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Photo of the Week
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for more photos - gallery
send new photos to
photos@usod.org |
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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
Ann Regan
Katherine E. Schubert
Lisa G. Trifiletti
Ken Vinikoff
Brian J. Weiss, DPM
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An Easy Way to Support USOD Each Day!
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 USOD Credit Card
Turn your everyday spending into meaningful donations, with our USOD custom credit card. USOD receives 1% cash donations from Capital One for EVERY purchase you
make-plus a $50 first purchase bonus-will be donated to our
organization. Apply today on-line & make a difference doing what you do each day. Apply here...
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Mom's Night Out - Medina & Valley View
Take Some Time To Meet Other Great Moms
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 Medina, Thursday 2/11 7pm
Grab a bite at Chipotle and bring it next door to Starbucks for coffee,
conversation, and cameraderie on the second Thursday of each month. Our
group has been going strong for over three years and we welcome new
members to join us for fun and friendship!
Coffee on the USOD!
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 899 N. Court Street, Medina, Starbucks, 897 N. Court Street, Medina
rsvp to Jamie at 330-220-1045
Valley View, Friday 2/19 7pmIt's YOU time! Join us the third Friday of each month as we wind down
the week at Yours Truly sharing stories, smiles, and appetizers
courtesy of USOD! Give yourself a break from cooking and save room for
dinner, too.
We know it can be a little uncomfortable to meet new people. Feel free
to bring a friend for support. We want you to come...and to come back! Hope to see you there! Yours Truly Restaurant8111 Rockside Rd. Valley View, OH - mapquestrsvp to laura@usod.org
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USOD Bowling Buddies!
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 Sunday, February 14, 2:00 pm
Sunday Bowling is back!
Let's celebrate just a few weeks of winter to go! We have reserved
four lanes at Freeway Lanes in Solon. All bowlers are asked to wear
their Buddy Walk shirts if they have them. What better way to spend a
cold Sunday afternoon than with your Bowling Buddies!
Mark your calendar for 2-4pm on the following dates:
Feb. 14 and 28th
March 14 and 28
April 11 and 25th
Price: Individuals with Ds are free. All others pay $3.95 per game, all with complementary shoes.
Freeway Lanes
33185 Bainbridge Road Solon, OH 44139 - mapquest
Please rsvp to USOD office
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Picky Eaters - Hints & Hopes
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Down Syndrome - Western Austrailia
Children with Down syndrome can be just as fussy as any other child
when it comes to food. Some young babies will want to drink milk only
and are not interested in solids. Some toddlers only want to eat
"mushy" food with no texture. Some children will want to eat the same
thing every day for months.
While all of these things can
be issues for parents, as long as the child is happy and healthy most
nutritionists would advise that you keep offering new foods and
eventually they will be accepted. In the mean time before you pull your hair out click here for great articles & resources
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Shining Diamonds Parent Group - New
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 Tuesday, February 16th 7:00 pm
We invite you to join other parents, grandparents, and caregivers of
children and adults with Down syndrome and an alphabet soup of complex
needs. While each multi-facted shining diamond is unique, supporting
our loved one has led us to a common place. We have much to teach each
other!
Only by talking to each other, comparing notes,
and laughing are we able to help our carefully sculpted
diamonds truly shine and show off their "bling". free
Cleveland Clinic Community Room A 5001 Rockside Road Independence, OH 44131 - mapquestTo rsvp or for more information contact Sue GroszekWonderful article written by Sue Groszek in the winter edition of the Winter USOD paper newsletter page 4 read on
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Consider a Dress Down for Down Syndrome Day
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 World Down Syndrome Day, March 21st!
March 21 is known
internationally as World Down Syndrome Day and the USOD is looking for area
schools, companies, and businesses to help celebrate by hosting a Dress Down for Down Syndrome Day. By making a
small donation (usually a minimum of $5 per person), employees or students can wear blue
jeans to work on that day. This is a great opportunity to raise Down syndrome
awareness in our community, as well as raise money for the USOD! If you are
interested in hosting a DDfDsD, you can request a FREE kit filled with
posters, stickers for co-workers to wear, a pledge sheet, and a donation
envelope by visiting our Dress Down page on-line or contacting the USOD office at 216.464.8763 or robin@usod.org.
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Baby & Tot Playgroups - Eastside, Westlake & Medina
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 Join other moms, dads, babies & small siblings for a fun time to
hang out, chat & play.
Grandparents are welcome!!!!
Eastside - Wednesday February 17, 6:00 pm
Achievement Centers for Children
4255 Northfield Road Highland Hills, 44128
-mapquest
for info or to rsvp please contact: lauriek@usod.org
Westlake - Monday February 22, 6:30 pm
Achievement Centers for Children
24211 Center Ridge Road Westlake, OH 44145
- mapquest
for info or to rsvp please contact: email Debbie
Medina - Monday, February 22, 6:30 pm
Medina County Achievement Center
4691 Windfall Rd. Medina, OH, 44256 - mapquest
for info or rsvp please contact: email Maria or 440-845-4965
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SAVE THE DATE - March 27, 2010
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A Great Evening with the Up Side of Downs Raffle~ $4,000 Main Board Prize ~
~ Side Board & Raffle Sales Begin 6:00 p.m. ~
~ Additional Gift Baskets and Auction items ~
~ Cocktails & Hors D'oeuvres ~
~ Extensive Hot & Cold Buffet w/Carving Station ~ Tickets will be available for purchase mid-February!Monetary contributions, gift items and certificates for prizes & services are what make this
event such a success. Please be creative and help us network & acquire great donations. For more information and assistance please contact Sheila Raia
- 2010 Donation Form
Volunteers are needed for the Reverse Raffle Committee & for the Night of the Event - USOD Volunteer Signup!
