The MDSC community is invited to a free night of fun on Tuesday, August 21st from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Town Line Ten Pin in Malden (pizza and drinks included). Over 40 people have signed up so far!
This is a perfect event for inviting people you want to recruit for your Buddy Walk team, meeting other MDSC families, learning more about how to get involved with the 16th Annual Buddy Walk, brainstorming and sharing creative fundraising ideas, and starting some friendly bowling competition with Buddy Walk team captains and participants.
Thanks to New Balance, all attendees will be entered into a raffle to WIN a pair of New Balance Sneakers of your choice ($100 value), to get you ready to Step in Style for the 16th Annual Buddy Walk & Family Picnic on Sunday, October 7, 2012. Must be present to win. RSVP no later than Wednesday, August 15th to Angela Ortiz at aortiz@mdsc.org. To sign-up for the Buddy Walk today, click here.
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Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (D.A.D.S.) will hold a family outing to Davis Farmland on Sunday, August 19, at 10 a.m.
Located in Sterling, Mass., Davis has an awesome array of animals that roam freely throughout the farm and that visitors can hand-feed. Included in the cost are hay rides and a zero-depth water park. Pony rides are available at an additional cost. The cost per person (for children 2 and older) is $10.
To register, email Jeff Roback or call him at 339-788-1460 BY TOMORROW, AUGUST 10.
D.A.D.S. is a proud affiliate of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. Visit their website here.
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With this heat, you may find it either difficult or refreshing to get yourself in a ice skating mindset. But believe it or not, we're now recruiting for 23 hockey players for the MDSC All Stars to face off against Boston Bruins Greats at the MDSC's 8th Annual Hockey Game on Sunday, November 18th at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough.
Last year, for the first time we opened spots for players ages 12-16 (parental consent to play, fundraising required). If you are interested in playing or would like to learn more, email hockey@mdsc.org.
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At 3:30 on Saturday, August 18 at Mass Bay Community College in Wellesley, Rachel Colemen of Signing Time will perform live.
With her sister Emilie de Azevedo Brown, Coleman helped created the Signing Time! video series to teach children basic American Sign Language (ASL).
Coleman also produces and directs the series. In 2008, Coleman was nominated for the "Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series" for the 35th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmys.
Tickets to the show are $15 for children, $20 for adults. For more information and tickets, visit here.
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Melissa Reilly of our Self-Advocate Advisory Council participated recently in Easter Seals Mass's Youth Leadership Forum, an overnight conference for youth with disabilities.
We're told that Melissa was a leader among leaders, being chosen to do the introduction for Easter Seals President Kirk Joslin and doing a great job.
Above, Melissa displays what she made for one of the assignments - a piece of art with a disability theme.
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Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC) is holding a full-day statewide conference on Saturday, September 29 on "Building a Home."
The motivational conference, to be held at Holy Cross College in Worcester, will explore how families can build a home and a life for their loved ones with disabilities, giving them interdependent full lives in their communities.
The conference will also provide participants with opportunities to network and meet individuals who are making it work in their own unique way. Early Bird registration is open now for $75.
See here for complete information.
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'Buddy Walk by the Sea' Makes Waves on Cape Cod and Beyond
THANK YOU for making our 2nd Annual Buddy Walk by the Sea a rousing success! Over 250 people joined us at Falmouth Marine Park on July 28, raising awareness across the Cape, Islands and South Shore and raising more than $15,000 for critical MDSC programs.
Our own Family Support Director, Sarah Cullen, said it just right. "Much more than the number of people, the Buddy Walk by the Sea is about connecting the Cape/Islands, it's about the families for whom this was their first event, it's about the volunteer who told me she has volunteered for numerous nonprofit organizations but that this was far and away the most 'passionate, positive, uplifting' group she has met, it's about celebration and awareness."
We are grateful for your participation and for our good fortune to be able to bring together veteran MDSC advocates and supporters and welcome new families and organizations into the MDSC family.
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Our 2012 Buddy Walk by the Sea Self-Advocate Ambassadors with Congressman William Keating, who joined the festivities with his wife.
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We want to thank our sponsors too -- Lindsey's Seafood Restaurant of Wareham, Shoreway Acres Resort Inn, New Balance, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Smitty's Homemade Ice Cream and Kaleidoscope Toys -- We couldn't have done it without all their support.
If you missed this year's event, be sure to check out all the photos on our Facebook page. And, remember that our signature Buddy Walk & Family Picnic in Wakefield is coming up on Oct. 7. See the posting on the left about the free bowling event August 21 to kick off our largest event to promote acceptance and inclusion.
