Providing support, education, and advocacy for people with
Down syndrome, their families and communities.
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| Issue: 11.3 |
November 19.2009 |
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USOD Community Assessment Survey
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 10 Chances for 10 Minutes
The Up Side of Downs of Greater Cleveland is excited to announce the 2009 Community Assessment Survey of its families and community partners throughout Northeast Ohio who care for a loved one with Down syndrome.
It is imperative for everyone in our community to take 10 minutes
to help lend a voice for the future of the Up Side of Downs.
The survey is accessible here --> 2009 USOD Community Assessment Survey and on the homepage of the USOD
website at www.usod.org, through December 12, 2009.
· This CONFIDENTIAL research project consists of a 20 Question online survey.
· The primary goal of the study is to further understand the needs, wants and service gaps of our community.
· This information will then help direct the programming, advocacy and funding priorities of the Up Side of Downs.
Families that participate in the survey and update their contact information will be eligible to win one of 10 prizes of US Savings Bonds, area Gift Cards & toys that will be drawn at the USOD Holiday Party on December 13, 2009. (Winner need not to be present to win.)
We thank you in advance for your valuable time & insights.
You are helping all of us to better celebrate life with Down syndrome.
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Photo of the Week
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for more photos - gallery
send great photos to
photos@usod.org
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Host a Dress Down for Down Syndrome Day
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We are looking for companies,
schools & individuals across Northeast Ohio to help celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness.
It is a fun, rewarding day that benefits individuals with Down syndrome and their families & community.
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Designate USOD
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 Make a Double Difference!
Please consider designating your UW donation to USOD. Thanks!
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Join Our List
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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
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H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccine Recommendations
for Children with Down syndrome
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 Dr. Brian Skotko
The Children's Hospital of Boston Down Syndrome Program has released a series of guidelines and recommendations regarding the H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccines. Click Here for the 2009 Flu Update.
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Help USOD on Facebook - One Click Away
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Take a quick moment & vote for the USOD with the Chase Community Giving Campaign on Facebook.
Thanks in advance for support the great works of our families & communities. Give a virtual vote to the USOD for the Chase Community Giving Campaign & help spread the word for a chance at $10,000. Chase is giving away $5,000,000 to charities through facebook votes. Click here - Chase Community Giving
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Behavior - Resources & Parent Education Lecture
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 Wednesday, December 9 7:00 pm
Understanding emotions and the impact they have on the individuals we
support can be challenging under the best of circumstances. Jennifer
Smith, Behavior Curriculum Intervention Specialist for the CCBDD,
presents this topic to focus on defining emotions and how they develop
in both healthy and unhealthy ways, and tactics used to bring balance
back once emotions have caused the brain to function with the fight or
flight response.
As a participant, you will gain an understanding of how emotions develop and the effects of unbalanced emotions. Also, Jennifer will suggest strategies which can be used to address unhealthy/unbalanced emotions at home and in the classroom.
Cleveland Clinic Independence, Community Room B
5001 Rockside Road Independence, OH 44131 - mapquest
For more info on Ms. Smith & the lecture - click here
please rsvp to the usod office or rsvp@usod.org
Article - When your child engages in difficult behaviors...
By David Pitonyak, Ph.D., Blacksburg, VA
What follows are 10 things to remember if your child, because he or she exhibits difficult behaviors, is at risk of not belonging. If you don't have the time or energy to read one more word, remember these two ideas: Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do. If you don't, it will be very difficult to take care of anyone else.
Remember that your child's problem behavior(s) has meaning. Finding out what your child needs is the first step in supporting your child, and the people who love your child, to change. read on .... Additional resources on behavior are at the usod site.
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Holiday Party - Pre-Registration Needed by 12-6
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6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Come One Come All to the 2009 USOD Holiday Party!
This year we are very excited for the generous support of Lowe's's Greenhouses & Santa's Hideaway Hallow to present a wonderful holiday party for our USOD kids, siblings, parents & grandparents!!!
This even is open to only our USOD families & volunteers and absolutely FREE!
We are going to have our quieter activities the first half
of the evening with the wonderful talents of wandering
entertainers, the Amazing Puppet Theater Company, tons of great crafts
& more. The second half of the evening we will be rockin out and
having a great time to the spining of Brian Kazy, our dance troupe and
so much more.
Santa will be there so remember your camera & wish lists!
Pre-registration is required by December 6th. Click Here |
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First Lady & USOD Family
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 Travis Already in Politics
Last month First Lady Michelle Obama met with parents in Akron to discuss family needs and advocacy issues. This is USOD buddy Travis Johnson who was in the spotlight with his mom Toni. Way to go Travis!
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Encourage Early Literacy with These
Guides
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 Center for Early Literacy Learning
It's never too early to start teaching your child literacy
skills-including things such as listening, speaking, enjoying books, and
learning to use writing tools, such as crayons and markers. "Practice Guides
Especially for Parents" (click here) can help families provide their infants,
toddlers, or preschoolers with fun and exciting literacy learning experiences.
