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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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2010 USOD Buddy Walk - Mark Your Calendars
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 Saturday August 21, 2010It is with great excitement that we are stepping up to the 2010 Buddy Walk! The first Buddy Walk Committee meeting is Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7:00pmToscana Party Center 4972 E. 71st Street Cuyahoga Heights, OH - map questWe need help in all shapes & sizes and none is too small. So please contact the USOD office if you are interested in supporting & celebrating one of our best, biggest & brightest days of the year! |
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USOD Bowling Buddies, Last One is a Party!
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 April 25th @ 2:00 pm
Great snacks, prizes and friends with teen volunteers from JServe. Please rsvpto the USOD officewith the name & ages of the kids playing (so we have the right age goodies.)
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
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Teen & Young Adult Spring Formal DanceS!
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 Sunday, April 25, 2010It'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 chaperon
Jewish Community Center
Sunday, May 2nd 4:00-5:30
Stonehill Auditorium at the
JCC, which is located at 26001
South Woodland Road in Beachwood. We will
have a DJ and snacks. Come prepared to have a great time. Admission is
$3/person payable at the door. Hope to see you there. flyer
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Feature Issue on Aging and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
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 Impact Newsletter"What can be done today to support people with intellectual and
developmental disabilities who are aging?"That's the focus of this
issue of Impact. The articles in these pages give a variety of
responses to the question. From self-advocateswe hear of the importance
of having opportunities to be active participants in their communities,
to be listened to as they speak up for themselves, and to continue to
pursue their own goals and dreams for their lives. From siblingswe hear
about the necessity to respond to the concerns that keep them awake at
night as they deal with the aging of all their family members, including
parentswho may have been primary caregivers for their brothers or
sisters with disabilities. From researcherswe hear of the policy and
service issues that need to be addressed as the number of adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities over 60 years of age is
projected to grow to 1.2 million in the next 20 years. Check out the latest issue of Impact |
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USOD is Looking for Interns for this Summer!
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 Come Join Our TeamThe Up Side of Downs student interns will participate and learn about many of
the aspects of the USOD including our programs, admistrative and event
coordinating efforts. Interns will work closely with the organization's staff to
learn how the USOD helps support the Northeast Ohio community in numerous
areas of education, advocacy, and family support. For more information
about the Up Side of Downs, visit our website at www.usod.org
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Primary duties will include completing short term and long term projects under
the close supervision of different employees at the USOD and on days of
events. Responsibilities include assistance with learning programs, events, and
general office duties.
TRAINING OUTLINE
All student interns will be instructed in the methods behind all activities as
well as the reasoning for them in the larger context of the organization as
well as within the industry. Interns will gain further skills in office
administration and event coordination.
SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Candidates preferably should be currently pursuing a bachelors degree in
Nonprofit (or Business, Public Relations, or Marketing). Student interns are encouraged to be able to receive school credit
for this internship, and be able to submit a document from the
school in order to begin the internship program. All candidates must be
available to work a 20 hour work week (beginning at the end of July) through
August. This is a non-paid internship. Qualified applicants should have excellent
communication, organizational and interpersonal skills. Qualified applicants
may submit cover letter and resume to robin@usod.org
by May 15, 2010.
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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. Please join the team at our site 2010 Rite Aid. If you would like to get involved but prefer to
watch, please consider volunteering for the USOD Water Station email USOD office and cheer on our team runners and walkers!
Visit www.clevelandmarathon.com for race info & race registration, (runners 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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The 2010 Joshua O'Neill and Zeshan Tabani Enrichment
Fund Application Is Now Available
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 The Joshua O'Neill and Zeshan Tabani Enrichment Fund
offers financial assistance to young adults (18+) with Down syndromewho wish
to continue to enrich their lives by enrolling in post secondary programs or
taking enrichment classes that will help them to enrich life through
employment, independent living skills, life skills or another way. To
date, over thirty students have received grants from NDSS to help cover the
costs of pursuing their post secondary education and enrichment goals.