 
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The MDSC's own CJ Buckley (above) was asked to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. CJ was born 11 years ago with Down syndrome. As a young boy, he was diagnosed with Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. According to his parents, Sandra and Sean of North Attleboro, CJ endured his two years of chemotherapy and other treatments with smiles and love.
Nine years ago, with the help of family and friends, Sandra and Sean started a golf tournament, CJ's Spring Swing. "We felt the need to do something in return," Sandra says. Each year, the event donates to a variety of organizations, including the MDSC.
Also on the field was 7-year-old Mary-Elizabeth Gendron (above), who has Down syndrome, and her family from Burlington, MA. In the stands were 20 MDSC members (including children and adults with Down syndrome) who won a raffle to cheer on CJ. See the video of CJ's pitch here and look for more photos on our Facebook page.
We were thrilled about this amazing opportunity for people with Down syndrome to have a special day at Fenway and for "Down Syndrome Nation" to be represented as part of "Red Sox Nation."
We are grateful to the Red Sox organization for this opportunity and hope this is only the beginning of a fruitful relationship. This collaboration is part of the MDSC's goal to educate the general public about Down syndrome by promoting the acceptance and inclusion of all people with Down syndrome.
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 | | John Dunleavy was scheduled to run the historic Falmouth Road Race this weekend. Because of an injury, his mom, Toni, will be taking his spot. |
We were overjoyed yesterday when John Dunleavy and his mom, Toni, dropped by our Burlington office. John was scheduled to be among the 22 runners who will take to the streets of Cape Cod on Sunday Aug. 12 to run the Falmouth Road Race in support of people with Down syndrome.
Unfortunately, John will not be able to run due to an injury, but in a true example of familial support, his mom is stepping in to run the race on his behalf. We learned quickly yesterday that John's inability to run has not dampened his enthusiasm. He told us all about his job with the Boston Bruins and the time he took center stage at Madison Square Garden where his friends, the Clancy brothers, were boxing.
You can support John and Toni and the other runners listed below on their 7-mile journey along the Cape coast by donating to their cause here. This year is the 40th running of this historic race.
 Kristie Averill of Dedham Mackenzie Brewer of Westford Tom DeFranzo of Somerville Toni Dunleavy of Winchester Frank Perullo and Kristen Franks of Charlestown Mike and Dani Goodman of Watertown David Granfors of Holliston Stephen Hawley of Florence Emily LaMarca of Clinton Taylor MacDonald of S. Easton Kristine and John Ostrowski of Nashua Michael Pettinella of Worcester Jacqueline Pomroy of Bridgewater  Danny Roads of Marblehead Regina Shakin of Southborough Mark Stepper of Cambridge Jennifer and Jim Vacca of Grafton Jaime Warren of Hyde Park |
If you couldn't make it to D.C., the NDSC is offering recordings of 17 sessions by experts in the field. To watch these sessions from your home or office computer, go to the NDSC website at www.ndsccenter.org.
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Before May 12 this year, Melanie Beaulier and Susan Giles didn't realize what they had in common -- that they were both moms to beautiful babies with Down syndrome and that they were both raising their families in Newburyport, Mass. But thanks to a new initiative by the MDSC, our New Parent Coffees at our Burlington office, Melanie and Susan discovered their connection during a relaxed and supportive event in a comfortable and welcoming environment.
As Melanie tells it, it was a meeting that almost didn't happen. "As the date approached, I started to waiver in my desire to go," Melanie said. "I already had a great support system, a busy schedule, an active two-year old, and Burlington could be an annoying drive at times." Fortunately, despite "feeling a bit shy and anxious" that day, Melanie said, "something inside me told me it would be worth it in the end." Indeed it was.
Melanie met Susan, both moms met other families from nearby Danvers and Topsfield, and MDSC Family Support Director Sarah Cullen, who organizes the Coffees, made a point to get the moms in touch with Andrea Cole, an MDSC First Call parent who lives in Topsfield with her family, including JJ, her 4-year-old with Down syndrome. Andrea invited the entire group over to her house for a play date and the rest is history. Susan may have put it best. "What struck me about our get-together is that chance brought us together and yet I have hopes to nurture these relationships long term."
Helping you make these important, meaningful relationships is what the MDSC does best. Let us help you. If you'd like an MDSC Play Date in your area, please contact Sarah Cullen at 781-221-0024 or scullen@mdsc.org to request a connection with a "new" or "newer" family in your area!
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