"Practice Guides
Especially for Practitioners" (click here) also are available. The guides are from
the Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL), a research-to-practice
technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office
of Special Education Programs, Research to Practice Division.
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How Jon Learned To Drive
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 Down Syndrome Centre, England
Jon has wanted to do everything his older brother has done and his
biggest disappointment was turning 16 and not being able to drive a
car. But Jon overcame that also and with the help of Becoming
Independent and North Bay Regional Center in 2004 he got his California
driver's license. He has his own car and drives not only to college but
also to work and anyplace else he might want to go in the area. He is a
very good driver. We have always taught Jon to do things the right way
the first time as he doesn't forget and will do it the same way each
time thereafter. read on ...
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McHappy Days - Support Ronald McDonald House
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 Friday, November 20
Ronald McDonald House
Charities of Northeastern Ohio, Inc., helps financially support the Ronald McDonald
House programs in Akron and Cleveland AND awards grants to children's
organizations throughout Northeast Ohio. (They have been a consistent supporter of the USOD Buddy Walk.)
McHappy Day is being
sponsored at your local McDonald's restaurant to raise funds and awareness for
Ronald McDonald House Charities.
You're invited to visit your local McDonald's restaurant until
November 20th and buy a paper cut-out hand for a one dollar donation
to Ronald McDonald House Charities. On Friday, November 20th -
McHappy Day! - a portion of the sale of all breakfast and beef Extra Value
Meals also goes to help financially support RMHC. These donations are
used by RMHC-NEO to help fund children's organizations all across Northeastern
Ohio, including the Ronald McDonald Houses.
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Down Syndrome Research - (all over the internet this week)
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Cognitive dysfunction reversed in mouse model of Down syndrome
A
study by neuroscientist William C. Mobley, MD, PhD, chair of the
Department of Neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego
School of Medicine, and colleagues at Stanford University Medical
School has demonstrated a possible new approach to slowing the
inevitable progression of cognitive decline found in Down's syndrome.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine on November 18,
revealed two important new findings about Down's syndrome in a mouse
model: 1) there is evidence that synaptic terminals involved in
neurotransmission are damaged long before the cells show degeneration;
and 2) while cell signaling is damaged, the receptors are not, but are
functioning and still trying to find signals. read on...
(for a really cool 5 sec. cellular lesson on mitosis & meiosis)
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Breaking Down the IEP - Why is Important to Write a Good
Transition Plan?
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Monday, November 30, 2009 6:30 - 9 pm.
This workshop
will help parents, caregivers and guardians have the discussion about "how
do I develop a meaningful transition plan for my child?" As Ohio
moves towards Standards Based IEPs, it will be important for parents,
caregivers and guardians to:
* begin to think about what their child will do safter they leave high
school,
* prioritze and define key areas for gals to be written;
* practice writing a meansurable goal that is aligned to the academic
content standards and focused on employment and/or post secondary education (or functional goal that
addresses independent living skills); and
* practice breakin down skills or activities that they need for their
child to achieve their goals.
This will be a very hands-on workshop. Don't miss it! click her to register & for more info
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Podcast on Dental Issues and Down Syndrome
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Listen to Dr. Kvitko's radio show...
Dr. Kvitko in Columbus did a radio show on
dental issues of a patient that he has with Down syndrome. You can hear the
podcast of this show by one of two ways. One is by going to AM1230 WYTS, hold your
mouse over the "on air" button and choose "Dr. Kvitko" from
the drop down menu. That will take you to his web page within the radio station
web site. In blue, you will find the words "click here for
podcasting." After clicking there, just left click on the word
"listen" of the show that aired November 15th. and the show will
begin to play.
The other way is to go to iTunes and search for the
podcast by typing in either "Dr. Kvitko" or "Dentally
Speaking."
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The Specials - Episode 4 is out!
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"This is our world and we want to share it with you!"
From across the pond catch this fantastic reality series. The Specials |
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Calling all artists with Down syndrome!
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FOR WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
STEP ONE: If you are an artist with Down syndrome, create a WDSD TShirt design (www.worlddownsyndromeday.org) by hand or by
computer using your choice of art. Create your design on an 8 ½ x 11 inch piece of bright white paper using a max of four colors. Your design must be your own original unpublished work and must not contain any third-party logos, trademarks or copyright materials.
STEP TWO: Mail your design (without folding it) to DSAGC-T-Shirt Design Contest, 644 Linn Street #1128, Cincinnati, OH 45203 dated by January 10th, 2010
See flyer for full details, rules & PRIZES - WDSD TShirt Contest
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Adapted Programming- Winter 2009
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 Lake Metro Parks
Life Center Plus - flyer
Mayfield Heights
SPLASH Swim, Persevere, Learn, Achieve, Have Fun! Flyer
Adaptive Swimming at Kent - Flyer
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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.USOD (8763)
fax 888.708.USOD (8763)
e-mail
info@usod.org
web www.usod.org
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