Friday, October 29, 2010

SEVEN Reasons to Support DSI

I Support Down Syndrome Indiana because:

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 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!

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!!!!

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.

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

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.

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!

7. The entire family benefits when parents are involved in programs of support and resource enrichment… Down syndrome Indiana offers 10 different parent support groups across Central Indiana whose purpose is to help strengthen families that love a child with Down syndrome!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The "R" Word is officially politically incorrect!

Happy Down syndrome Awareness month! How are you celebrating? Well, the US Congress and President Barack Obama have given us a very special gift to help us celebrate! The President signed Rosa’s Law! This law will remove the terms, “mentally retarded” and “mental retardation” from federal education, health and labor laws and replace it with the term, “intellectual disability”.

Who is Rosa?

Did you know that this happened because of Rosa Marcellino, a nine year old girl with Down syndrome who lives in Maryland? Inspired by Rosa, Senator Mikulski promised that if the State of Maryland passed this law she would take it to the floor of the US Senate; and she did!

What about Indiana?

Thanks to the leadership and foresight of the Arc of Indiana and Self Advocates of Indiana when they were asked this same question, Kim Dodson, Associate Executive Director of the Arc of Indiana said this, “ A few years ago, we did do a … clean up that removed “mr” in as many places as we could and shifted things to person first language."

Down syndrome Indiana is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and we are ever so grateful to everyone else that is dedicated to this mission as well!

Happy Down syndrome Awareness month!