10 Spots Left for Race in Falmouth: Apply Now!
MDSC Team numbers are going fast for the Falmouth Road Race with only 10 numbers remaining. Don't miss out on this opportunity to run for the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress along a pristine 7-mile stretch of Cape Cod coastline on August 11.
If you interested in having fun, running and fundraising, join the cause and make a difference in the lives of people with Down Syndrome.
Go here for an application. For more information email MDSC Executive Assistant Jacquie Sherman at [email protected].
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New Parent Social Tomorrow at MDSC Office
Bring your whole family to an informal New Parent Social this Saturday from 10am - Noon at the MDSC Office.
Grandparents, siblings, a friend... all are welcome. A light breakfast will be provided. It promises to be a great opportunity to share resources and meet new friends!
RSVP requested to Family Support Director Sarah Cullen. Hope to see you there!
Click here for a flyer with more information
and upcoming dates.
| A short clip of a recent New Parent Social |
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MDSC Seeking Summer
Parents First Call Intern
The MDSC is looking for a Parents First Call Intern to join our team for the summer, and learn skills that will serve him/her well going forward.
The 13-hour/week position will help the MDSC achieve our mission by helping with a variety of tasks, including designing and updating First Call program materials, developing a Grandparents Welcome Package, conducting outreach with health care providers and building partnerships with them, expanding our Diversity Outreach program and other projects.
See here for complete description.
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Save the Date: June 7 for Annual CJs Spring Swing
Every year since 2004, Sandra, Sean and CJ Buckley (pictured) have hosted a golf tournament and auction that raises much-needed funds to support programs and individuals dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with Down syndrome.
The MDSC is proud to be one of those organizations. This year, join the Buckleys and support these organizations on June 7 for the 9th Annual CJ's Spring Swing. It will be held at the New England Country Club in Bellingham, Mass.
For more information, contact the Buckleys at
[email protected].
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Tee Off for D.A.D.S. on June 24 in Easton
The Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (D.A.D.S) 4th annual golf outing on Monday, June 24, at Easton Country Club, in Easton, Ma. This event is the organization's biggest fundraiser of the year. See here to apply and for additional information and sponsorship opportunities..
Also, don't forget D.A.D.S.'s annual Family Outing at Kimball Farm in Westford on Sunday June 16.
D.A.D.S, a proud affiliate of the MDSC, will have its own tent for the more than 300 anticipated attendees.
Contact Jeff Roback at 339-788-1460 or [email protected].
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Thyroid Dysfunction Study for Infants with Ds
The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at the UMASS Memorial Children's Medical Center is conducting a research study to determine whether infants with Down syndrome need to be screened at more frequent intervals during the first year of life for thyroid disorders.
Thyroid hormone is critical for brain development in the first three years of life. Early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders in all infants can optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study involves screening for thyroid disorders with a heel stick blood sample at 2 and 4 weeks of age and monthly thereafter for the first 12 months of life. If your infant is diagnosed with a thyroid disorder then treatment will be started promptly.
Criteria: Full-term newborn with Down syndrome less than 2 weeks old.
If you are interested in learning more about this study, please call Karen Cullen, BSN CDE or Penny Feldman, M.D. at 774-443-8874.
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Complex Needs Group Gets Relaxed & 'Mindful'
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Derik Newton and Dr. Emily Davidson
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The MDSC/Boston Children's Hospital Complex Needs Group met for the third time last weekend, and it was a calming affair.
The meeting started with a discussion about what people do to relax and take care of themselves as well as the barriers that make getting relaxed difficult. Then, Dr. Emily Davidson, director of the Children's Hospital Down Syndrome Program and a Registered Yoga Teacher, led the group in a mindfulness activity - chair yoga and meditation.
Throughout the morning there were opportunities to unwind with a massage from special guest Derik Newton, a graduate of the Cortiva Institute, and a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association with expertise in Myofascial therapy and Reiki. Derik sees clients at South Boston Yoga and the Canton Pilates Studio. Learn more at www.deriklmt.com
Afterwards, one mom wrote that she "enjoyed every minute and appreciated the opportunity to connect with other people like myself."
The MDSC/Boston Children's Hospital Complex Needs Group meets quarterly alternating between the hospital location and the MDSC offices.
| Group 'Tree Pose" |
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Call Your Senator to Support the MDSC
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3 Buddy Walks in 2013: Wakefield, Cape, & Central MA. Join Us at One or All Three
For the first time in 2013, the MDSC is hosting three Buddy Walks across the state to bring families together, create awareness and with an unprecedented scope. We are incredibly excited about the expansion of our Buddy Walk Program this year to include a Central Mass event. Each of our Buddy Walks has a unique feel that captures the character of its surroundings.
3rd Buddy Walk by the Sea - July 27
Once again, our Buddy Walk by the Sea rolls into Falmouth Marine Park over the summer, raising awareness across the Cape, Islands and South Shore and raising funds for critical MDSC programs. Last year we welcomed more than 250 people. This year promises to be bigger and better, as we go "overboard" with our Pirate theme. The Toe Jam Puppet Band will kick off the festivities. Sing along to 'Pirates Arrr Funky', dance pirate jigs, and meet mermaids! And our Self-Advocate Ambassadors will return to the stage.
