This is a great story about how one of our Orange County families learned to accommodate and include their son, Nickolas, in all of their outdoor activities.
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Update On Assisted Living Facility In Laguna Beach
In our post on August 11, we reported that the Glennwood Housing Foundation was working hard to collect the additional $1.5 million they needed to close on a deal in Laguna Beach that would provide 45-50 young adults with developmental disabilities a place they can call home.
This highly anticipated facility is now almost a done deal. Read the update below:
The DSAOC Blog – Recipient of the 2010 Top Down Syndrome Blog Award
Medical Assistant Schools has recognized the DSAOC Blog as one of the top 30 blogs relating to Down syndrome. The “Top Down Syndrome Blog” award highlights the very best blogs about Down Syndrome on the internet as determined by the internet community.
Medical Assistant Schools “Top Down Syndrome Blog” Announcement
Protest regarding the Emmys nomination of the song “Down Syndrome Girl”
Members of the Self Advocate Council of the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) and the NDSC Youth & Adult Committee support team speak out against the decision of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to honor the song “Down Syndrome Girl” with an Emmy award nomination in the category “Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics”.
NDSS Joins Forces With Prudential
The Prudential Insurance Company of America, based in Newark, NJ, will provide members of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) support in the area of financial literacy as a result of an agreement the two organizations announced on Monday, August 16.
Read the Press Release
Glennwood Housing Foundation must raise $1.5 million by end of August to close deal on assisted living facility in Laguna Beach.
The Glennwood Housing Foundation is working hard to collect the additional $1.5 million required to close on a deal in Laguna Beach that would provide 45-50 young adults with developmental disabilities a place they can call home.
Orange County Bike Camp – in the news!
Last week at Soka University in Aliso Viejo, forty people with disabilities between the ages of 8 and 24 years came together to accomplish a goal – to learn to ride a two-wheel bike. 
The Down Syndrome Association of Orange County (DSAOC) and United Cerebral Palsy-Orange County (UCP-OC) collaborate to bring this week-long camp to Orange County for the individuals our organizations focus on. Twenty campers are from DSAOC and twenty are from UCP.
We were thrilled to have a reporter from the OC Register take interest in this program. You can link to the story and photos below.
Registration for next year’s camp should open in April of 2011.
Support DSAOC and the 2010 Orange County Buddy Walk
Sunday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the field at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
DSAOC is thrilled to announce that the 2010 Orange County Buddy Walk website is now active!
Register your team today and help DSAOC spread the word about this exciting event. You can also support a team or an individual walker, or make a general donation.
Visit https://www.buddywalk.kintera.org/dsaoc today and help us celebrate the lives of our loved ones with Down syndrome.
2010 Orange County Buddy Walk Sponsorship Information
Whooping Cough – Information you need to know
As you may have heard on the news, there is an epidemic of the Whooping Cough, otherwise known as Pertussis, in California. This year, the pertussis cases reported are the highest in 50 years, even though we are only in August.
Whooping Cough is a very contagious disease that can be passed easily from person to person. It is very dangerous for babies.
Please take the time to read the latest information from the Orange County Health Agency: Whooping Cough
NDSC’s “More Alike Than Different” Campaign
HELP US PASS THE ABLE ACT IN THIS CONGRESS!
As you know, the National Down Syndrome Society endorsed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) of 2009 (S. 493/H.R. 1205). The ABLE Act will give individuals with disabilities and their families the ability to save for their child’s future just like every other American family, and help people with disabilities live full, productive lives in their communities. The ABLE Act will allow individuals with disabilities to create a disability savings accounts or ‘ABLE Accounts’ that would accrue interest tax-free. The account could fund a variety of essential expenses for the individual, including medical and dental care, education, community based supports, employment training, assistive technology, housing, and transportation.
The legislation continues to have widespread, bipartisan support. Currently, H.R. 1205 has 180 co-sponsors, including 19 members of the House Ways & Means Committee.
The time to pass this bill is now- Please contact your Representatives to encourage them to convene a hearing and vote on the ABLE Act today!
More information from NDSS, including a script to help you reach out to your representative.
For Lucy and Al, love since first sight.
Since she was a baby peeking out of her carriage, Lucy has smiled at Al. And Al, in his eighties, has smiled right back, their eyes locking, their hearts touching.
Lucy shares a hug with her friend Al, who has known her family since before she was born.
