Providing support, education, and advocacy for people with
Down syndrome, their families and communities.
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November 23.2009 |
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Thanksgiving Wish
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Thank you!
At this time of Thanksgiving, all of us at the Up Side of Downs want to share how grateful we are to all of you who support the work we do. We are appreciative of how you give of your time, your talents and your resources so those with Down syndrome throughout Ohio can live life to its full potential. May this thanksgiving find you grateful and enjoying the holiday with those who mean the most to you.
The office will be closed Thursday & Friday November 27 & 28th.
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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.
****We Need 300 More Families to Step Forward****
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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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First Edition of USOD Inclusion Solutions
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 November 2009
Inclusion Solutions is an online e-newsletter that will assist you in your efforts to support students with Down syndrome in their classrooms and at home. The newsletter provides strategies you can implement with your child or student to help them achieve their unique potential. We hope this newsletter will become an effective means of exchanging ideas between teachers, parents, paraprofessionals, therapists, and administrators.
Inclusion Solutions also shares information about upcoming
conferences & new products that may be helpful in your homes
or classrooms. Click Here for the November 2009 Inclusion Solutions
We welcome your comments & suggestions please contact Gina
Mitchner at gina@usod.org or 216.464.USO D (8763).
Special Thanks to the Kansas City Down Syndrome Guild for
their support & resources for the USO D Inclusion Solutions.
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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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Apraxia Seminar - USOD Subsidy Available
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 Friday, December 4, 2009
Nationally renowned speech pathologist Nancy Kaufman, M.A., CCC-SLP
will be presenting a workshop on Friday December 4th in Strongsville,
OH. The tuition is $125+20 late registration fee, so a total of $145,
USOD is offering to subsidize $75, on a reimbursement basis. Register
in advance and submit your total paid fees and a check will be issued.
This clinical seminar will focus on evaluation and treatment. The
seminar begins with discussions of differential diagnosis of apraxia,
flaccid dysarthria and phonological disorders, then moves into
practical and functional treatment techniques. Introduced will be the
key concepts of phonemic simplification, successive word approximations
and pivot syllables, and how treatment interventions derived from these
concepts have proven highly effective in increasing speech
intelligibility in children with apraxia of speech.
Full Program Details are on the Kaufman Childrens Center Website
and this is the registration link.
Please make sure you have taken your USOD Community Assessment Survey. Feel free to contact the usod office with any questions or suggestions. .
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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!!!
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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Down Syndrome in the 21st Century
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 Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas
Want to watch an uplifting video?
Link to video.
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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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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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Free Lifetime National Park Passes
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 DS Association of Greater St. Louis
Individuals with disabilities can
get free lifetime passes to National Parks across the United states... The web page is: www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
You must have proof of
permanent disability (a doctor's letter works fine.) You can only get the pass in person
at a park so plan ahead. The pass allows the holder +3 adults to enter free & for other discounts.
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Rising to the Occasion Again:
Student with Down syndrome Inducted into National Hall of Fame
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Article
in The Kansas City Star
Sarah Sherman is no more special than any of the
141 other students inducted Thursday night into Blue Valley North High
School's chapter of the National Honor Society.
Her 3.75 grade-point average is high, yes, but they all have at least
the required 3.5. Every one of the students worked hard to pull the grades
while participating in school activities and logging at least 40 hours of
community service. She is, however, the only one who has Down syndrome read on
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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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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 |
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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