At our 25^th Annual Conference in Worcester, MA on March 21, 2009, the MDSC will honor persons who have celebrated the rich accomplishments of people with Down syndrome.  Now is your opportunity to nominate those people whom you believe are most deserving of the following awards:  The Media Award, The Outstanding Educator Award, and the Allen C. Crocker Award of Excellence.  We are also seeking nominations for our MDSC Board of Directors.  

Advocates in Motion kicked off with a bang this fall. There are lots of exciting happenings to report!

 

11 AIM self-advocates and their families gathered to volunteer and walk together as a group at the MDSC’s 12th annual Buddy Walk this past October 12th, 2008. The volunteers staffed the name tag table and greeted all the Buddy walkers as they arrived. The AIM welcoming committee enthusiastically worked the crowd, and then journeyed together on the 3 mile walk around Lake Quannapowitt. The afternoon ended with some fun, interactive dance lessons from Dance Force Entertainment, and many of the AIM self-advocate volunteers were on hand to help pump up the crowd and to encourage everyone to get up and dance. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon one week before the official start of AIM! Thanks to all the AIM volunteers who came out to promote self-advocacy for young adults with Down syndrome.

The MDSC 12th Annual Buddy Walk was a record-breaking success with over 1,700 parents, children, self-advocates and their friends turning out to celebrate National Down Syndrome Awareness Month on Sunday, October 12th.  The beautiful sunny autumn day was the perfect backdrop for the walkers who turned out in full force to complete the 3-mile walk around Wakefield's Lake Quannapowitt. 125 teams raised more than $170,000 to support the work of the MDSC.

Charles Gadbois, MDSC Board President, kicked off the Buddy Walk expressing his appreciation to the walkers, sponsors, teams and volunteers for their outpouring of support for the MDSC. He recognized 13 year old Mary DeBlasio, one of the youngest Buddy Walk team captains, for her extraordinary efforts to start a team in honor of her sister Kate after the two of them faced the difficult loss of their father this past year. He also thanked Representative Katherine Clark and Wakefield Superintendent of Public Schools, Joan Landers, for joining us at the event.  

Since its introduction by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan) in 2005, the Prentally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, (S. 1810)—also known as the Kennedy-Brownback bill—has become a rally cry from innumerable families of children with disabilities to provide support to parents and prospective parents who learn that an unborn child may have a genetic, chromosomal or physical disability. Presidential candidate John McCain, whose running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is a mother to an infant with Down syndrome, signed on as a co-sponsor to the bill earlier this month. On September 23, 2008, the Senate passed the bill, which was passed again by the US House of Representatives and on October 8, 2008 President Bush officially signed the bill into law marking one of the most historic moments in the lives of families of children with Down syndrome.

The measure, now passed, provides that families receiving a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome or other conditions will be offered accurate and up-to-date information about the nature of the condition and also connected with support services. In addition, a registry of parents willing to adopt children with disabilities will be compiled and maintained.

For the first time, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) was selected by the B.A.A. to participate in the Boston Marathon!   MDSC was selected as one of 24 charities to receive entries into the Boston Marathon this year.

The 113^th running of the Boston Marathon will take place on April 20, 2009. With the Boston Marathon being the only qualifying Marathon in the world, one of the only non-qualifying way to enter the race is through the Official Boston Marathon Charity Program. This year there will be a total of 1,275 runners, across twenty four charities that will run in the program.

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) was chosen to receive entries that will help raise funds to support the critical work of the organization.  MDSC is now accepting applications from interested runners. The entries do not require a qualifying time but do require that runners acknowledge that they can complete a marathon within 6 hours and will abide by all other B.A.A. rules and regulations. Applicants must also agree to raise a minimum of $3,000 for the MDSC.

If you are a qualifying or non-qualifying runner interested in applying to be a member of the MDSC Marathon Team please contact the MDSC at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call 978-640-8829 for an application. Once a completed application is received there will be a phone interview with a member of the MDSC staff/board. The final team decision will be made by October 15^th. Once the team has been finalized the selected runners will start training and raising funds for a great cause!

The Power of the Dream

1983 - 2008

 

Over 800 people crowded the Plaza Ballroom at the Seaport Hotel in Boston on Friday evening, July 11^th , for the celebration of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress' 25^th Anniversary and the Opening Reception of the NDSC National Convention. 

25 years is truly a milestone to be proud of and a perfect chance to show appreciation to so many dedicated people whose commitment to improving the lives of those with Down syndrome has been instrumental in the growth and achievements of the MDSC since its inception 25 years ago.

The momentous evening featured Dr. Timothy Johnson, Emmy-award-winning physician-journalist, of ABCNEWS' Good Morning America who emceed this special event; a  premier performance by the Boston Ballet's Adaptive Dance Program; and recognition awards to those who have made a lasting imprint on the Down syndrome community here in Massachusetts.

Congratulations to our award winners!

MDSC Board Member and friend Dr. Allen Crocker was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his infinite wisdom and compassion that has touched the lives of so many families of children with Down syndrome throughout the years.