|
Join Our List
|
|
|
Designate USOD
|
|
Make a Double Difference!
Please consider designating your UW donation to USOD.
|
USOD
Board of Directors |
Casey
Atkinson
David J. Bruening
Allan Buzzelli
Renee Chappell
Denise Cirino
Sandy Donahoe
Scott Eitman
Sue Groszek
Debbie Marks
Michele C. Raia
Ann Regan
Katherine E. Schubert
Lisa G. Trifiletti
Ken Vinikoff
Brian J. Weiss, DPM
| |
|
Volunteer For The Up Side of Downs
|
|
 What makes the USOD a success is YOU!
We are very excited to announce on-line registration and tracking for volunteer opportunities for the USOD. It is so easy to log in, list your interests & unique skills, then see what is available & sign up in a 1-2-3. Additionally, we will be utilizing this system to track volunteer hours for the USOD Family Grants program which requests between 5-10 hours a year.
Log in here to become a USOD Volunteer
So check it out, log in & don't hesitate to contact the USOD office with any questions or suggestions.
Some opportunities we are looking for volunteers:
***Patterson Family Fest - Sunday, Sept 13***
USOD Development & Marketing Committee Wed, Sept 16
Speak to CWRU Medical Students - Tuesday, Sept 22
Dr. Skotko Sibling Conference - Sunday, Oct. 25
and of course always in the USOD office!!
|
USOD Family Fun Fest at Patterson Fruit Farm -
MUST SIGN UP!
|
|
 Sunday, September 13
Bring the family, pack a lunch (or visit the concession stand) and
relax in Patterson Fruit Farm's outdoor fun! There are so many
adventures to enjoy at Fall Fest. You can play in the hay stacks, climb
a tree house in the woods and slide down the 50 foot double slide,
wander through a corn maze, and take a wonderful nature hike through
the ravines and hills of Geauga County. In addition, there will be
entertainment, a wagon ride (ground conditions permitting), and pumpkin
painting available to purchase. mapquest
In the pavilion USOD will be having a fantastic assembly at 1:00 A
World Orchestra You Can Build & at again at 3:00. Bring a blanket to sit on and enjoy the concert!!!
Cost: Individual with Down syndrome FREE, immediate family $1 each, guests $5
You MUST sign up at the USOD Patterson Webpage Here
|
|
Does Your Business Process Credit Cards? Help USOD!
|
|
First Financial USA (FFUSA)is a registered Merchant Services Provider for JP Morgan Chase Bank.
FFUSA has an innovative giveback program in which they donate 10% of
their net income from their merchant credit card processing fees to the
Upside of Downs of Greater Cleveland. This is a great way to giveback
and it doesn't cost the merchant a dime. The money already exists. The
more cards a merchant accepts, the more our organization benefits. The
merchant can use their same terminal and deposit funds to the same
bank. There is no up-front cost and the merchant's fees remain the
same. Contact Kent Gilbert at FFUSA for more details.
We are proud to announce that Mattress Showcase has 11 locations on this program and the USOD receives monthly donations to support programming & services.
|
|
Evening in the Valley - USOD Fundraiser
|
|
 Saturday, October 10, 2009
Join
us for an evening in scenic Hunting Valley at the Historic White North
Stable.A beautiful horse farm built in the 1920's, now a dedicated
horse property. There will be a wine & food tasting along with
great prizes & raffles. (2008 Pictures)
White North Stable 6:00 ~ 9:00
3160 Chagrin River Road Hunting Valley, OH 44022 - map
This evening we will also be honoring USOD parents Michael & Denise Cirino, for their dedication to the USOD since Alexa was
born, twelve years ago. We are creating
an Ad and Tribute Book in their honor to be shared with all of our families and
friends. Please consider placing an advertisement which may include your logo
and any information about your business, a personal tribute to Michael & Denise or to the USOD. Tribute Information
Tickets are just $40 each & can be purchased securely on-line here or through the USOD office.
Please don't hesitate to contact the office with any questions, raffle donations or to volunteer!
|
Emergency Information Forms for Children
with Special Needs
|
|
Emergency Information Form (EIF), which can be downloaded from the menu at the bottom of this page. This important document will assure prompt and appropriate care for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN).
Now, when these patients present to emergency departments or health
care professionals with an acute illness or injury, physicians,
parents, EMS professionals, and nurses will be able to use the EIF as a
tool to transfer critical information. Click here
|
|
Baby & Todder Playgroup - DATE CHANGE
|
|
 September 14, 2009
Because of Labor Day the Strongsville Group was changed to the following week.
