.  

 

For a complete list of disability camps, workshops and events in Massachusetts, sign up for SPED Child & Teen's bi-weekly newsletter here. 

Down Syndrome Community Wins Legislative Victory... Thank You!

 

We are thrilled to report on a positive budgetary development last week on Beacon Hill. 
Thanks to all your phone calls and emails to your state legislators, a budget amendment by Senator Katherine Clark (left) that will benefit people with Down syndrome throughout the Commonwealth was approved. 
 
The amendment inserts language back into the Senate budget to fund MDSC outreach initiatives. This funding will augment the MDSC's ability to educate new and expectant parents, health care professionals, educators and the general public about Down syndrome.

 
Unfortunately, the Senate's language is not as strong as the House version, so we will be pushing in the coming weeks for the Conference Committee to adopt the House version. 

There was one other piece of positive news last week out of the State House. The full senate passed an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Spilka, that will fund a $20 million Salary Reserve. This money will go to thousands of human services workers making less than $40,000 to augment their low pay. 
 
Unfortunately, other disability line-items did not fare well in the Senate debate. The final Senate budget includes a $10 million reduction to DDS Family Support and Respite Services, a $15 million reduction to Mass Health Day Habilitation Services, and a $3 million reduction to Transportation Services. We appreciate the efforts of those courageous senators who supported reinstating those funds, including Michael Rodrigues, Gale Candaras and Katherine Clark. 
 
The budget now heads to Conference Committee. If the Senate version of these line-items are passed rather than the much better House version, many thousands of families' will have their crucial services eliminated. We remain hopeful that with your continued activism those critical funds for critical programs will be reinserted into the budget and will be in the final version that the Governor signs at the end of the process. 
 
Stay tuned to the UpSide Weekly and our Facebook page for updates and Action Alerts.  
Ahoy! A.I.M. Hoists Its Sails High    
The Borchardt & Polewarczyk families embark on a relaxing Sunday cruise
On Sunday, May 20, 65 A.I.M. participants and family members gathered at Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston for a day full of adventure, fun and friendship. "The weather could not have been more beautiful," said Colleen Endres, MDSC's Program Coordinator, who organized the event. 

 

Advocate
Kathy and Samantha Stevens

Special thanks to Mike and Joanne Maranian and Paul Endres for generously passing on the sailing to prepare a BBQ feast that was ready for the 9 crews when they returned from their outing. Thanks also to A.I.M. Parent Coordinator Nadine Briggs for bringing games that people played on the lawn of the beautiful grounds. And thanks to the Piers Park Sailing Center for hosting the event and providing knowledgeable staff and volunteers. 

 

On his way out, A.I.M. member Matthew Cullen stopped in his tracks to exclaim, "I love A.I.M. because it is all about making friends. I make A.I.M. special, and I love sailing!" Check out our Facebook page for all the photos  

 

A.I.M. is open to self-advocates with Down syndrome from 13 to 22. If you are interested, visit here or contact Colleen Endres at [email protected].  

Advocate
Megan and Trent Briggs at the Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston

Special Needs Bullying Toolkit Out

 

The Bully Project: The Special Needs Toolkit

 

The Bully Project, a social action campaign centered around the film of the same name, has designed a toolkit just for parents, teachers and students dealing with the bullying of children with special needs.

 

The toolkit, which you can access here, is a set of resources for people to confront bullying of children with special needs from all angles - from talking to your children to knowing your rights to teaching tolerance in schools. You can start by reading the Top Ten Facts to know about bullying and children with special needs, and then learn about the unique challenges children with special needs face when encountering bullying.

 

As the website says, "Getting started is as easy as writing a letter to your child's teacher, or asking your principal to post your school's anti-bullying policy in public places around the school building. It could mean talking to your child about how he or she has experienced bullying, or reading about the roles of bullying and identifying your personal place in the cycle of bullying."

 

Registration Extended for D.A.D.S. Family Outing

 

On Sunday, June 10 D.A.D.S., a proud MDSC affiliate, will host its annual Family Outing at Kimball Farm
(above) in Westford from 11am to 4pm. For a mere $10/person (2-years-old and above), you will get lunch (top sirloin burger/cheeseburger or veggie burger, 1/4 lb. all beef hot dog, potato chips, soda or bottled water, full ice cream buffet with toppings), 3 bumper boat rides in a 6,000 sq. ft bumper boat pond, unlimited use of the golf driving range, sand volleyball, horseshoes, tug of war pit, and two Adventure Style 18-hole mini golf courses (this was mistakenly omitted in the last communication). 

 

Families will also get up to two $6 swipe cards for use at the batting cages and arcade (first come, first). The "pitch and putt" executive golf course is available for an additional cost. D.A.D.S. will have its own tent for the afternoon, more than large enough for the 300-plus attendees. serve

 

For more information on amenities, visit the Kimball Farm website. Contact Jeff Roback at 339-788-1460 or [email protected] with questions or to register. Deadline is June 4. 

 

In other D.A.D.S news, the organization will host its 3rd Annual Charity Golf Outing at the Easton Country Club in Easton on Monday, June 25. The cost is $125 per person/$500 per team.  If golf is not your thing, that's okay.... join the fun for the luncheon, awards, and raffles (see prizes below). Go here for complete information, including registration.  

 

Raffle items currently include signed memorabilia from Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Famer Carl Yastrzemski (including a Hall of Fame bat, ball, and picture), a Boston Bruins puck signed by Shawn Thornton (with letter of authenticity), signed memorabilia and game tickets for the Providence Bruins, Pawtucket Red Sox prize pack and tickets, passes to Santa's Village, the New England Aquarium, Southwick's Zoo, gift certificates to White's Bakery, Peaceful Meadows Ice Cream, McMorgan's Irish Bar in Sharon, a Cleveland golf putter, an illuminated beer sign, and a free foursome at the George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park. Other items are being worked on including a large flat screen TV. This is an event you don't want to miss. 

 

D.A.D.S.'s next meeting will be held Wednesday, June 13 at 7pm at its regular haunt, the Papa Razzi in Framingham (155 Worcester Rd.). A special guest is being arranged. Contact Jeff at [email protected] for more information. 

 

 

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