|
Thanks to our Sponsor
|
If you are not among those superhuman individuals who run the Boston Marathon on Patriots Day, you can still support the MDSC in a more reasonable endeavor.
Run or walk 3.5 miles on Sunday, April 13 in the annual Run4Cole in Clinton, Mass to help Emily LaMarca reach her marathon fundraising goal and enjoy a great family-friendly event. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. This year's race is dedicated to Jeremy Brown, who, along with his dad Stephen braved the chilly temps last year.
The route will start and finish at the Clinton Middle School and will include music by Pat McIntyre, raffles, great friends and FUN!
Emily will be running the Boston Marathon for the 5th year in honor of her 7-year-old son Cole and so many inspiring people who just happen to have Down syndrome.
If you'd like to hold your own community fundraiser in your town, we can help. Contact MDSC Development Associate Becca Canavan at [email protected].
|
Be sure to stop over at Bradbury's Boutique on Elm St. in Braintree on Sunday April 27 from 10-4.
They will be holding a fundraiser with at least 10 percent of sales going to support the MDSC and our programs. Special thanks to owner Pat Bradbury.
If you'd like to hold your own community fundraiser in your town, we can help. Contact MDSC Development Associate Becca Canavan at [email protected].
|
Members Get Thrill at 'Senses' Circus
|
|
|
|
Support our Team MDSC Marathon Runners
In just 10 days, 10 dedicated runners will start their journey in Hopkinton and cross the finish line 26.2 miles later in Boston to make a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome. These runners have spent the last several months working hard to train and generate significant awareness. They need our support and encouragement now and on Marathon Monday April 21!
The MDSC's Champions! theme this year could not be more applicable than it is to our Marathon runners. Some are beginners and have worked tirelessly to prepare for the prestigious Boston Marathon. Some are returning from last year - runners whose chances to complete the race were dashed by the horrific events at the finish line - and are preparing for the many emotions they will encounter along the route.
One runner, Emily LaMarca, is a mom to Cole, who has Down syndrome, and is running on Team MDSC for the 5th year! Another runner, Jim Wagoner, is traveling cross-country from California so that he can push his son and his jogger (more than double his weight). Our runners all have different stories, but they are united by one common passion: to promote acceptance and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
Team MDSC 2014
Ivana Culic
Sharlene Grant
Emily LaMarca
Sarah McKitterick
Josefina Oliva
Kari Olsen
Holly Salegna
Alan Siegel
Andrew Thompson
Jim & Colby Wagoner
Help these Champions reach their goals!
Donate $26.20 to a runner's efforts and MDSC Board members will match your gift between now and April 21. There is no better way to pay tribute to Boston Strong this year than to show your support for our runners by donating to their efforts. Each of them has set a personal fundraising goal and could really use your help so they can achieve and surpass their goal. Donate below.
|
|
Join us at the 118th Boston Marathon April 21st at 12:00pm
Returning runners always say our cheering section is what pushes them to reach that finish line. The MDSC Cheering Section is just before Heartbreak Hill on Commonwealth Avenue opposite Chesterfield Road in West Newton where there is a nice grassy area. See an interactive map here or click image above.
Most of our runners will be arriving at the cheering section between 1pm and 4pm, but we encourage members to arrive no later than noon. The cheering section will be set up earlier if you choose to arrive in the morning. The earlier you go, the easier it will be to find parking and make your way to the cheering section.
We encourage you to take advantage of Public Transportation. Our cheering section is a 15 minute walk from the Woodland Station stop on the Green Line's 'D' Train. An MDSC representative will be present at the cheering section and will have posters for you to decorate, pom-poms, noise-makers, and other items to keep the runners motivated. We encourage spectators to bring blankets and a picnic lunch to enjoy with your friends!
If you and your families are planning to attend to cheer on our runners, please email Becca Canavan at [email protected]. We hope to see you there... We want to have a huge crowd this year!
|
The MDSC recognizes that systemic, large-scale change to benefit people with Down syndrome and their families in Massachusetts, in some respects, must start on Beacon Hill.
That's why we're holding our first-ever Massachusetts Down Syndrome Advocacy Day on Tuesday May 27 at the State House at 11 a.m.
Please join us as we walk the halls to lobby our legislators to pass key legislation, such as the National Background Record Check Bill and Real Lives Bill.
It will be an opportunity to connect with your local legislators, tell your story and make sure they put a face to critical disability bills and line-items. Stay tuned for more information. Registration will open soon.
|
Education Director Demystifies MCAS-Alt in Webinar
Veteran Educator Explains Challenging, Intimidating Topic
At the MDSC, we understand that navigating your child's educational maze is hard, and you need help. That's why we recently launched a Special Education Webinar Series to address challenging topics in the field of disability education.
In the second of our series of Education Webinars, MDSC Education Director Mo Blazejewski took on what can be an intimidating subject for parents: MCAS-Alt: Demystifying the Portfolio.
Blazejewski, a veteran educator with more than 17 years of experience in the field, covers the process that a school-based team goes through in order to create a student's alternate assessment portfolio. She looks at the specific guidelines related to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks (Incorporating the Common Core Standards) and discusses how an assessment portfolio differs from a progress portfolio in the classroom. See the session below.
See here for the archive the first workshop, How to Work Effectively with Your IEP team.
| MCAS-Alt: Demystifying the Portfolio - An MDSC Education Webinar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The MDSC Self-Advocate Advisory Council (SAAC) hosted its first quarterly social for adults at Bentley University on Saturday, April 5th. The event, an evening of dinner and karaoke, was held in collaboration with the Best Buddies Chapter at Bentley University. More than 50 adults with Down syndrome and other disabilities, Bentley college students, and MDSC staff came together for ballads, pop songs, and a group rendition of Neil Diamond's classic Sweet Caroline (see video below). Special thanks to our friend DJ Dan'O for his continued support of our self-advocate programs!
| Sweet Caroline by MDSC Self Advocate Advisory Council (Karaoke rendition) |
|
|
|