News for Members and Friends
January 15, 2015
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The 5th Anniversary of our E-Newsletter
Five years ago, we began sending a monthly information-based E-Newsletter to our members. Here's how we introduced it to you in January, 2010:
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Welcome to the NDSC Communicator
When we ask members what they like most about the National Down Syndrome Congress, we get a lot of different answers.
Some say it is providing information and support to new and expectant parents, while others mention advocating for the rights of people with Down syndrome in Washington and leading the effort to improve awareness through the We're More Alike campaign. For some, it's the ongoing struggle to achieve inclusion in education and working to improve opportunities for adult employment. But, on just about everybody's list is the NDSC annual convention.
And, if you've ever attended our convention, you know why. All of a sudden, the maze of issues through which we all have to navigate, the challenges we all have to deal with and the questions we all need answering, become shared concerns, in a very human and helping environment. That's why so many people tell us they leave the convention feeling that their lives have been changed for the better. It's not just what they learned there, it's what they experienced.
We can't duplicate the convention every month, but we can strive to capture some of the real life aspects of it in print, email it to members and supporters and hope it benefits our community.
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We sure hope that each month for the past five years we've helped you in some way, and benefited your family and community. We welcome your input and comments anytime. Please email us at info@ndsccenter.org.
Here's to the next five years!
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Our Convention is June 25 - 28, 2015!
 Since the calendar turned to 2015 two weeks ago, many of you have contacted us about attending our convention this summer in Phoenix. Registration will open for both the convention and rooms in the hotel ( JW Marriott, Desert Ridge) in early March. If you have never attended an NDSC Convention, and need more information, please visit the convention website, watch this video from last year's convention, or give us a call (800-232-6372) so we can help you understand more about it. We have published the fees for attending this year's convention, and encourage you to start planning now! While we work very hard to keep the costs as low as possible, we know many families are unable to attend without financial assistance. Here are some suggestions for local sources of potential scholarships:
- If your child with Down syndrome is receiving early intervention services, there may be training/education funding available. Check with your case manager.
- If your child with Down syndrome is school-aged, there may be funding available from your school district.
- Your state Developmental Disabilities Council may have scholarship dollars set aside for families.
- If your family member has a Medicaid Waiver, it may be permissable to use money for education/training.
- Local civic organizations (Lion's Club, Kiwanis) may be willing to support you and your family.
- And of course, many of our parent group affiliates provide scholarships to their member families in support of our convention.
With Phoenix's proximity to incredible parks, monuments and recreation areas, (the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Red Rock, and Hoover Dam to name a few), and because the convention hotel is a resort/spa destination in itself, you might want to consider making Arizona your family's vacation this summer, and putting our Giant Family Reunion right into the center of it! Award Nominations Each year, the NDSC is proud to present awards to people and organizations  making positive contributions to the Down syndrome community. We welcome nominations from you for this year's awards. Award guidelines: Does the program, publication, individual or organization promote a positive image of people with Down syndrome, accentuating abilities instead of disability? Does it present accurate information? Does it recognize the value of persons with DS? Does it focus on people, not on the condition of Down syndrome? Does it celebrate diversity? Does it use people first language? Does it enhance the dignity of people with DS? Does it avoid stereotyping? For more information, and to submit a nomination, please visit our website. Nominations are due no later than January 30, 2015.
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World Down Syndrome Day: March 21, 2015
 For the 10th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day, and in honor of the 21st anniversary of the "International Year of the Family", this year's WDSD conference at the United Nations will focus on the role of families, and the positive contribution they make toward full and equal rights for people with Down syndrome. Please visit the World Down Syndrome Day website of Down Syndrome International to see the most current information about this day.
In your own communities, we want to promote "Random Acts of Kindness" in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. In collaboration with six other national Down syndrome organizations in the United States (Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action, Global Down Syndrome Foundation, International Down Syndrome Coalition, International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association, Lumind Foundation, National Down Syndrome Society), we have created a toolkit for WDSD 2015 that you can use to share information about Down syndrome with your community, celebrate people with Down syndrome, and spread a little love and kindness in the name of Down syndrome!
It's as easy as 1-2-3-4! - On March 21st, wear a t-shirt that says something about Down syndrome. (Your NDSC Convention t-shirt is a great option!)
- Choose an act of kindness, like taking cookies to a fire station, or checking in on an elderly neighbor. (We have a list of suggestions to help get you started!)
- Print a WDSD postcard (like the one above) and give it out or place it with your Random Act.
- Take pictures of the random act and post on your social media pages with the hashtag #WDSD15.
We'll have people on the receiving end of our kindness, and the whole world watching on Facebook and Twitter. Let's make this the biggest, best World Down Syndrome Day yet!
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Welcome Ricki Sabia as Senior Education Policy Advisor
 We are pleased to welcome Ricki Sabia as our Senior Education Policy Advisor, working closely with NDSC's Governmental Affairs Director Susan Goodman, in Washington, D.C.
Ricki has long been known as an expert in the field of education policy for students with disabilities, and is noted for her advocacy in the area of universal design for learning. Many of our members will know Ricki from her work at the NDSS Policy Center for more than ten years. Right off the bat, she will be working on the re-authorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and will work on other education policy issues as they arise.
Ricki and her husband are the parents of two sons, including Steve, who is 22 and has Down syndrome. Ricki's email address is ricki@ndsccenter.org. You'll have an opportunity to meet her at our convention this June in Phoenix, where she will be a speaker.
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Leadership Conference for Affiliates 
Are you the leader of a Down syndrome affiliate parent organization? Don't miss your opportunity to attend the DSAIA conference in Las Vegas, March 6 - 8. Conference registration includes the following: * All conference sessions, including breakouts and general/keynote presentations * Invitation to Thursday night Opening Reception * Breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday * Lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday * Afternoon snack on Friday and Saturday * Invitation to Saturday night networking event * All conference related materials including tote bag and swag For more information, visit the DSAIA Conference website.
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Your Homework for January:
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| NDSC: Your community for lifetime support. |
National Down Syndrome Congress
30 Mansell Court, Suite 108
Roswell, GA 30076
800-232-6372; 770-604-9500
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Fax: 770-604-9898| Email: info@ndsccenter.org | Website: www.ndsccenter.org Copyright � 2014. All Rights Reserved. |
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