EARLY BIRD RATES EXTENDED
UNTIL MARCH 8
WATCH OUR "WORLD IS OURS"
VIDEO PREVIEW BELOW...
EXPERT SESSIONS FOR EVERONE!
Coming of Age in Massachusetts - Geoffrey M. Misilo, Esq. Attorney for the Special Needs Practice Group of Fletcher Tilton, P.C.

Keeping Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome Healthy: All the Medical Updates that Parents Need to Know - Brian Skotko, MD, MPP, Co-Director, Mass General Hospital Down Syndrome Program, Allie Schwartz, MD, Co-Director, Mass General Hospital Down Syndrome Program

Growing Older with Down Syndrome: Health Concerns from Adulthood to Old Age - Julie A. Moran, DO, Consultant, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities/Geriatrics, Tewksbury Hospital and Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services. Clinical Instructor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

A Framework for Inclusion and Universal Design for Learning- Sam Catherine Johnston Ed.D. Research Scientist, CAST

New Parents: Sharing Our Stories - Sarah Cullen, Family Support Director, MDSC, Angela Lombardo, Program Coordinator, Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children's Hospital, Melanie Perkins McLaughlin, Down Syndrome Family Support Group

Could it Be More Than Down Syndrome? Part 1: An Introduction to Ds/ASD - Margaret Froehlke, RN, BSN, Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Down Syndrome-Autism Connection (National), Denver, Colorado; Sarah Hartway, RN, MS, President of the Board of Directors at Down Syndrome-Autism Connection (National), Denver, Colorado; Robin Zaborek, Executive Director at Down Syndrome-Autism Connection (National), Denver, Colorado

Could It Be More Than Down Syndrome? Part 2: A Closer Look at Behaviors Indicating Possible Autism - Margaret Froehlke, RN, BSN, Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Down Syndrome-Autism Connection (National), Denver, Colorado; Sarah Hartway, RN, MS, President of the Board of Directors at Down Syndrome-Autism Connection (National), Denver, Colorado; Robin Zaborek, Executive Director at Down Syndrome-Autism Connection (National), Denver, Colorado

Challenging Naia: Tools for Embracing a Full & Resilient Life - Tierney Temple Fairchild, Ph.D. author and educator, mother of Naia Grace Fairchild, Charlottesville, VA; Naia Grace Fairchild, sophomore at Charlottesville High School, Charlottesville, VA.

Universal Design for Learning: Accessing Age-Relevant Content for Teens with Intellectual Challenges - Peggy Coyne, Ed.D, Research Scientist, CAST, Inc.; Miriam Evans, Ph.D. Associate Research Scientist, CAST, Inc.

The Latest and Greatest Research About Down Syndrome - Brian Skotko, MD, MPP, Co-Director, Mass General Hospital Down Syndrome Program and the MDSC Medical and Scientific Advisory Council

Toilet Trouble: A Stepwise Approach to Potty Training - Leah Cohen RN, MSN, CPNP, Pain and Incontinence Clinic, Boston Children's Hospital

Anything is Possible - Independent Living - Dafna Krouk-Gordon, Founder and President of Toward Independent Living and Learning, Inc.

Grandparents - Sharing and Caring - Mary-Frances Garber, MS, CGC and Regina Kando

What the ABLE Act, Real Lives, and NBC Bills will mean to you... and how advocacy can make a real difference - Maureen Gallagher, M.S., Executive Director, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress; Josh Komyerov, M.A., Communications and Operations Director, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress; John Nadworny, CFP(r), Shepherd Financial Partners; Jane Lane, Government Relations Consultant, Philip Johnston Associates

When It's More than Just Down Syndrome - Neurodevelopment and Co-Occurring Conditions - Nicole T. Baumer, MD, M.Ed, Co-Driector Down Syndrome Program, Boston Children's Hospital; David Stein, PsyD, Co-Driector Down Syndrome Program, Boston Children's Hospital 

Listening to All the Voices at the Table - The IEP Process from Multiple Perspectives and the Implications for a Successful Working Relationship with your Team - Maureen Blazejewski, M.Ed., Education Director, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Educational Consultant, 3-21 Foundation, Cambridge, MA; Laurel Collins M.Ed., Advocate and Consultant, and Parent of a Child with Special Needs; Kerri Tabasky, MDSC member and parent of Anna, age 7, who has Down syndrome

Research 101 - What is a Clinical Trial and Why Participate? - Christianne Sharr, Research Assistant, MGH Down Syndrome Program; Mary Ellen McDonough, RN, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, MGH Down Syndrome Program

Using Sign Language to Increase Communication - Jillian Berlinski, M.Ed., Advanced Signing Time Academy Instructor

Community Supports Make A Big Difference - Mary Castro Summers, Director, Family TIES of Massachusetts

Family Networking Sessions - Facilitated by Sarah Cullen, Family Support Director of the MDSC



 

 
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS TIERNEY & NAIA FAIRCHILD 

For the 31st year, we are proud to host our Annual Conference, bringing together more than 600 self-advocates, parents, grandparents, siblings, educators, and other professionals from across the Northeast to learn from regional and national experts on a spectrum of topics related to Down syndrome.  

Participants also gather to share stories, celebrate victories, advocate for acceptance and inclusion, and reunite with other MDSC families. The conference features presentations that will appeal to families with young children through adulthood; families with children who have complex medical needs and autism; as well as educators, medical professionals, and siblings of individuals with Down syndrome.
 
We hope you will join us on March 28th at the DCU Center to promote acceptance and inclusion and celebrate the Down syndrome community.
Join us for a day of learning and celebration. 
 
 Our conference on Down syndrome is for parents, educators, self advocates, brothers and sisters, and other family members and professionals. 

 
Early bird rates
expire March 8
Submit photos of your loved one for the MDSC's 
'The World Is Ours' Video Slideshow!
email your photo to worldisours@mdsc.org
(image should be at least 100kb and in focus)
 
In 2015, "The World Is Ours". This will be our annual theme throughout next year as we celebrate the true acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome. 

"The World is Ours" means that people with Down syndrome are taking more ownership over all aspects of their lives - education, employment, health care, public policy and recreation. 

And the MDSC is right there with you... making a difference here in the Bay State, but far beyond Mass. borders too.