Pictures & Raffle Packages from the 2009 USOD Raffle  We are asking for photos from our families to use with this year's event. Please send up to three photos to photos@usod.org
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Free Webinar Available
Dementia Among Adults with Down Syndrome: Individual Differences in Risk and Progression
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 Association of University Centers on Disabilities
www.aucd.org
The fourth in this series of webinars, Dementia Among Adults with Down Syndrome: Individual Differences in Risk and Progression, was presented on January 20, 2010 by Wayne Silverman, PhD, Director of Intellectual Disabilities Research, Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI), and Associate Director of the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at KKI and Johns Hopkins University.
The previous audio and visual presentations for this webinar can be viewed here.
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Understanding and Responding Effectively to Challengine
Behaviors in Young Children
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Thur.,
Feb. 18, 6:15-8:00 pm
Sponsor: Family Connections
Audience:
Parents, Professionals
Cost: FREE
Location:
Shaker Family Center, 19824 Sussex Road, Shaker Heights
Contact:
Holly Palda 216-921-2023 sfc05@sbcglobal.net
Website: www.familyconnections1.org
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Needing an Interview with Student or Adult
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 Please Help A USOD Parent
I need to do an interview with a high school student or adult with a disability who would like to share their educational experience. I
will be sharing the information with my Partners in Policymaking class and can keep your name confidential. We can do this by phone, email or in person whatever is best. Please contact me by phone 330-273-4811 or email smshandor@yahoo.com. Thanks Sharon Shandor!
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* Clothing * Clothing * Clothing * Clothing * Clothing *
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 Measure Once, Help Twice as Much!
Two Surveys
We at Downs Designs understand the difficulty
of finding clothes that fit a person with Down syndrome due to
distinguishing physical characteristics that relate to proportion. At
Downs Designs, we are designing jeans specifically tailored to fit the
body shape of a person with Down syndrome.
Downs Designs is offering a 10% discount on your first purchase of a
pair of our jeans as soon as they become available if you simply fill
out our "Down Sizing" Research Form.
The data collected through this form will allow us to further tailor
our jeans (and eventually a full line of clothing) to better fit the
needs of our clients with Down syndrome.
My
name is Karen Bowersox and I have a 5-year-old granddaughter with Down
syndrome. (Maggie is here in Cleveland) After watching my daughter struggle to find clothes that fit
her I wondered what I could do to help.
Research
proved there was nothing available so I have created a company called
Downs Designs. I am in the process of designing jeans for all ages.
Downs Designs will eventually grow into a full line of clothing. Your input and suggestions are so important as we develop this new concept in clothing. Downs Designs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Our friends at the Down
Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati are interested in learning more
about your experiences in finding suitable clothing for your loved one with
Down syndrome. Please take a moment to complete their nationwide survey!
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Thinking About Summer Yet?
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Recreation Fair for families of children with disabilities
Mark your calendar for Saturday February 27th! Our regional special education center, State
Support Team 3, will be hosting the Annual Recreation Fair for families of
children with disabilities from 10:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. at the St. Michael's Woodside Party Center,
5025 East Mill Road in Broadview Heights, just off the I-77 and Wallings Road
Exit.
With summer just
around the corner, parents are beginning to plan activities for their
children. This familiar task is often a
little more challenging for families of children with disabilities.
Representatives from area camps and organizations will be available to answer
questions and share information. Families are encouraged to browse the
information tables and pick up their FREE copy of the "2010
Recreation Directory."
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Ohio Youth Leadership Forum - Deadline Tomorrow!
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 The
Ohio Youth Leadership Forum is a four day leadership training program
for 11th and 12th grade high school students with disabilities. Many
young people with disabilities now have more options and more
challenges than at any other time in our nation's history. This forum
is geared to prepare them to take advantage of the unprecedented
opportunities and to fully develop as constructive, contributing
members of our society.
For more information click here & Apply Today!
Deadline February 12th.
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Upcoming Free Webinars - IEP & Parent Education
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 Ohio Coalition for the Educations of Children with Disabilities - website click here
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Beyond Our Boundaries
"All Dressed Up & Some Place To Go"
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Beyond
Our Boundaries is a recreation service company for adults with
Developmental Disabilities (DD). Beyond our Boundaries offers trips to
fun community locations, in hopes of bringing people with DD together
for friendships, and to set the stage for creating an active, social
life. Check out their February Calendar & Website! Also, the 2010 trips have been announced. www.beyondourboundaries.com
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Research on Phonological Awareness
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My name is Erin Rose. I am a Senior
Communication Sciences and Disorders major at The College of Wooster. I am
conducting research for my Senior Independent Study project. I am researching
phonological awareness in both readers and non-readers who have Down syndrome.
Allowing your student to participate will help me to collect the data needed to
support my research. I will be coordinating my efforts with your student's
teacher in order to allow for participation during the school day, unless you request
an alternate time. Please E-mail Erin
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Parent Training Modules
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Emotional & Behavioral Supports for Children
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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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