Visit www.ndss.org to
download the application, or contact Vanessa Quick at vquick@ndss.org or 800-221-4602 with any
questions.
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Stepping Up For USOD
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 Do You Know?
Help us network...with each other. The USOD needs
a technical
"guru"to establish a office computer network connection for staff.
Help
us build or donate shelving to house an
amazing selection of educational and entertaining books and materials for USOD
families. If you are a carpenter or just have a way with wood, we need your
help. |
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Tot'N'Tech Newsletter on AT
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Assistive technology (AT) is anything that helps people do what
they couldn't otherwise do. For young children, it can make daily activities,
family outings, and playtime more fun and educational. It can be as simple as a
foam grip on a crayon. Find many helpful tips in the March issue of the
Tot'n'Tech newsletter from Thomas Jefferson University and Arizona State
University. read on
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Grant Application Deadlines - April 30, 2010
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 USOD Family Grants ProgramFamily Grants are made available to the membership of The Up Side of
Downs to provide financial assistance which directly improves the life
of the individual with Down syndrome. See application & guidelines. (PLEASE GET CONFIRMATION FROM THE OFFICE IF YOU SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY THAT YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED.) 2010 USOD Family Grant ApplicationUSOD Undergraduate Scholarshipfor General Education A renewable academic scholarship of $1,000 for students enrolled in a 4
year college in the state of Ohio and intending to become educators in
the general education classroom. The goal of the scholarship is to
broaden the experiences of pre-service teachers in order to help them
develop an understanding and clarity regarding the educational needs of
individuals with disabilities and their families. 2010 Undergraduate Application The Different Needz Foundation is proud to announce that the 2010 grant
applications are now available. Special needs individuals, families and
organizations that serve the special needs community can apply for
monetary grants to purchase equipment or services. Application |
Latest Issue of Special Needs Parenting On-line Magazine
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 April/May Issue - Click Here |
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My New School - A Workbook to Help Students Transition to a New School
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 Melissa TrautmanEven the slightest change in
routine can be overwhelming for students with autism spectrum disorders, so
imagine how difficult it must be for them to move to a new school. Whether the
move is a typical transition between grade levels, a family move, or for some
other reason, it is a process that for many students creates worry and anxiety.
In
her workbook, My New School: A Workbook to
Help Students Transition to a New School, author Melissa Trautman speaks
directly to students in a very natural and supportive voice. The book takes an
honest and practical approach by first acknowledging the difficulty of moving
to a new school and then giving students tools to make the transition easier.
Through hands-on activities likechecklists and to-do lists, Trautman empowers
students to reduce the fear they associate with transferring to a new school. My
New School is intended for students in upper elementary, middle school and
high school. more info
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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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Pre-Order Amazing Book & Help Raise Funds for USOD
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 I'm Down with You
by Jagatjoti S. Khalsa with Darren Setter
This beautiful book which is a photographic portraiture book and documentary focusing on the
Down syndrome community. Pre-order your signed copy for a
special pre-order price of $19.95 (regularly $29.95) & USOD gets a $5 donation for each copy sold (enter our name at checkout please.)
Go to http://theotherpersonisyou.org/book.html
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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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April is Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month
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 Take a Moment to LearnAmong adults who are developmentally disabled, as many as 83% of the females and 32% of the
males are the victims of sexual assault. fact sheets April is Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month, a
month to create awareness that rape and sexual assault are still prevalent and that change is needed. Every one of us can make a difference by dispelling myths, prevention & advocacy. This is a serious issue that the USOD is addressing in partnership with the CBDD. We are developing a series for both parents and 3-part workshops for pre-teens & teens targeting body health & safety. Additionally we are ordering materials to be made available to parents through SafePlacein Austin, Tx which has wonderful resources specifically for individuals with disabilities, families & providers. Please contact the office if you would like to review the materials or additional information.
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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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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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