Vision: Our vision is to help foster a community of acceptance which promotes the best opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome in helping them to achieve their greatest potential and realize their dreams.
We implement our Mission and Vision through: Sharing resources through a lending library.
Providing fellowship and recreational opportunities through Mom’s nights out, holiday parties, etc.
Increasing communication opportunities through an internet based Listserv which provides information and support amongst members.
Providing quarterly newsletters.
Supporting Down syndrome research.
Awarding educational and recreational grants.
Gving care packages, monetary donations to families when their child w/Down syndrome is hospitalized for major surgery.
Supplying information to new families and new parents.
Distributing literature and presenting talks to the community to promote awareness and acceptance.
Providing advocacy in the community to promote the most inclusive environment.
1. Educational/Medical Mini Grants: $200 mini grants are offered annually to families to help with educational and medical costs for the member with Down syndrome. Families are required to download a form from our website and submit it along with their receipts for reimbursement. We also require families to volunteer for 2 hrs during an 18 month period in order to qualify for the grant. (However, if there are extenuating circumstances that make it too difficult for a family to volunteer, we will waive that requirement for them)
2. Recreational Support: Local recreational programs, such as therapeutic horseback riding, music therapy, Kindermusik, camp, and a local social/recreational club for people with disabilities are given grant money, which is used to give our members with Ds who participate in those programs a discount on the fees.
3. Library: We have an extensive library of books, DVDs, and educational support materials related to Down syndrome that parents can check out for free.
4. Welcome Bags: given to all new families. The bag contains a copy of ‘Gifts’, ‘Roadmap to Holland’; “Babies with Down Syndrome” gifts for the baby and parents, and a file folder with inspirational stories, facts about Ds, and information about the Medicaid Waivers and Children’s Special Health Care Services programs.
5. Family Support Group Meetings: Dinner and free child care are provided at our monthly family support meetings. The meetings include guest speakers on variety of topics including special needs trusts, health and safety issues, Medicaid waivers, etc. Our annual talent show and the annual new family welcome meetings are favorite events for our members.
6. Educational Scholarship: $1000 scholarship available for any individual with Ds who attends a secondary education program.
7. Research: We donate $1000 to Ds research annually.
8. Annual Calendar: Our policy is to use at least one photo of each individual with Down syndrome whose photo is submitted. We sell them at a low cost ($5) to make it an affordable awareness tool for families to use. The calendars are also used as thank-you gifts to Michiana Down Syndrome Awareness Walk sponsors, and are given to medical professionals with the intention of spreading positive awareness about Down syndrome.
9. Parties: We host three or four family parties each year.
10. Educational Conferences: We try to sponsor an annual conference in our area to help promote education, awareness and support for our families and professionals.
11. Hospital Bags: Hospital bags are delivered to any member with Ds who has to have a hospital stay.
12. Birthday card: given to each member with Ds along with a $5 gift card
13. Transition bags: Families whose child is transitioning out of First Steps or entering High School. The bags contain books and other resources to help families make a well informed transition.
14. Mom’s Night Out: Moms meet monthly at local restaurants, and we give each mom who comes $5 towards the cost of her meal.
15. Prenatal Education: We are partnering with some members of our community to provide prenatal information about Down syndrome that is accurate and positive. As funds permit, we hope to start a local Down syndrome awareness campaign.
16. Legislative efforts/National issues: We believe that in order to best serve our members, we need to keep abreast of current research, best practice methods for education, prenatal awareness, adult issues, fund raising methods, etc.
