Buddy Walk 2017

Down Syndrome Indiana Receives DSAIA Accreditation!

Down Syndrome Indiana is proud to announce that it has achieved accreditation through the national trade association, Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action. More info and a podcast available here:
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/dsaia/episodes/2017-06-05T10_08_37-07_00.

DSI D.A.D.S. 15th Annual Golf Outing

Join Us – Friday, June 9^th   at Eagle Creek Golf Course

Join Down Syndrome Indiana and DSI D.A.D.S. on Friday, June 9, 2017 at Eagle Creek Golf Club for our annual golf outing from which funds raised directly benefit the mission of DSI and help to sponsor Riley Hospital for Children’s “Camp Hi-Lite”, a one-week, outdoor-living experience for school-aged and adolescent children who happen to have Down syndrome. 

More info at: http://www.dsindiana.org/golf.php.

DOWN SYNDROME RESEARCH CONFERENCE

Saturday, April 29, 2017

8:30AM to 1:30PM

Down Syndrome Indiana

708 E Michigan Street

Indianapolis, IN 46202

This one day conference will be FREE and will highlight local, regional, and national research efforts.  This is a unique opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome and their families to learn about new Down syndrome biomedical and clinical research opportunities and advances, and will provide a forum to discuss important healthcare and research topics related to Down syndrome.

Topics will include:

1. Overview of national and state advocacy efforts to improve the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome and increase biomedical research on Down syndrome;

2. Improving healthcare standards that will extend life expectancy;

3. Identifying the correlation between Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome and recognizing what further research is needed to improve the quality of life for our family members with Down syndrome.

4. Importance of DS-Connect, the Down syndrome patient registry, participation.

Lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP to register@dsindiana.org or call 317-925-7617 by 4/21/17. Include the number of adults attending and the number and ages of children needing childcare. For more information or to register, visit http://www.dsindiana.org/conference.php

*The host organizations are committed to improving health outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome so they may live longer, healthier, and more productive lives.  As a community, we want to work to ensure that individuals with Down syndrome have access to the best possible treatments, diagnostics, and therapies for improving their quality of life.

Spanish Interpretation Services provided through Consumer Investment Funding from the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities

Please comment on ESSA by April 30th

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is taking public comment on the state ESSA plan until April 30th.  If you have not told them what you would like to have included in the plan, please take a moment to do so now at: http://www.doe.in.gov/essa/essa-public-comment.

Feel free to send a copy of your comments to DSI at: lisa@dsindiana.org. It will help DSI stay on top of the concerns of our families.

Why is ESSA important to you?

This plan will have a huge impact on your child’s future education. The state is currently writing the plan. I would encourage you to tell the state what you want included in the plan at ground level before the first draft is completed. It is better to have our concerns addressed early on in the process.

Please let the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) know that the following items are important to you and you would like them included in the state ESSA Plan:

1.       More time in the general education classroom: Strategies should be included in the state plan to significantly reduce—

• the percentages of students in certain disability categories, including intellectual disability, who are not being educated in general education classrooms, in spite of decades of research demonstrating the benefits of inclusion for them and their classmates.

• the use of suspension and expulsion, and

2.  Increase Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A focus on implementing Universal Design for Learning should be included in the state plan to ensure that instruction and assessment are addressing the needs of diverse learners. UDL is recognized as a best practice in ESSA and the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

3.       Minimum subgroup size (N-Size): There are national studies recommending 10 or lower as a minimum subgroup size. Higher numbers undermine disability subgroup accountability. For example, a national study demonstrated that a state with an N-size of 30 would not count more than 20% of students with disabilities in most aspects of its accountability system.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will be hosting a Virtual Meeting via WebEx on April 24, 2017 from 6:30 to 8:00PM. Their website says details will be coming soon.  You may go to this link to register: http://www.doe.in.gov/essa/essa-community-meetings.  Check this link frequently because there is limited availability and it will fill up fast.

You may submit your comments to: http://www.doe.in.gov/essa/essa-public-comment.

What is Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law on December 10, 2015. It reauthorizes the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was previously reauthorized as No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

The Indiana Department of Education is currently in the process of determining how the requirements of ESSA will translate into state education practice: which state practices will evolve as a result of ESSA, and which will remain the same.

Required State Plan Components

The Every Student Succeeds Act requires all participating states to submit a state plan for review by the United State Department of Education. The state ESSA plan must include details regarding the following required components:

·         Challenging State Academic Standards

·         Academic Assessments

·         Statewide Accountability Systems

·         School Support and Improvement Activities

The Indiana Plan Development Process

The state of Indiana will be taking public comment on the plan until April 30th. It will then write the first draft, which will be available June 30th. The public will have 30 days to comment on the plan. Indiana has chosen to submit its ESSA plan to the U.S. Department of Education on September 18, 2017.

More information is available at:

For information on ESSA from the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), visit:

http://www.doe.in.gov/essa.

To submit written comments, visit:

http://www.doe.in.gov/essa/essa-public-comment.

For a link to the entire ESSA, visit:

https://www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ95/PLAW-114publ95.pdf.

National Down Syndrome Congress

https://www.ndsccenter.org/sample-comments-for-state-essa-plans/.

April 18th Four Day Ray's Dining to Donate

Please join us on Tuesday, April 18^th at Four Day Ray’s for Dining to Donate. Open to Close. 11671 Lantern Road, Fishers, IN. (Please show the picture to your server. )

INDIANAPOLIS POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY BUILDING WILL SHINE BRIGHT WITH BLUE AND YELLOW LIGHTS TO CELEBRATE WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

IPL's 10-story downtown headquarters will light up with blue and yellow Down syndrome awareness colors on March 21^st , 2017 for World Down Syndrome Day. We invite people to take selfie’s in front of the window display and share on social media tagging @IPLpower and @downsyndromeindiana and use hashtags #IPLlights and #WDSD2017. Share your photos celebrating World Down Syndrome Day and help Down Syndrome Indiana spread awareness and acceptance for Down syndrome.

About World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day is a day in which people with Down syndrome and those with whom they live, work and socialize, organize and participate in activities and events around the world to raise public awareness and create a single, global voice advocating for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with Down syndrome. The date for World Down Syndrome Day is the 21st day of the 3rd month, selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.  World Down Syndrome Day was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world, and officially recognized by the United Nations as an annual day of celebration in 2012.

Contact To learn more about World Down Syndrome Day, please contact Stephanie Garner, Program Coordinator garner@dsindiana.org.