Great time will be had by all moms, dads, babies & small siblings
come hang, chat & play. Feel free to bring blankets and small toys.
6:30 - 8:00 pm Achievement Centers for Children - Strongsville 15000 Cheerful Lane Strongsville, Ohio 44136-5420 - mapquest. contact Debbie Marks for more info
|
|
Grandparent's Nook - Join USOD for Coffee
|
|
 Monday, September 14th -
First Grandparents Get Together!
10:00 am to noon Starbucks 4746 Ridge Rd. Brooklyn, OH mapquestHosted by Gay McVeigh - to rsvp
Boston Globe Columnist & Grandmother Beverly Beckham wrote a column Counting a Little Blessing:
Blessed is a word I find myself saying a lot
lately. How blessed I am. How blessed my family is. How blessed we are
to have Lucy.
Six
years ago, I didn't feel blessed. Lucy, my first grandchild, my
daughter's child, was 12 hours old when we learned she had Down
syndrome. We wept. Three days later, we were told she had holes in her
heart and would need surgery. We took her home and fed her and held her
and rocked her and sang to her. And we prayed.
Fear
consumed us then. We worried about her health. Were her lips blue? Was
she sweating from exertion or was the room too warm? We worried about
her future. Would she walk? Would she talk? We worried about our
future. Would the stress of all this worry pull our family apart?
Heart surgery. And we almost lost her. Then more heart surgery and, again, a crisis. Blessed? The word never crossed my mind.
Then slowly things got better.
If
only life were like a book and you could peek ahead. Lucy will be 6 on
Saturday. If only, when she was new and we were scared, we could have
had a glimpse of Lucy now. continue on......
Free Subscription to On-line Grandparents Magazine -
Go to their website & use discount code:
FGWZA1 (normally $10) |
|
Apraxia - Monthly Parent Series
|
|
 September 15, 7:00 pm
Has your child been diagnosed with Apraxia of speech, or do you suspect
he or she may have this condition? Join us for a question and answer
session with a panel of experienced professionals to learn more about
Apraxia and what you can do to help your child communicate more
effectively. We will explore the characteristics, diagnosis, speech
therapy methods, interventions and augmentative communication
alternatives to treat Apraxia in children with Down syndrome.
Cleveland Clinic Community Room in Independence
5001 Rockside Road Independence, OH, 44131 - mapquest
|
|
Step Up for USOD Development & Marketing Committee
|
|
 Wednesday, September 16, 7:30 pm
We are looking for volunteers to get involved with various fund raising, awareness campaigns, advocacy efforts and all sorts of exciting projects to support the expansion of USOD programming and services. The idea at this point is to have quarterly full committee meetings with smaller task groups and teams for specific projects. So take a peek at just a few of the exciting Developing & Marketing projects in the works. Contact the office for more information & sign up through the volunteer network. If you unable to join us on the 16th, just shoot an email & we will get you into the loop & plugged in. THANKS!
October is Ds Awareness Month Bookmark Campaign
OBGYN Awareness Campaign
Second Story Productions Video Project
USOD Spring Gala Event - New Committee Coming Soon
Ohio Down Syndrome Advocacy Network
Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Disability Awareness Program
Annual Campaign
Dress Down for Downs / Genes Corporate Campaigns
Newsletter/Sunburst E-news/ Website
Wednesday, September 3, 2009 7:30 pm
5001 Rockside Road, Independance, OH - mapquest
|
|
Pass It On & Help Get the Word & Resource Out There!
|
|
TeensAgainstBullying.org.
PACER Center's National
Center for Bullying Prevention launched TeensAgainstBullying.org, an
innovative bullying prevention resource where teens can become a powerful part
of the movement to end bullying. Teens themselves participated in the creative
process of developing the site. Through videos, blogs, and social networking,
the site?s resounding message is ?the end of bullying begins with you.?
 Once the target of bullying, teen singing
sensation Demi Lovato is passionate about the cause. She is supporting the
effort by appearing on the new Web site and doing a digital ribbon cutting at
PACER for the Aug. 7, 2009 site launch. Learn more at TeensAgainstBullying.org.
|
Monthly Speakers Series - Sexuality 102
|
|
 October 6, 2009 7:00 pm
Lydia Troha, Human Sexuality Educator for the CCBDD, returns to talk
about the sexuality issues associated with that wild ride called
adolescence. The focus will be on teenagers from 13 to 17 years old, as
well as the 18 and older group transitioning from teen years to
adulthood. Topics will include physical development and maturation,
centering on how to prepare adolescents for independence,
relationships, and boyfriends or girlfriends. Lydia will also cover how
to present information on sexual intimacy, sexual behavior,
reproduction, STI/safer sex practices, and more. For more info on Lydia
Troha, see the attached bio.5001 Rockside Road, Independence OH 44131
Cleveland Clinic Community Room
please rsvp@theupsideofdowns.org
|
USOD Bookclub - Riding the Bus with my Sister
|
|
 Sunday, October 18, 2009
Order the latest book for the USOD book club, it will be a lovely afternoon of coffee, fun and friends at Joseph Beth's Bistro at Legacy Village at 2:00.
