Down Syndrome Down Syndrome Resource Group of Resource Group of

Western MAWestern MAFamily MeetingFamily Meeting

Wednesday, September 29Wednesday, September 29thth

7:00 PM7:00 PM

2 Resources That 2 Resources That Have Been Helpful Have Been Helpful

To You And Your To You And Your FamilyFamily

2 Resources That 2 Resources That Would Be Helpful to Would Be Helpful to You and Your FamilyYou and Your Family

National Down Syndrome National Down Syndrome CongressCongress

www.ndsccenter.orgThe mission of the National Down Syndrome The mission of the National Down Syndrome

Congress is to provide information, advocacy and Congress is to provide information, advocacy and support concerning all aspects of life for support concerning all aspects of life for

individuals with Down syndrome.individuals with Down syndrome.National Down Syndrome Congress National Down Syndrome Congress

Annual ConferenceAnnual ConferenceAugust 5-7, 2011August 5-7, 2011San Antonio, TxSan Antonio, Tx

National Down Syndrome National Down Syndrome SocietySociety

www.ndss.org

The Mission of the National Down The Mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is to be the National Syndrome Society is to be the National Advocate for the value, acceptance and Advocate for the value, acceptance and

inclusion of people with Down syndrome.inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

*The Buddy Walk is a project of the NDSS**The Buddy Walk is a project of the NDSS*

Massachusetts Down Massachusetts Down Syndrome CongressSyndrome Congress Educators ForumEducators Forum

Thursday, November 18, 2010Thursday, November 18, 20108am-3pm8am-3pm

College of the Holy Cross – Hogan College of the Holy Cross – Hogan Campus CenterCampus Center

(limited partial scholarships available (limited partial scholarships available through the Down Syndrome through the Down Syndrome

Resource Group)Resource Group)For more information ~ www.mdsc.orgFor more information ~ www.mdsc.org

Allen C. Crocker Speaker Allen C. Crocker Speaker SeriesSeries

October 25 2010, 6:30pm - 8:30pm October 25 2010, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Kim Dunn will present on Toilet Training Kim Dunn will present on Toilet Training

The Down Syndrome Program at Children's Hospital will present the The Down Syndrome Program at Children's Hospital will present the Allen C. Crocker Speaker Series on the fourth Monday of each Allen C. Crocker Speaker Series on the fourth Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Enders Auditorium at Children's month from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Enders Auditorium at Children's Hospital in Boston.  Each month, the Down Syndrome Program will Hospital in Boston.  Each month, the Down Syndrome Program will host an expert speaker to lecture on an important and educational host an expert speaker to lecture on an important and educational topic for families.  topic for families. 

For more information, go to For more information, go to http://www.childrenshospital.org/downsyndrome .   All links, .   All links, materials and instructions will be provided on this site! For materials and instructions will be provided on this site! For any questions or inquires, please contact any questions or inquires, please contact

Angela Lombardo Angela Lombardo Down Syndrome Program Coordinator Down Syndrome Program Coordinator Linking Hands Coordinator Linking Hands Coordinator phone - 857-218-4329 phone - 857-218-4329 http://www.childrenshospital.org/downsyndromehttp://www.childrenshospital.org/downsyndrome

The Federation for Children The Federation for Children w/Special Needsw/Special Needs

Parent Consultant Training Institute Parent Consultant Training Institute (Educational Advocacy Training)(Educational Advocacy Training)Western MA Contact – Julie SinclairWestern MA Contact – Julie Sinclair(413) 323-0681 or (866) 323-0681(413) 323-0681 or (866) 323-0681

Learn more about advocating for your child Learn more about advocating for your child inin

the school system with trainings offered by the school system with trainings offered by FCSN.FCSN.

For more information ~ www.fcsn.orgFor more information ~ www.fcsn.org

Massachusetts Families Massachusetts Families Organizing for Change (MFOFC)Organizing for Change (MFOFC)

Family Leadership Series has a two-fold purpose. The first is to offer information about “best practices” for people with disabilities. The second is to assist families in creating a vision for their family member and a process to achieve the vision by incorporating that information.

The Family Leadership Series is organized into three (and in some regions, four), two-day workshops

Food and overnight lodging for each family is paid for by the Department of Developmental Services and other state agencies, organizations and businesses. Respite/child care/nursing for family members is arranged on an as needed basis.

