June 2013 |
|
Happy Father's Day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In honor of all of our terrific Dads out there, here are some "Dad-centric" things we want to bring to your attention this summer!
Dads are almost always the first to ask questions about research. We think it must have something to do with their desire to "fix things" for their loved ones. On  Tuesday, July 9th, from 7 to 8:30 pm EDT, Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation will host an informative webinar called Understanding the Basics of Down Syndrome Research (and how you can help). Don't miss this opportunity to hear from two leading scientists who will discuss what's currently going on in Down syndrome research, what research is possible, what it means for you and your family, and what Dads can do to help! Visit this website for more information and to register for this free webinar!
Dads are also the ones most often asking for information about financial issues: planning for the future, special needs trusts, etc. For everyone attending our convention, there will be workshops on these topics and more. And there are several other opportunities to learn about current research, including a Research Roundtable, which takes place on Thursday, July 18. Hosted by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation,  this entire day will focus on research and medical issues. Visit this website for complete information. To top it all off, there will be a concert that evening, exclusively for attendees of the Research Roundtable. Wondering who the performer is? Well, we can now let you know: it's Colbie Caillat!
And don't forget, if you're coming to the convention and want to attend the Rockies/Cubs game on Sunday, July 21st, it's not too late! This will be an awesome afternoon at one of the nicest ballparks in the country - and you'll get to enjoy the game with more than 500 of your newest friends from the NDSC Convention! Get more information about the game here.
|
|
NDSC Convention: We're Going a Mile High July 19-21
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
Wandering and Summertime Safety
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summer outings, vacations, visiting with friends and neighbors. These relaxing summer activities can be anything but relaxing when you're constantly worried that your family member with Down syndrome will use this opportunity to wander off.
 We really like this article from the National Autism Association, which contains tips to make this a safer summer for you and your family. Check out tip number 8, which says that many wandering incidents occur during family gatherings when caregivers assume someone else is watching their child. Establish a "tag, you're it" strategy and assign one primary supervisor for a certain length of time. Then that person "tags" the next adult. That way everyone knows when they're on or off duty.
|
| 3...2...1...Dance!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each year at our Convention, thousands of people come together to learn, share, connect, celebrate and most definitely, dance!
3...2..1...Dance! promotes the value of individuals with Down syndrome and sends the message that people with Down syndrome truly are "More Alike than Different".
On Friday, July 19th, the Hyatt's Centennial Ballroom will be transformed into a scene from Hollywood! DJ Willpower will rock the house with dance music for the whole family. Attendees can walk the red carpet, pose for a souvenir picture in a photo booth and take advantage of a few other surprises that evening.
As always, our dances are free and open to all of our convention attendees, but 3..2..1..Dance! also gives self-advocates and their families an opportunity to support the NDSC and its mission by setting up a free team fundraising page. The team who raises the most money by July 19th will win a complimentary registration and hotel room for the 2014 convention! Other exciting prizes will be awarded too!
Visit our fundraising page to set up your own team or to contribute to one of the teams already there! Questions? Contact us at info@ndsccenter.org or 800-232-6372.
|
|
Summer and Healthy Eating
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada has a terrific article on eating healthy this summer, and we know there are some tips here that you can incorporate with your family. For example, many of us will recognize this one:
"Some kids prefer the comforts of home - TV, video games...and snacks. Limiting summer's leisure time by encouraging physical activity is an important step in helping your child develop a life-long enjoyment of a variety of active things to do. If you still need to schedule a few hours of down time, implement a "no screen snacking" rule. This will prevent your kids from overeating while distracted by the TV or computer."
|
|
|
And Another Thing or Two...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. While we are very excited about seeing so many of you at our convention next month, we know that not everyone can make the trip. Don't forget, NDSC members can order the audio recordings of all the general convention workshops for just $45.00. Just use our convention registration site to register for the digital audio recordings, available after the convention.
2. And we're here for you all year long! Call or email anytime with your questions or concerns! Our staff and professional advisory council are always willing to help find answers, give advice, locate resources and just plain listen! 800-232-6372; info@ndsccenter.org
|
|
|
|
| Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ phone: 800-232-6372/770-604-9500; email: info@ndsccenter.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
