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October 25, 2012 | No. 24
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Early Bird Registration for our Annual Educators Forum on Down Syndrome is next Thursday, Oct. 31.
Early birders will save themselves $25 Registration for this 9th annual event at Holy Cross College in Worcester. Register here.
The conference brings together national and international experts on a range of issues related to Down syndrome. It is ideal for general and special educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, related service providers and other education professionals.
The theme this year is 'Designing Classrooms and Programs to Bridge Access to the Common Core Curriculum."
The keynote speaker is Dr. Cheryl Jorgensen, the pioneering researcher, author, inclusive education expert and consultant. Read more about Dr. Jorgensen in our recent MDSC profile. You can also read about speakers Joe Petner and Bill Henderson here.
REGISTER NOW
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Apply Now to Run
'14 Boston Marathon
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'Full Life Ahead' Series Tackles Jobs
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Part-Time Job Opportunity at MDSC
The MDSC has an opening for a part-time Parents First Call Program Family Support Specialist to assist in planning and implementing its signature Parents First Call Program. The 5-hour/week position (including some evenings and weekends) will assist the MDSC on projects and events managed by Family Support Director Sarah Cullen,including the Parents First Call Program, New Family Socials, Diversity Dinners and other MDSC events. The position will be based primarily at the MDSC's Burlington office, with some hours at various event locations. For complete information, including pay and application instructions, go here. |
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MassGeneral Clinical Trial to Evaluate
Study Drug Safety & How It Works in the Body
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AIM: Teen & Young Adult Program
Kicks Off Year with Healthy Theme
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New Family Social on Saturday Nov. 16
The MDSC's New Family Socials continue every other month at our Burlington office. Join us Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m. for our next get-together at 20 Burlington Mall Road, Suite 261, Burlington, Mass.
New Family Socials are an opportunity for parents and other family members to meet other families with children with Down syndrome from birth to 3 years old.
Families share resources, connect with each other and with the MDSC. Siblings and grandparents are always welcome, and light refreshments are served.
"New parents are often a little nervous coming for the first time, but after meeting other families and holding each other's babies, they leave feeling so upbeat and connected!" says Sarah Cullen, the MDSC Family Support Director.
Whether or not you can make the event next Saturday, save the date for our first New Family Social of 2014 on January 11. For complete information on New Family Socials, including a flyer, visit here.
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MDSC Teams Up with The Learning Program on Down Syndrome Early Education Workshops
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Zach and Charli Rothwell with their dad, Bill,
at MAC's
Annual Awards Ceremony
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Zach Rothwell, whose baby sister Charlotte has Down syndrome, and five of his classmates have won a statewide award for Youth Advocates of the Year (YAY!). The teens from Lynnfield Middle School joined forces to launch "Team Respect", a community project highlighting awareness for children to learn more about Down Syndrome. "The truth is that most students know nothing about Down Syndrome," the group states on their Facebook page, dubbed Respectful Awareness. "We six kids got together to help raise awareness and to teach our peers that children with this disability are real people just like us and that they should be treated with respect, kindness and compassion." We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
Earlier this month, Team Respect - made up of Zach and his friends Andrew, Christina, Dominick, Jackie and Maggie (pictured below) - were informed that they won the YAY! Competition, sponsored by Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC). It is given to individuals or youth organizations whose actions have resulted in better outcomes for one or more Massachusetts children or youth. As MDSC Family Support Director Sarah Cullen wrote in her nomination letter, "I believe that the impact that Team Respect made on the other students at Lynnfield Middle School has implications beyond the walls of the school. The increased awareness, respect and acceptance that this project nurtured has strengthened their school community and beyond."
At MAC's Annual Awards Ceremony, Team Respect was presented a check for $1,000 and a plaque, which will be displayed at Lynnfield Middle School. Zach's mom, Denise Rothwell, said she was overjoyed, and she has good reason. "Less than two years ago I was told I was going to have a child with Down syndrome," she said. "Today I stand in awe for it all. I am grateful. Thank you Sarah and thank you MDSC." Check out Team Respect's award-winning Facebook page here.
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Marlborough. Just 
group on a hayride through the fields, and participants and families learned about the different crops including kale, broccoli, tomatoes, and corn. A few adventurous members even helped Farmer Verrill dig potatoes out of the ground (right)!