Down syndrome clinic needs online votes for cash prize – Healthy Living : The Orange County Register
Down syndrome clinic needs online votes for cash prize – Healthy Living : The Orange County Register
Great article on the OC Register blog today about our project in the Pepsi Refresh Project with DSAOC board member Brenda Deeley and her daughter Allison. When you have a chance, go to the Register’s blog post and share this to your Facebook status so it will run in Wednesday’s print edition.
Board Member Brenda Deeley with Daughter Allison
Vote for DSAOC in Pepsi Refresh Project
We’re thrilled to announce that DSAOC’s idea — $250,000 to support the new CHOC Children’s Down Syndrome Program — was accepted for online voting in the Pepsi Refresh Project during the month of June.
This is a huge opportunity to do something great for children with Down syndrome in Orange County by taking a few minutes each day and vote. Simply go to https://www.refresheverything.com/light-registration to register and then return to https://www.refresheverything.com/dsaocclinic each day during June to vote. We are also partnering with the Duke Comprehensive Down Syndrome Clinic which is competing in the $25,000 category to combine our “get out the vote” efforts, so please vote for them as well at https://www.refresheverything.com/downsyndromefreeclinic
Please tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers about this and help us support the .clinic.
Support DSAOC by eating at Rubio’s on June 10th
On Thursday June 10th from 2:00 PM to CLOSE Rubio’s will donate 20% of your transaction amount to DSAOC including dine-in, take-out and catering orders when you present the flyer at the link below.
This fundraiser is only for the following Rubio’s locations:
Mission Viejo (Alicia & Jeronimo)
23981 Alicia Parkway Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Orange (N. Tustin Street)
2318 North Tustin Street Orange, CA 92865
Flyer Download: https://www.dsaoc.org/pdfs/Rubios_DSAOC_Flyer_June_2010.pdf
Dr. Brian Skotko, who has a sibling with Down syndrome, created an online course for pediatricians to learn more about their patients with Down syndrome.
Parents, please pass this information and link along to your child’s physician and local clinics.
Harvard Medical School Course:
Down Syndrome: Healthcare Updates for the Primary Care Pediatrician
Acknowledgement: This course is supported by educational grants from Celera and the Applera Charitable Foundation.
Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition in humans, but do you know the latest evidence-based medicine on how to best manage these patients? Much has changed since medical school! Many healthcare guidelines and emerging literature are changing the way that individuals with Down syndrome are diagnosed, followed, and managed. Astute physicians can now detect associated conditions before they become symptomatic in an effort to maximize health care development. The goal of this course if to review the latest advances in healthcare management of children with Down syndrome so that primary care pediatricians and other interested health care professionals can provide exceptional care.
Online course information and registration
Going to Bat for Down syndrome
Andy LaRoche, third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, appeared on a TV series called “Facing Life Head On”.
Watch this heartwarming episode about Andy’s passion for touching the lives of children with Down syndrome, and the impact these children have on his life.
Monica & David – a documentary exploring the relationship of a couple with Down syndrome
The film, Monica & David, follows a 30-something couple with Down syndrome as they get married and struggle to assert their independence. It won the Tribeca festival’s award for best documentary feature.
The film is scheduled to premiere on HBO in October of this year.
Best Buddies Prom a special night for all
Shawn Mierzcynski, center, and Katie Jamison, right, join a conga line during the Best Buddies prom at Villa Park High School on Friday.
Great article about a special prom for special students in the OC Register. High school students with disabilities across O.C. party at the Best Buddies Prom at Villa Park High.
Watch ABC’s “What Would You Do?” Tonight!
Video footage from NDSC’s “We’re More Alike Than Different” campaign will be included in tonight’s edition of ABC’s “20/20: What Would You Do?” at 10 PM ET/9 PM CT.
The segment will use an actor with Down syndrome to portray a grocery store bagger who is berated by a customer (another actor). The question posed by the television show is, what will other shoppers do? Hidden cameras reveal the answer and speak to the need for us all to advocate for workers with disabilities. In a clip from the NDSC video, self advocates Christi Hockel and Mark Hublar are shown at their respective real-life jobs at Safeway and Wal Mart, demonstrating that employees with Down syndrome are more like their colleagues than they are different.
Ask your friends and neighbors to watch tonight’s show and then ask them, “what would you do?” You might discover that you have a wonderful opportunity to educate and advocate!
National Down Syndrome Congress
1370 Center Drive, Suite 102
Atlanta, Georgia 30338
800-232-6372/770-604-9500
