32nd Annual "Believe" Conference

April 8, 2016 | No. 46

Record number of Self Advocates to Lobby in Washington, D.C.

For the 7th consecutive year, the MDSC will send a delegation of advocates to Washington D.C. to lobby for good public policy at the NDSS Buddy Walk on Washington next week.

This year, more self advocates than ever will be among our 16 MDSC representatives. The seven self advocates include John Anton of Haverhill, Kate Bartlett of Arlington, Brian Heffernan of Newton, Donna Jay of Salem, Chris May of Newton, Ned Reichenbach of West Newton,

and Tara Toussaint of Salem. Having a strong representation of self advocates is critical to the success of our lobbying efforts. Legislators appreciate hearing directly from the people in their districts affected most by their funding and policy decisions - and who have the power to vote them out of office if they are not responsive.

While there, our team of advocates will fan an out across Capitol Hill to personally meet with the Bay State's 11 congressional leaders and advocate for key policies to enhance the lives of people with Down syndrome.

Other MDSC advocates will include Fran Hogan of Haverhill, Shey Jaboin of Salem, Patricia Jennings of South Boston, Arthur McLaughlin of Hanson and his daughter Christine Chesarek, Laura Noble of Winchester and MDSC staff members Colleen Endres, Maureen Gallagher, Jacquie Sherman and Kristen Tenglin.

Our team is tasked with establishing and building relationships with policy makers, connecting with other Down syndrome advocates from around the country, and educating elected officials about the strengths and needs of their constituents with Down syndrome.

To learn more about the MDSC's advocacy efforts in Massachusetts or nationally, visit here.

Get Involved on MDSC Committee/Task Force

The MDSC has become one of the strongest Down syndrome organizations in the country because so many of our dedicated parents, professionals, self-advocates and others are involved in helping us to achieve our mission.

You, too, can get involved in so many ways. It takes all of us working together to make the most impact possible.

Join a Committee

Consider joining one of our many Committees or Advisory Councils:

Government Affairs Committee
Public Awareness Committee
AIM Advisory Council
First Call Advisory Council
Medical & Scientific Advisory Council
Buddy Walk Committee
Hockey Game Committee
Education Task Force
Business Advisory Council
Diversity Task Force

Go here for more information about each of these opportunities to become involved in a meaningful way to drive our mission and promote the acceptance and inclusion of all individuals with Down syndrome in Massachusetts and beyond.

Other Ways to Be an Active MDSCer

Host a community fundraiser
Volunteer at one of our many events
Participate in our self advocate internship or SAAC opportunities
Attend one of our many events or programs
Engage with us and the greater Down syndrome community on our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or LinkedIn pages

Other Upcoming MDSC Events

April 11

TRUSTEES & GUARDIANS - FULL LIFE AHEAD SERIES

The MDSC, Riverside Community Care and Mass Families Organizing for Change present the latest in our Full Life Ahead Workshop series. Picture this...You have just won an all-expenses paid vacation to the Caribbean and you leave tomorrow. Would you have plan of who could step in and care for your loved one, so you could go away? A Team to Carry On will outline the roles and responsibilities of trustees and guardians to help identify the right people to care for and make decisions on your behalf of your child while you are away, whether it's for long or short term. Presenters: John Nadworny, CFP and Alex Nadworny, CFP - Special Needs Financial Planning. Complete information here.

May 11

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES AND TRANSITIONING

The MDSC and Boston Children's DS Program are excited to co-host "Financial Strategies and Transitioning" presentation with experts from the River Financial Group (www.riverfg.com) on May 11 at 6:30pm. This will take place at the Waltham location of Boston Children's Hospital! Please RSVP to Sarah Cullen at scullen@mdsc.org or 781-221-0024 ext. 206. See flyer here.

