MDSC Masthead
UpSide Weekly No. 24
9th Annual Educators Forum - Early Bird Expiring
Apply for 2014 Boston Marathon Team
Employment Workshop next Wednesday
Part-Time Job Opportunity at the MDSC
9th Annual Bruins Alumni Game
MassGeneral Recruiting Study Participants
AIM Kicks off Year
New Family Social Nov. 16
Down Syndrome Early Education Worksops
Sibling Project Wins Statewide Award
October 25, 2012 | No. 24
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Early Bird Deadline Nears for Ed Forum 

 

 

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

 

For complete information, visit our website page

 

Apply Now to Run
'14 Boston Marathon 

 

The MDSC's Boston Marathon Team 2014 application is now available! Learn how you can run the world-renowned Boston Marathon while supporting critical programs and services for people with Down syndrome and their families. 

 

Apply here or contact Becca Canavan at race@mdsc.org or 781-221-0024 ext. 205, for more information on the application process. Visit our Race for MDSC page for additional information. The MDSC is a proud partner of the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program.

'Full Life Ahead' Series Tackles Jobs

  

 

Next Wednesday, Oct. 30, the MDSC continues its Full Life Ahead Series in collaboration with MFOFC with a workshop titled, Employment in the Community ~ Where the Jobs Are. 

 

It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the MDSC Office at 20 Burlington Mall Road, Suite 261, Burlington, Mass. 

 

Speaker David Hoff of the Institute of Community Inclusion (ICI) will discuss what initiatives are happening statewide 
and nationally and what families can do locally to secure employment for their sons and daughters. 

 

Parent panelists will share their stories on strategies that led to real jobs in the community for their young adults. 

  

RSVP to Susan Nadworny. Space is limited. For complete information on the Full Life Ahead series, visit here. 

 

Our Full Life Ahead Series is a collaborative project with Mass. Families Organizing for Change aimed at providing critical information for families with children transitioning to adulthood. 

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. 

 

 


Skate with Past Stanley Cups Champs at our 9th Annual Bruins Alumni Game on Nov. 24 
Joe Campagna - Youngest Player Ever to Play in Boston Bruins Alumni Hockey Game
Joe Campagna - Youngest Player Ever to Play in
MDSC Boston Bruins Alumni Hockey Game
 
On November 24, you could go head-to-head with Bruins legends Terry O'Reilly, Rick Middleton, Bob Sweeney and Ken Hodge.... And you'd be doing it for a good cause, supporting the MDSC and programs for people with Down syndrome. 

 

Apply now to be one of 25 players on the MDSC All-Stars when they face off against Boston Bruins Alumni at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough. Just email [email protected] to learn more. 

 
All players will receive an MDSC All-Star hockey shirt and 25 complimentary tickets for their family and friends to attend the game and an exclusive invitation to attend a reception after the game with the Bruins
 
A fundraising minimum is required and you'll have your own personal fundraising page to make it easy. The top fundraiser on the MDSC All-Star Hockey Team gets to be a Bruin for the day. He/She will get to wear (and keep) an authentic Bruins hockey jersey.

 

APPLY TODAY!

 

You can also bring your whole family to watch the annual grudge match. Free skate beforehand with the Bruins greats, get your photo with Blades the Bear, win raffle or silent auction items perfect for holiday gifts, get autographs and enjoy what is always an action-packed game. 

 

Everyone who registered for the Buddy Walk gets in free! To purchase tickets, go here. Visit our  Boston Bruins Partnership page for more information or email [email protected] with any questions. 

 

 

MassGeneral Clinical Trial to Evaluate
Study Drug Safety & How It Works in the Body   

Dr. Brian Skotko and his research team from the MassGeneral Hospital Down Syndrome Program are starting another study drug trial. In this clinical trial, an investigational medicine, not yet approved for sale by the FDA, will be studied in people with Down syndrome who meet eligibility criteria. 

 

This study drug is hoped to improve the cognitive capacities in some people with Down syndrome. There are a limited number of spots for this clinical trial, and eligible patients are screened in the order in which they contact the research team.  

 

This study is being funded by Elan, the developer of the drug in the upcoming study. The upcoming clinical trial will evaluate the safety of the study drug and how it works in the body. The study will take place over 10 weeks and will include 5 clinic visits. For complete information, including eligibility requirements, go to the Research Opportunities page of our website

 

Note:
The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) is informing you of this research on behalf of MassGeneral Hospital Down Syndrome Program. The MDSC is dedicated to ensuring that all members have information about and access to the latest research opportunities; we review each research proposal for content, ethics, and feasibility before forwarding information to you. At no time does the MDSC sell or share your MDSC member contact information with researchers. The MDSC will not be informed by the researchers about who agrees to participate in this research. Your agreement to participate or not to participate will in no way impact any services, support, or resources that you receive from the MDSC. To read about this and other Research Opportunities, go here
AIM: Teen & Young Adult Program 
Kicks Off Year with Healthy Theme

  

 

The AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program kicked off its year on Saturday, September 28th at Verrill Farm in Concord. Farmer Verrill himself took the 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)!

 

AIM looks forward to meeting up for the first of our regular monthly events at the Newton YMCA on Sunday, November 17th, where we will talk about "What Does Healthy Look Like?" See box below for more details and go here for more information on the AIM: Teen and Young Adult program, including a complete calendar of events and an application. 

 

The AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program is for self-advocates ages 13 to 22. This year's program will include setting goals and learning how to live healthy, full lives. Contact Colleen Endres, Teen and Adult Services Director, at [email protected] or 781-221-0024 x207 with questions.

 

 

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.

 

MDSC Teams Up with The Learning Program on Down Syndrome Early Education Workshops

 

The Learning Program Boston and the MDSC are pleased to offer a 3-part series of Down Syndrome Early Educational Workshops for parents and caregivers of children with Down syndrome between the ages of 3-5 who are just beginning to show an interest in letters and numbers. 

 

Sessions will build upon each other and each will be hands-on and interactive. They will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the MDSC Office at 20 Burlington Mall Road in Burlington, Mass. 

  • Tuesday, October 29: Early Literacy
  • Tuesday, November 19: Early Number Concepts
  • Tuesday, December 10: Effective Learning Sessions

Participants should plan to attend all 3 workshops for an optimal learning experience. The cost is $195 per participant and includes all books, materials & instructional handouts  (A limited number of financial scholarships will be made available) 

 

For more information and to register, please contact Learning Program Director Julie Messina. 

Sibling's Awareness Project Wins Statewide 'Advocate of the Year' Award

 

Zach and Charli Rothwell with their dad, Bill, 
at MAC's 
Annual Awards Ceremony

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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