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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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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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Half Marathon Registration is Almost Full!
Join Team USOD
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Run With Team USOD & Down syndrome Awareness
Put on your running (or walking) shoes and show your
support for the Up Side of Downs! Join us at The Rite
Aid Cleveland Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K for a
day to celebrate the abilities and accomplishments of
people with Down syndrome...as well as your own! The
33rd annual Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon is one of the 50
oldest marathons in the United States and a great way
to honor all those hours you've logged on the treadmill
this winter.
Te am USOD running t-shirts and singlets are available through the USOD office. You also receive access to a customized fund raising Web page and fund raising materials. If you would like to get involved but prefer to
watch, please consider volunteering for the USOD Water Stationemail USOD officeand cheer on our team runners and walkers!
Visit www.clevelandmarathon.comfor race info & race registration, (you must register & pay entrance fees.) USOD's charity code is USDGC2010for
the marathon and half marathon, or
USDGC2010TRACKfor the 10k and 5k.
This code should be entered into the "charity code"
section of the rite aide application form. Also, please contact Dan Clapperor Julie Farleyalso about joining the USOD Team & race day details.
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2010 USOD Annual Meeting - Learn, Link & Laugh
Registration Closes Friday, April 9, 2010
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 Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 pm
With
great excitement the USOD Board of Directors and staff wishes to invite
our community to the 2010 Annual Meeting on This will be a free wine & dessert sampling and promises to be a
great night where everyone can LEARN about the exciting goals, 2009 performance and updates for the USOD and our community, LINK with friends, both old and new, and LAUGH to the inspirational comedian and musician Dan Kulp. YOU MUST BE OVER 21 TO ATTEND.
This event is free. Seating is limited so please reserve your seat & glass of wine today! Register Today
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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 4/8 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 4/16 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 this Sunday - only a few left!
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 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:
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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A Huge Applause for Hosting a
USOD Dress Down for Downs Syndrome Day!
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  If your school, business or organization is interested in learning more about Dress Down for Down Syndrome Days go to the USOD website or contact the office. Thanks  |
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Do You Have A Question?
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New online advice services launched
Starting in May 2010, DownsEd International is providing new online advice
services offering live group consultations with expert practitioners,
focused on specific issues and areas of development for young people
with Down syndrome. Book now to secure your place, as places on each
session are limited.
Live, online, group consultations hosted by experts
Our new online
advice sessions offer live group consultations with expert
practitioners focused on specific issues and areas of development for
young people with Down syndrome. The Advice Session presenters include Professor Sue
Buckley, Gillian
Bird, Julie
Hughes and Becky Baxter.
Participants can submit questions during the session and engage in
discussions on a variety of practical topics across different age
groups. here for more info
Don't forget to mark your calendars for DownsEd International Coming to CLEVELAND, OHIO
November 3,4 & 5th 2010
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Reading & Math Enrichment Support
Registration Closes Sunday, April 11th
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 4 Part Parent Pilot Series
Up Side of Downs
is excited to offer a 4 part parent training series for a
hands-on enrichment program for reading and math. The Learning Program is
based on over 30 years of research that has been conducted in England (www.downsed.org). register today
There will be four sessions
which will take place on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm and last
approximately 1.5 hours. The cost for the series is $40 which includes all
materials. Attendance at all four sessions is mandatory.
Dates are as follows:
April 14 May 5
May 26 June 14
For more information, contact Gina Mitchner, USOD education coordinator at gina@usod.org
Location: 1st class only at the Cleveland Clinic Community Center in Beachwood.
Register Online - Spring Pilot Program
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Michael Jurogue Johnson
Painter, Illustrator, Self Advocate
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Michael Jurogue Johnson
is a full time artist. Art is his job. He paints
almost every day and he also works in the cottage industry that has
developed from his talent. Michael was born with Down syndrome, but he
was
also born with a sense of wonder, an ability to appreciate simple
things, a
good sense of humor, and the determination to communicate with others.
Art
opened up Michael's world. click here for his website
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Shining Diamonds Parent Group -
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 Tuesday, April 20th 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 USOD paper newsletter page 4 - read on
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USOD Spring Math Conference for Educators & Parents
Pre-Order Book & CD Discount Ends Sunday April 11th!