For more information ~ www.mfofc.orgFor more information ~ www.mfofc.org

Massachusetts Developmental Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC)Disabilities Council (MDDC)

Providing opportunities for people with Providing opportunities for people with developmental disabilities and their families developmental disabilities and their families to enhance independence, productivity, to enhance independence, productivity, integration and inclusionintegration and inclusion

Consumer Empowerment FundsConsumer Empowerment Funds Provides grants for individuals with disabilities Provides grants for individuals with disabilities

and/or their family members to attend and/or their family members to attend trainings/conferencestrainings/conferences

For more information ~ www.mass.gov/mddcFor more information ~ www.mass.gov/mddc

Unified Sports ProgramUnified Sports ProgramOpen to all children with and without Open to all children with and without

disabilities. disabilities. Focus is on Social Inclusion Through Focus is on Social Inclusion Through

SportsSports

There is NO COST to Families for most There is NO COST to Families for most activities.activities.

WWW.UNIFIEDSPORTSPROGRAM.COMWWW.UNIFIEDSPORTSPROGRAM.COM

Whole Children, Inc.Whole Children, Inc.www.wholechildren.orgwww.wholechildren.org

Education and Enrichment Education and Enrichment Programs for Children of All Programs for Children of All

AbilitiesAbilities

Fall Programs Starting NowFall Programs Starting NowPrograms for Children ages 3 and Programs for Children ages 3 and

upup

SPECIAL OLYMPICSSPECIAL OLYMPICSwww.specialolympicsma.org/westwww.specialolympicsma.org/west

contact Lisa at bernardara@comcast.net contact Lisa at bernardara@comcast.net for activities in Westfieldfor activities in Westfield

Check the web site for a listing of Check the web site for a listing of activities and contact people for other activities and contact people for other

local cities and townslocal cities and towns

Department of Developmental Department of Developmental ServicesServiceswww.mass.govwww.mass.gov

Click on For Residents tabClick on For Residents tab Click on Disabilities Click on Disabilities On right hand side of the screen towards the bottom On right hand side of the screen towards the bottom

click on Department of Developmental Servicesclick on Department of Developmental Services On the right hand side of the screen towards the On the right hand side of the screen towards the

bottom is a link “Application for Eligibility”bottom is a link “Application for Eligibility”

Family Support is SEVERLY under-funded right now. We all need Family Support is SEVERLY under-funded right now. We all need to make sure the state knows how many families are in need of to make sure the state knows how many families are in need of services, even if they are not providing the services right now.services, even if they are not providing the services right now.

DDS is a resource for emergencies but your child must be DDS is a resource for emergencies but your child must be found eligible to receive any type of support.found eligible to receive any type of support.

MASS HEALTHMASS HEALTH MassHealth StandardMassHealth Standard CommonHealthCommonHealth CommonHealth Premium AssistanceCommonHealth Premium Assistance

Online Application AvailableOnline Application Availablehttp://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/

masshealth/appforms/mbr.pdfmasshealth/appforms/mbr.pdf

Make sure you complete Supplement AMake sure you complete Supplement A

Social SecuritySocial Securitywww.socialsecurity.gov/www.socialsecurity.gov/

applyfordisability/child.htmapplyfordisability/child.htm

BUDDY WALKBUDDY WALKDon’t forget to register your team for the Don’t forget to register your team for the

Buddy Walk!Buddy Walk!Saturday, October 23, 2010Saturday, October 23, 2010

Registration at 10:00am walk begins Registration at 10:00am walk begins promptly at 11:00ampromptly at 11:00am

Stanley Park, Westfield MAStanley Park, Westfield MAGo to www.dssupport.org to register today!Go to www.dssupport.org to register today!

VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDEDVOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED

Down Syndrome Resource Down Syndrome Resource Group of Western MAGroup of Western MA

Scholarships available for Scholarships available for recreational, social and other recreational, social and other activities for individuals with Down activities for individuals with Down syndrome. syndrome.

Please contact Tanya Wheeler at Please contact Tanya Wheeler at tanya_wheeler@verizon.nettanya_wheeler@verizon.net

for more information.for more information.

The DSRG is here for you…The DSRG is here for you… What can we do to support you and your What can we do to support you and your

family? family? What would you like to know more What would you like to know more

about? about? What activities would you like to What activities would you like to

participate in? participate in? What educational offerings do you think What educational offerings do you think

we should sponsor?we should sponsor? Do you have any suggestions for Do you have any suggestions for

speakers or topics you would like to know speakers or topics you would like to know more about?more about?