Rachel Simon's sister Beth is a spirited woman who lives intensely and
often joyfully. Beth, who has an intellectual disability, spends her
days riding the buses in her Pennsylvania city. The drivers, a lively
group, are her mentors; her fellow passengers are her community. One
day, Beth asked Rachel to accompany her on the buses for an entire
year. This wise, funny, deeply affecting book is the chronicle of that
remarkable time. Rachel, a writer and college teacher whose hyperbusy
life camouflaged her emotional isolation, had much to learn in her
sister's extraordinary world. These are life lessons from which every
reader can profit: how to live in the moment, how to pay attention to
what really matters, how to change, how to love-and how to slow down
and enjoy the ride. The book is $15 & will be for $7.50 for USOD members, send a check or email the USOD office.
|
|
Susan Robinson's Birthday Wish for the USOD
|
|
 Her Facebook Cause
It is with great generosity and kind spirit that Susan Robinson is asking her friends and family to support her birthday wish facebook cause campaign towards the Up SIde of Downs - Delivering the News Campaign. Already several donations have been received and we are very excited about this program for Fall as we enter Down syndrome awareness month this October. Click here to go to her facebook cause to learn more & wish Susan a wonderful birthday.
|
|
A Spark of Hope Fundraiser
|
|
 Friday, September 18, 7:00 pm
Pediatric blood cancers continue to devastate over 100,000 children and their families a year. The lives of Hope Fimiani, age 2 and Michael Sparkman, age 7, tragically ended in October 2008 as a result of Leukemia and Lymphoma. The non-profit foundation, A SPARK OF HOPE,
has recently been established by Michael and Hope's families to provide financial and emotional support to children diagnosed and their families, many of whom are unable to adequately pay for the most appropriate and cutting-edge care. For more information, purchase tickets or to donate see this invitation.
|
|
Avon Lake - Hay Days
|
|
 Saturday, September 19
10:00 am ~ 2:00 pm
A hands on experience for children & adults with disabilities.
(Rain Date is Sept. 26th)
Weiss Field, Avon Lake Ohio. See flyer for more
Located at the corner of Moore Rd. & Webber Rd. |
|
|
BREATHE Respite Program - New Website Registration
|
|
Fellowship Bible Church, in
Chagrin Falls, is launching a FREE respite program to support families with
kids with special needs in September.
·
Monthly "date
night" for parents to take a needed breather!
· FREE!
· No less than a 1:1
ratio of trained, background checked volunteers per child.
· Siblings are
welcome!
· Sensory room and
quiet room available
· Medical team and
on site security
· All dietary needs
accommodated
Our goal is to spoil the
families! Contact program coordinator, Candy Baroni at
216.299.1669 or cbaroni2@aol.com, or Karen Kalis at
440.382.1787. Register at their new website
See flyer for full details - BREATH Sept. 25
|
Raise the Roof Fundraiser - Maple Leaf Homes
|
|
Wednesday, September 30, 3009 ~ 6:00 pm
Fantastic fundraiser for the residents of Maple Leaf Community Housing in Geaugua County. Please see the invitation for full details. Come join USOD in supporting a wonderful resource for our community! |
USOD Mission
To provide support, education, and advocacy for people with Down syndrome, their families and communities.
Vision
The Up Side of Downs is committed to building a community where
people with Down syndrome are independent and have the opportunity to
reach their fullest potential.
History
In the early 1980's, a handful of parents whose children had Down
syndrome began to meet informally over coffee for socialization and
support. Nearly thirty years later, with the help of a lot of coffee
& caffeine, their vision and hard work has taken the Up Side of
Downs from a grassroots parent movement to a staffed nonprofit
organization joining over 800 families throughout Northeast Ohio.
We invite you to connect with our with our support community to join us at one of our many programs & services, do research in our comprehensive resource directory, join our on-line family support network, enjoy our scrapbook photo gallery and so much more.
Contact the Up Side of Downs of Greater Cleveland.
The Up Side of Downs of Greater Cleveland
23230 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 640
Cleveland, OH 44122
phone
216.464. (8763)
fax
216.378.1975
e-mail
info@theupsideofdowns.org
|
|
|