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April 19th & 20th
Online Registration - click here
DeAnna Horstmeier, an experienced educator, was inspired to develop a
program (and consequently a book) for teaching math skills by
observing the difficulty her adult son with Down syndrome and his
roommates had in applying math skills to everyday life. Its success
lies in capitalizing on the visual learning strengths of these learners
and using manipulative, games and activities to teach and maintain
motivation for learning math. Topics will include:
*** Number Sense & Recognition *** Calculator Skills
Recognizing & Writing Numerals *** Counting
Time *** Measurements
Place Value *** Addition & Subtraction
Money *** Percents
***
Monday, April 19, 2010 6:00 - 9:00pm Independence Civic
Center, 6363 Selig Dr, Independence - mapquest
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 9:00 am-12:00pm
$20 professionals, $5 USOD parents (CEU's Pending)
Her books will be available for pre-order at a $10 discount!
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Teen & Young Adult Spring Formal Dance
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 Sunday, April 25, 2010
It's time to put on your dancing shoes and fanciest finery. Join us for
an elegant evening of dinner, dancing, and music by C.R. Entertainment
at Pine Ridge Country Club. This is a great opportunity for those 14 and
older to get out, have fun, meet up with friends and make new ones! Sponsored by Lake Metroparks Farmpark and USOD.
Register on line at www.lakemetroparks.com
or call or call Lake Metroparks Registration at 1-800-669-9226.
Deadline for registration is Tuesday, April 20.
Cost: $25 per person, $22 per chaperone
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Moving to Cleveland & Asking for Suggestions
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 Can You Help?
Hello - I am seriously considering moving my family to Cleveland from
Carmel Indiana, and wonder about schools and services for young people
with DS in Cleveland - I have a 19yr old daughter with DS - fun loving
and very social!. Any recommendations? what school districts are best
recommended? how are the highschools and middleschools in the area? my
"typical" son will be entering 8th grade. Please send response to the office & we will forward.... THANKS!
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Latest Issue of Inclusion Solutions - Spring 2010
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So many exciting & wonderful articles & resources.
Take a look at the latest issue & please forward onto to educators & parents alike.
Inclusion Solutions Spring 2010-pdf
Inclusion Solutions E-Newsletter
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New Summer Camp For Kids With Down syndrome
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 Week of August 2-6, 2010
We are so excited about a wonderful full-day camp being offered especially for kids with Down syndrome by Bluestreak Camps which will be held on the Jon Carrol Campus in University Heights. Blue Streak Summer Camps, Inc. was established in 1985 as a
co-educational, non-competitive sports summer day camp. Since that time
our goal has always remained to provide a wide variety of athletic
camps, for both children and adults, in a wholesome environment; camps
which are safe, fun, and as personal as possible. At Blue Streak Camps,
the focus continues to be on sportsmanship, fair-play, learning, and
skill improvement - not on winning and losing. Call for information today, there are limited slots due to the high camper to staff ratio. Cost is $200.
Please contact Tim or 440-287-7644.
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AMC Sensory Friendly Films -
How to Train A Dragon!
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 Saturday, April 10 10am
AMC Entertainment (AMC)brings a special
opportunity to enjoy favorite films in a safe and accepting
environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films"
program.
In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this
unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought
up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their
own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements
will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are
welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC's
"Silence is GoldenŽ" policy will not be enforced unless the
safety of the audience is questioned.
AMC Ridge Park Square 8
4788 Ridge Rd., Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 - mapquest
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Great Things At Achievement Centers for Children
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 April Fun
Infant Massage Classes starting in April - flyer
Family Fun Day April 24, 2010 - flyer
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Adult Transition Planning Seminar - Three Part Series
STARTS NEXT WEEK!!!
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Every family has many questions about their children's future, but they're of even greater importance for parents whose sons and daughters have a developmental disability. Whether your son or daughter is a child or an adult, it's time NOW to plan for the future.
ˇ Public-Private Partnerships ˇ Education ˇ ˇ Income Tax Answers ˇ Legal Documents ˇ ˇ Funding and Management ˇ Eligibility Questions ˇ ˇ Waiting List ˇ Waivers ˇ Reviewing Your Existing Plan ˇ Spring 2010
Rocky River Adult Activities Center, 20120 Detroit Road 1490 East 191st Street, Wed., April 14, 21 & 28, 2010
Fall 2010
Euclid Adult Activities, 1490 East 191st Street Wednesdays, Sept. 29, Oct. 6 and 13
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Visual Learners Reading Workshop - eReadingPro
Down Syndrome Association of the Valley
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Great for parents, teachers, reading
specialists and anyone who works with visual learners.
Thursday, May 6th 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM OR
Friday, May 7th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location:
SST-5 Meeting room
5555
Youngstown-Warren Rd., Unit 69 Niles, Oh 44446
To Register: Click on the
workshop date above that you wish to attend and follow registration
instructions.
Professionals
- $10 (contact hours certificate available)
Parents
- $5 (additional $5 sponsored by the DSAV)
Workshop 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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