7 Reasons to Support DSI this season

This is an exciting time for the Down syndrome community in Indiana, and we are inviting you to be a part of it! Listed below are some of our favorite reasons to support DSI. I hope you agree and choose your favorite to financially support this holiday season as well.

SEVEN Reasons to Support to DSI:

1. Individuals with Down syndrome get the chance to go to college. Just like you or I, individuals with Down syndrome desire to be included in their community and to attend college. Thanks to the hard work of the Indiana Postsecondary Education Coalition, this is now possible in Indiana! Down Syndrome Indiana will create a website specifically on postsecondary education in Indiana for individuals with an intellectual disability and host a conference to show Indiana colleges what a successful program looks like and how truly inspiring it is! Click here for more information on this topic.

2. People with Down syndrome are beautiful.Join Down Syndrome Indiana as we partner with Midwest Fashion Week for a week of fashion-related events from March 12th to March 19th to show the entire Midwest how beautiful it is to live in an inclusive community. During this week, rising stars will shine, fashion will have a purpose, and we are definitely going to show off our designer genes! Click here for more information.

3. Approximately 1 out of every 733 babies is born with Down syndrome, making it the most common genetic condition.These parents don’t need you to feel sorry for them! They need resources and support as they raise their beautiful child just as any new parent would! Down Syndrome Indiana provides New Parent Packets that contain indispensible local resources for families that love a child with Down syndrome. Click here for more information.

4. Students with Down syndrome get a better education thanks to advocacy.Down syndrome Indiana provides Educator Toolkits free of charge! This is a rich resource full of books that encourage classroom inclusion and the better education of students with Down syndrome. Click here for more information.

5. The attitude of the father becomes the attitude of the family.Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (D.A.D.S.) exists to assist and support, through fellowship and action, the fathers and families of individuals with Down syndrome. Fathers are challenged to be a better and more involved father and husband, as well as a stronger advocate for his child with Down syndrome. Click here for more information.

6. Down Syndrome Indiana walks the talk.The Buddy Walk® was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to bring together a wide range of concerned individuals to reach out to friends, family, and co-workers to promote awareness and inclusion for people with Down syndrome and to raise funds for education, research, and advocacy programs. The 2011 walk will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at Celebration Plaza in White River State Park, and we want 5,000 participants! Click here for more details.

7. The entire family benefits when parents are involved in programs of support and resource enrichment.Down syndrome Indiana offers a variety of parent support groups across Central Indiana whose purpose is to help strengthen families that love a child with Down syndrome! Click here for more information.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and to dream of a better life for individuals with Down syndrome. Please click here to support Down Syndrome Indiana’s mission.
Dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with Down syndrome


Dr. Schreiner, 2011 Board Chair Lisa Tokarz-Gutierrez, Executive Director

P.S. The above seven options are just a sample of the many valuable programs available through Down syndrome Indiana that support and enhance the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. For more information on these or any of our programs, please visit www.dsindiana.org. Also, please do not hesitate to contact Lisa at lisa@dsindiana.org or call the office at (317) 925-7617.