Wednesday, March 21, 2012

World Down Syndrome Awareness Day!

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day!

A huge thank you to everyone that came out to celebrate Disability Awareness Month and World Down Syndrome Awareness Day with us during Midwest Fashion week last week! I would especially like to thank our models from Down Syndrome Indiana that participated in the March 17th, “Design for Change” Gala this weekend. They are:

• Mickey Deputy,
• Chloe Hipkiss,
• Christine Ruddy
• Andrea Scott,
• Katie Shaw,
• Tommy Sliva!!

What does being a part of an inclusive event mean to individuals with Down syndrome? Well, I asked Self Advocate Jessica Green and here is what she had to say:

"LAST YEAR I WAS A MODEL FOR THE SHOW AND IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. I ENJOY AND LOVE THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING NEW THINGS AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT WHEN SOMEONE GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHAT I CAN DO.

SINCE I WAS A BABY AND A VERY LITTLE GIRL MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME TO TRY NEW THINGS, TO NEVER GIVE UP AND JUST DO THE VERY BEST THAT I CAN DO. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH UNTIL YOU TRY.

I GRADUATED FROM NORTH CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN WENT ON TO ATTEND MARION UNIVERSITY HERE IN INDIANAPOLIS. I HAVE A JOB AND VOLUNTEER FOR DSI AND THE HAMILTON COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY. I LIVE IN MY OWN APARTMENT, I PAY TAXES, AND VOTE LIKE EVERY OTHER CITIZEN.

I AM PROUD OF MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS BUT I AM ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT MY LIFE WHO HAVE HELPED AND SUPPORTED ME ALONG THE WAY.”

Well Said Jessica!

Save-the-Date! Beginning next year, the event will take place on World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, March 21st! Next year’s committee is forming. If you are interested in serving on the 2013 planning committee, please let Lisa Wells know at lisa@dsindiana.org!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Tracking Devices?

Do you Know of any Tracking Devices?

Project Lifesaver

With over 20 Police and fire departments in the Indianapolis area participating, citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes. Recovery times for PLI clients average 30 minutes — 95% less time than standard operations.

Contact Indianapolis Project Lifesaver at 317-714- 5637 for more information.

Amber Alert GPS

Amber Alert GPS, has developed a child safety device that allows you to always know where your child is. The Amber Alert GPS V3 comes with an SOS button and a parent friendly tracking portal where you can set zones around your home, school or any you like and receive alerts when they enter or exit a zone. You can also check the history of the device to see where it’s been. For more information, visit this link: http://www.amberalertgps.com/.

The Riley Safety Store

The Riley Safety Store, launched in 2005, was the first children’s hospital-based Safety Store in the nation to serve families of all children, including children with disabilities or special health care needs, and offers families, staff and the general public access to injury prevention education and a broad inventory of low-cost or free child safety products. Research, field testing, surveys, data review and suggestions from families and Riley Hospital for Children staff help guide the selection of safety products and offering of education, information and safety products needed to prepare for safe escape from fires, disasters or other emergencies.

The Riley Safety Store operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information please visit RileyHospital.org, call 317-944-6565 or 1-888-365-2022 (toll free) or e-mail kids1st@iupui.edu.

loc8u

What makes the Lok8u GPS Child Locator different from other GPS locator devices?
The Lok8u GPS Child Locator and your child are always one; other devices are placed in book bags or on children's clothing, but what makes this unique from other GPS locators, is that the child cannot remove the device; and, in the event an unauthorized person removes the Lok8u GPS Child Locator; an alert will be sent to your cell phone and email.

Features:
• Works as a Fully-Functional 12-Hour or 24-Hour Kid's Digital Watch
• Your Kids Will Love the Funky and Cool Lok8u GPS Child Locator Watch Design
• Superior Craftsmanship; Steel-Reinforced Patent Locking Mechanism
• Designed with personalization in mind with several available colors, comfortable fit and durability
• For Children Aged 3-12; Derma-label Hypoallergenic Plastic/Steel Composition
• Get Integrated GPS/GSM Updates via web portal or cell phone; Just text "WRU" or click "Where Are U" from your web portal account for location, date/time information
• Enjoy a solid sense of reassurance; receive an alert in the event an unauthorized person attempts to remove your child's Lok8u GPS Child Locator Watch
• Designed to be more reliable and responsive with improved and expanded network coverage for optimized GPS/GSM Performance
• Powerful and innovative technology has improved AT&T network coverage and has extended coverage to include T-Mobile and Network Partners for even more pinpoint location data retrieval
• IP Rating 6X; withstands rainwater, but submersion is not recommended
• The Lok8u GPS Child Locator supports Google street map views of your child's physical location

*Both Domestic and International Lok8u GPS Child Locator Units Require a One-Year Service Plan; you can choose to pay a monthly service fee or you can pre-pay the entire year in full. For more information, visit: http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/child-locator.html.

If Your Child Carries a Cell Phone…

Try: http://www.google.com/mobile/latitude/

Also, consider contacting your cell phone provider to see what options are available through your provider. For example, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint all have programs that let users track their children and other loved ones.