June 19

CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY WITH DADS AT KIMBALL FARM

Celebrate Father's Day with Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (D.A.D.S.) at Kimball Farm in Westford. Gather with dozens of DADS/MDSC families for a day that includes a full lunch, ice cream buffet, 2 bumper boat rides, an $8 of arcade games, large bucket of balls for golf driving range, and unlimited use of two 18-hole mini golf courses. Plus lawn games such as sand volleyball, horseshoe and tug of war pits, ring and bean bag toss, Frisbees, and - back by popular demand - a Dunk Tank! Animal Adventure Pass, batting cages and executive golf course available for additional cost. Go here for complete information. DADS is a proud affiliate of the MDSC.

Registration Open for Annual Advocacy Day

Registration is now open for the MDSC's 3rd Annual Advocacy Day at the State House on Beacon Hill on May 18.

We need your help to raise awareness with your legislators about our two new priority bills as well as critical funding needs. Please join us to make a difference for our new priority bills, other bills on our platform and other disability line items on our legislative platform.

The MDSC has established itself in recent years as a major player in state disability policy, leading the charge or lending a critical hand to pass key legislation including:

Prenatal Testing Bill
Real Lives Bill
National Background Check Bill

We'll be advocating for our top priority bills as well as specific line items in the state budget that will increase services/resources for individuals with Down syndrome.

This session, our top priority bills in Massachusetts are:

H. 3271 - An Act Concerning Nondiscrimination in Organ Transplantation, sponsored by Representative James Cantwell, which will prevent discrimination against anyone with an intellectual or developmental disability in need of an organ transplant.
H. 4040 and S. 2157 (Formerly H.1064/S. 672) - An Act Creating Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and other Developmental Disabilities, sponsored by Rep. Tom Sannicandro and Sen. Barbara L'Italien, which will bolster Massachusetts' Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (ICEI) to give 18-to 22-year-old students with disabilities higher education opportunities in an inclusive college setting with necessary services and supports.

Our Advocacy Day has been central to bringing our priority bills to the attention of State House leaders and garnering their support. Like the past two years, hundreds of members and supporters of the Down syndrome community will gather on Beacon Hill for a rally and luncheon reception followed by individual meetings with state legislators.

Stay Tuned for our Legislative Update that will share more details.

For the 32nd year, on March 19, more than 500 self-advocates, parents, grandparents, siblings, educators, and other professionals f

rom across the Northeast came together to learn from an impressive lineup of regional and national experts on a wide range of cutting edge topics related to people with Down syndrome across the lifespan.

The theme of our conference, at the DCU Center in Worcester, couldn't have been more perfect - BELIEVE! As Executive Director Maureen Gallagher said in her opening remarks, "the concept of believing relates to virtually everything we do." Indeed, at the end of a day marked by inspiration, education and connection, it was easy to BELIEVE that our community could do virtually anything we set our minds to.

Here were some of the highlights of the day:

New Mexico restaurant owner Tim Harris' keynote speech, in which he got everyone in the audience shouting "Oh Yeah!"
MDSC Self Advocates taking to to the stage to expound on Tim's 7 tips for leading an awesome life
Presentation of MDSC Annual Awards (see below)
Presentation of the 2015 Annual Report at our pre-conference annual meeting
Thanking outgoing board members Louise Borke, Israel Ruiz and Jann Sheehy for their invaluable contributions
Inaugurating and welcoming new board members Heather Hegedus of Westwood, Richard Downey of Melrose and Ann Kelly of Lexington
Special gatherings of grandparents, new families and families of diverse backgrounds
"Believe" Slideshow (below) featuring your photos and our "Believe" Wall featuring your hopes and dreams for the future of your loved ones and our community.

Finally, we couldn't have had a successful conference without your participation and the participation of all our exhibitors and sponsors (see below). A special thanks as well to our amazing volunteer photographers Kat Newland, Geof Simons and Laura Kilgus. Their photos are all available on our Facebook page.

Whether you were there or not, you can see the entire luncheon program, including Tim's keynote and award presentations on our YouTube playlist.

Thank you to you everyone for believing in our community and our organization.

32nd Annual Believe Conference

Awards ceremony honors Down syndrome champions, from educators to employers

As we do every year at our Annual Conference, the MDSC honored advocates in a range of fields for their work advancing opportunities for people with Down syndrome and support the MDSC mission.

