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Photo of the Week
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for more photos - gallery
send new photos to
photos@usod.org
We would like more photos of our wonderful teens & adults. So start clicking away!
A special thanks to USOD parent
Maria Sivertson
who maintains our smugmug photo sight
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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
Katherine E. Schubert
Lisa G. Trifiletti
Ken Vinikoff
Brian J. Weiss, DPM
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First Down syndrome Center for Northeast Ohio?
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 Conference Call
Monday February 22, 8:00 pm
The USOD Board of Directors has an exciting announcement to make with the establishment of a Space Committee dedicated to investigating & making recommendations for real estate options for a potential Down syndrome Center for Northeast Ohio.
There will be a dial in conference call & internet webinar on Monday to present the priorities matrix and help establish the process. Please share this announcement with any potential contacts, resources or organizations. This is a fabulous opportunity for our families & community partners to come together to network & brainstorm for our first home.
Please email Dave Bruening at dbruening@usod.org if you would like to participate and receive the conference call-in information. Most of all THANK YOU!
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Mom's Night Out - Medina & Valley View
Take Some Time To Meet Other Great Moms
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 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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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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How to Prepare for and Participate Effectively in Your Student's Annual
IEP Meeting
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When your child is 3 year's old you will begin the IEP (Individual Education
Plan) process.
The IEP team is designed to give parents and teachers the opportunity to work
together to set goals for student achievement. These goals must be SMART:
Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time limited.
The following links have been put together by the NDSC to help your IEP meeting
go more smoothly and maximize the benefits for your child.
NDSC's position statements set expectations for the IEP.
Quality Education for Students with Down Syndrome Quality Education for Students with Down Syndrome
An Inclusive Education for Students with Down Syndrome
For a detailed PDF with tons of tips and strategies go to: http://www.taalliance.org/publications/pdfs/ALL51.pdf
THIS is so Awesome for us techno geeks!
If you have an iPhone here's a great application with a checklist: IEP Checklist
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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!!!!
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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Tickets Available On-Line - Get Yours Today!
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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. ~
~ Wide Variety of Chinese Auction Baskets ~
~ Cocktails & Hors D'oeuvres ~
~ Extensive Buffet w/Carving Station ~
~ Entertainment Provided by Marino Brothers ~ 
Order Your Tickets On-line Today -
Click Here for 2010 USOD Reverse Raffle Tickets!
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USOD Bowling Buddies!
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 Sunday, February 28, 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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Grandparents Group - Guest Speaker
Jennifer Smith, CBDD on Behavior
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 Monday, March 1 at 10:00am
This month Jennifer Smith is leading the group with a discussion about behavior.
Get together for great conversation, support & friends.
USOD will bring coffee &
pastries. Free.
Cleveland Clinic Community Room A
5001 Rockside Road, Independence ,
Please rsvp to Gay McVeigh.
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World Down Syndrome Day - March 21, 2010
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4 Ways To Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day
Down Syndrome International (DSI) has officially earmarked
21 March as World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD). The date was chosen
to signify the uniqueness of Down syndrome in the triplication
(trisomy) of the 21st chromosome and is used synonymously
with Down syndrome. 1. Join the 21 Days of 21 Quotes by 21 People with Trisomy 21 in
Celebration of World Down Syndrome Day
Sign up for the 21 Days email list so that you
get the quote of each day from individuals with Down syndrome from March 1 to
21 2010. Check the box at the bottom of the list that says "21 Quotes for 21
Days." - click here 2. Wear your WDSD t-shirt designed by Kevin T from Northern Kentucky.
Order here by noon on March 1.  3. March together with USOD in the Akron St. Patricks Day Parade to celebrate & share!
St. Patrick's Parade to be held on Saturday,
March 13, 2010 at 12:00 Noon on South
Main St. in downtown Akron, with an after parade party full of great food, music & Irish Dancing. Please email USOD parent Kay Schubert for more details. 4. Host a Dress Down for Down Syndrome Day (on any day!) A great way to promote awareness and raise funds for USOD. See info here in this newsletter or contact the USOD office. Sign-Up for a DDfDsDay for USOD by March 1st & we will send you 2 World Down Syndrome Awareness Day tshirts.
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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 $5 per person), employees or students can wear blue
jeans to work on that day. This is a great opportunity to raise Down syndrome
awareness in our community, as well as raise money for the USOD! If you are
interested in hosting a DDfDsD, you can request a FREE kit filled with
posters, stickers for co-workers to wear, a pledge sheet, and a donation
envelope by visiting our Dress Down page on-line or contacting the USOD office at 216.464.8763 or robin@usod.org.
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Peak Potential Therapy
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 Sunday, Feb. 21st at 3:00, free
Peak Potential Therapy's support group is for parents of children with any disability located in Twinsburg, OH.
This support group will consist of a group of parents, relatives,
guardians, and care-givers. We welcome their questions, and assist them
in making informed decisions for their children. The primary purpose is
to meet and share information, especially with regard to helping
children, relatives, and others affected by a disability. Info & Online Registration Form
Respite care is offered, but you must register in advance. It is 5$, but USOD will be subsidizing the cost so it is no charge for USOD families. Email Holly Reimann or call 267-259-6461 to reserve your spot. |
| Latest National Down Syndrome Congress Newsletter
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Newsletter
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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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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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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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