1st Buddy Walk & Harvest Fair - Sept. 22
Our first ever Buddy Walk & Harvest Fair in Central Massachusetts will be held September 22 at the beautiful River Bend Farm in Uxbridge. We expect to bring more than 500 individuals with Down syndrome, families, and friends together for an early autumn celebration. We will have children's entertainment, games and refreshments, culminating with an early autumn 1-mile stroll around the grounds. Funds raised will support all MDSC programs advocating for full, meaningful lives for individuals with Down syndrome across the state.
REGISTER NOW!
17th Buddy Walk & Family Festival - Oct. 13
For 16 years, it was known as the Buddy Walk & Family Picnic. It has always been our biggest annual awareness event and fundraiser. In fact, given the "festival" atmosphere and the variety of entertainment offerings - live performances, face-painting, music-making, climbing trucks, etc.- that it now boasts, we have decided to more accurately call it our the Buddy Walk & Family Festival.
This year, we are launching a new lunch program to give you more control and variety in the food offerings. We are also thrilled to welcome back to our Buddy Walk stage in 2013 Rachel Coleman of "Signing Time!", the television program that teaches children basic American Sign Language in a fun, engaging way.
About the Buddy Walk Program
The Buddy Walk� was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk has grown from 17 walks in 1995 to nearly 300 walks planned for 2013 worldwide. In 2012, more than $11.5 million was raised nationwide to benefit local programs and services, as well as the national advocacy and public awareness initiatives of NDSS that benefit all individuals with Down syndrome. The MDSC Buddy Walk Program is New England's largest public awareness platform to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
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Membership Survey Needs Your Input
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EXCLUSIVE: Videos by World-Renowned Education Experts Can Change Lives
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MDSC Staff & Mom Share Expertise with New England Regional Genetics Group
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2nd Annual Rock'N'Dock Festival Features Record-Breaking Canines
At the end of May/beginning of June, Patriot Place in Foxboro will be jumping with dogs - literally. That's when the 2nd Annual "Jumping Up for Down Syndrome" Festival, organized by Dave Skoletsky of Go Team 21, comes to town.
Three world-record holding dogs will perform, including Dave's own Yeager (below), the canine world-record holder for vertical leap, all to raise funds and awareness for Down syndrome (Dave's daughter Eve has Down syndrome). You may remember them from an unbelievable performance last October during our Buddy Walk.
The first night features a Down syndrome benefit concert featuring Nashville recording artist,five-time Boston Music Awards Best Folk Artist, singer/songwriter Lori McKenna. See here for more information.
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A.I.M.: Not Ready for Summer Yet!
The Advocates in Motion program (A.I.M) invites you to join us at one or all of these fun events before we break for the summer! Please direct RSVPs and questions to [email protected].
This Sunday, May 19
AIM @ West Suburban YMCA
276 Church St, Newton Corner
12:30-3:30pm
As summer approaches, are you thinking about job and volunteer opportunities? We will go over some basic steps of the job process- from brainstorming about jobs of interest to you, to putting a resume together, to the interview. We will also have a visit from a music therapist, so get ready to rock as we try out different instruments!
Sunday, June 2
Paint with AIM at the Urban Art Bar
163 Old Colony Ave, Boston
3-6pm
RSVP by May 24 to [email protected]
Join us for an afternoon of painting and socializing at the Urban Art Bar (www.theurbanartbar.com). Artists will lead us through the process of creating our own work of art step-by-step. Paint brushes, canvas, paint, an apron- all the supplies you need to create a masterpiece are included! No experience required- just be ready to have fun! FREE for registered AIM participants. Parents/friends are welcome to participate at the cost of $20.
Thursday, June 13
Trip to Google Cambridge
3 Cambridge Center, Cambridge
4-6pm
Space is limited. Email [email protected] if you are interested.
Spend 1-on-1 time with a Google employee to learn about all of the things you can do using Google.com, get a brief overview of online safety tips, and tour the awesome Google offices!
Sunday, June 23
AIM End of Year Party!
Town Line Ten Pin, Malden
1-3pm
RSVP by June 14 to [email protected]
We hope you can join us for a celebration before we break for the summer! We will have lunch, bowling, and an awards ceremony. Parents, siblings, and friends are welcome- the more, the merrier!
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Calling for Your Education/Inclusion Photos for our Educator's Manual
The MDSC Education Task Force is looking for pictures of elementary school children (grades K-6) with Down syndrome to include in our first Educators' Manual. The Task Force has been working on the comprehensive Educator's Manual for more than two years, and now it is almost ready to go to print..... except we need more photos!
The Manual includes best practices to guide educators in making the accommodations and adaptations necessary to best teach students with Down syndrome.
Your pictures of your loved ones learning will bring the manual to life. Please complete this photo release form for each individual pictured (including your own child, other children, classmates or educators).
Here are some ideas of what your child might be doing: reading, writing, working with math problems, at the computer, using an augmentative device, signing, working in a small group, listening to a story, talking to friends, at their kindergarten graduation, doing a presentation, getting on the bus, eating lunch with friends, attending a school assembly, participating in an after-school/extra-curricular event, working on an art project, in music class, on the school playground, in gym class.
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