This year included the addition of a brand new award - Employer of the Year - in the wake of the launch of our Your Next Star employment campaign. Each of these award winners represent the very best of our community:

Allen Crocker Award of Excellence: Melanie Perkins McLaughlin - filmmaker, Parents First Call volunteer, activist (pictured above with Board chair Steve Narey and vice chair Jud DeCew) Video
Employer of the Year: Market Basket President Arthur T. Demoulas (award accepted by Tewksb ury store managers Gary Sessa and Dan Riley, pictured below with employee Philip Donahue) Video
Media Award: Fox25 News anchor Heather Hegedus (pictured with keynote speaker Tim Harris) Video
Educator of the Year Award: Julie Messina, founder of 3-21 Foundation Video
Leadership Award: Suzanne Peyton of Operation House Call and economics expert John Campbell (pictured with their son Graham) Video
Leadership Award: Gillian & Fran Callaghan, longtime advocates and supporters Introduction

Running for Down Syndrome

Team MDSC Marathon Runners Need Your Support

120th Boston Marathon

We are proud to once again participate in the historic Boston Marathon as part of the John Hancock Non-Profit Marathon Program. Team MDSC, made up of seven remarkable individuals, will embark from Hopkinton on April 18 for the 120th Boston Marathon. They will travel an incredible 26 miles by foot, all to raise awareness and funds for our loved ones with Down syndrome.

Their efforts help the MDSC continue to grow critical programs like Advocates in Motion, Parents First Call, Public Policy initiatives, the Self-Advocate Advisory Council, the Allen Crocker Self-Advocate Internship, Medical Provider outreach, Public Awareness Campaigns, and our Educator's Forum and Annual Conference.

Each of our 7 runners (plus one honorary team member), has set a personal fundraising goal. They need your help to achieve and surpass their goal by race day. Each of these champions have their own personal stories, which you can read here, but they are united by one common passion: to promote acceptance and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities.

Our team includes Holly Pennell, Tracey Constantino, Andrew Thompson, Stephanie Chiles, Angel Boisvert, Arie Bram and Meaghan Melly. Returning runners always say our cheering section, on Commonwealth Ave. in West Newton, just before Heartbreak Hill, is what pushes them to reach that finish line. See here for MDSC Cheering Section details. We hope you will join us.

Whether you can cheer our runners on in person or make a donation, we hope you can support them as they make a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome. Go Team MDSC!

Falmouth Road Race

Apply Now to run the 44th New Balance Falmouth Road Race on August 21... and support people with Down syndrome. Only 20 spots remain!

Now is your chance to run this amazing 7-mile course along the pristine Cape Cod coastline. Join the cause for a fun day on the Cape that will make a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families.

For more information email MDSC Executive Assistant Jacquie Sherman at race@mdsc.org. Please note that as a participant in the Numbers for Non-Profits program, all MDSC runners use a personal webpage we set up for you to share your story and garner support to reach the $1,200 goal by race day.

As a registered team member, you are guaranteed an official number in the race, a special MDSC running singlet, an invitation to join us at our pre-race luncheon on the weekend of the race in Falmouth and much more. We also send you some quick and effective tips to raise awareness and funds. Help us make all the work we do at the MDSC possible!

Race for Awareness

If you have another event on your personal "must do" list - be it a marathon, triathlon, swim or bicycle race - you, too, can help the MDSC. Whether the event takes place in Massachusetts, Maine or Mexico, the MDSC will help you directly translate your physical exertion into critical funds and public awareness for Down syndrome.

Whatever your endurance event, we will set you up with your own personal fundraising page and provide you with a MDSC singlet. To apply or if you have questions, email us at race@mdsc.org. Let the mission of the MDSC be a source of inspiration as you train. When crossing the finish line means having made a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome, it never felt so good.

20 Years of Buddy Walks....Start Your Team Today!

Registration Open for 20th Wakefield Walk

Registration is now open for our Buddy Walk & Family Festival on Oct. 9, 2016 at Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield.

The biggest our three Buddy Walks and the largest Down syndrome awareness event in New England, the Buddy Walk & Family Festival celebrates its 20th year this year!

The event welcomes 3,500 individuals with Down syndrome, their family members, friends, neighbors, teachers and others for a day to raise awareness and critical funds to MDSC programming. Stay tuned for more information on entertainment and event festivities!

Cape and Central Mass. Walks at New Locations

We are excited to announce that both of our other walks will be held at new locations this year!

Our 6th Annual Buddy Walk by the Sea, serving Southeast Mass., Cape Cod and the Islands, will be held at the Village Green in Hyannis on July 31.

Our 4th Annual Buddy Walk & Harvest Fair, serving Central Mass., will be held at Lake Chauncy in Westborough.

Stay tuned for registration opening for both these events!

Parents First Call Program Events

May 14

COMPLEX NEEDS GROUP

Join our Families of Children with Down Syndrome and Other Health Care needs group on May 14 in Waltham, where Speech Language Pathologists from the Beverly School for the Deaf/The Children's Center will present on "Communications Options". Help us learn about your needs, network with other

families, share resources, and meet staff from both MDSC and the Children's Hospital Down Syndrome Program. Go here for complete information.

June 4

NEW FAMILY SOCIALS

Siblings and Grandparents invited as well! Families of children with Down syndrome three years old and younger, as well as expectant families, are warmly invited to join MDSC staff and other new families for an informal get-together with light refreshments on Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the MDSC offices conference room. Come meet other families and learn more about MDSC and helpful resources. Go here for complete information and future dates.

May 7

NICU SHARING GROUP FOR MOMS WITH EXTENDED NICU STAYS

Confidential, supportive, facilitated Moms Sharing Group just for MDSC moms whose babies were in the NICU for an extended period of time. Facilitated by Mary-Frances Garber, MS, CGC, owner of supportive counseling practice, and Peg Ricardo, MDSC mom to Thomas, who was born at 33 weeks and spent 8 weeks in the NICU. See here for more details...

Teen & Adult Program Upcoming Events

April 23 (first of four)

FINANCIAL LITERACY SERIES

Calling all teens and adults! Would you like to learn more about money? We hope you can join us and friends from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for a 4-session series this spring! We'll learn about counting coins and dollars, shopping for groceries given a set budget, ways to earn money, developing a plan for your money (bank accounts, piggy banks), and understanding needs v. wants. Contact Colleen Endres to learn more or RSVP- cendres@mdsc.org, 781-221-0024 x207. Go here for complete information

April 30

AIM HOSTS BINGO NIGHT

Any BINGO fans out there?! AIM is hosting a Bingo night (with prizes, music, crafts, other games and refreshments) for teens and young adults, ages 13-22, on Saturday, April 30th from 6:30-8:30pm in Waltham. Contact Colleen (cendres@mdsc.org) to learn more or RSVP! Go here for complete information.

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ADVOCATES IN MOTION

All 13-22 year olds with Down syndrome are invited to join the AIM program so they can attend one or more of these events. Some of these activities have limited enrollment, so email now to join the AIM program.

SELF ADVOCATE ADVISORY COUNCIL

The SAAC advises the MDSC on issues of importance to young adults and adults with Down syndrome, plans events for adults (including SAAC quarterly socials and workshops) and participates in other MDSC programs.

For more information about AIM or SAAC, contact Colleen Endres, MDSC Teen and Adult Services Director, at cendres@mdsc.org or 781-221-0024 x207.

THANKS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR PHOTOS... AND BELIEVING!

INFORMATION	PARTICIPATE	SUPPORT US	RESOURCES
About the MDSC	Attend an Event	Donate Now	New Parents
About Down Syndrome	Host a Fundraiser	Memorial/ Tribute Gifts	Expectant Parents
Programs	Advocate	Corporate Partnerships	Support Groups
Legislative Platform	Stay Connected	Sponsorships	Educators
	Volunteer	Circle of Giving Society	Self-Advocates