Welcome to the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County

The Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, Maryland is an organization of families with a child with Down Syndrome, adults with Down Syndrome, medical professionals and others who serve people with Down Syndrome, and government service providers.

Our organization provides:

• Social opportunities for parents and individuals with Down syndrome
• Support to new and expectant parents of babies with Down syndrome
• Speakers for parents and service providers on current research and best practices dealing with individuals with Down Syndrome
• Information about accessing services and resources in our community
• Opportunities for parents and service providers to network with each other and to learn and support each other through an email list serv and a quarterly newsletter

 

UPCOMING NEWS AND EVENTS

 

DSNMC COFFEE AND CONVERSATION - JANUARY 13, 2009 FROM 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Take "time out" to meet new moms and enjoy great conversation at the coffee Kiosk at Montgomery Mall on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 from 9:30 am - 11:30 am.  For more information contact karen@dsnmc.org

DSNMC PLAYGROUP - JANUARY 18, 2009 at 10:30 am

Next DSNMC playgroup will be on Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 10:30 am. For more information contact geri@dsnmc.org

 

IMPORTANT DSNMC SURVEY

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME IN GRADES 2-12 IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!!! 

The DSNMC is conducting a survey to gather data about the educational setting, the curriculum, the state assessment of students with Down syndrome and the information parents receive about the assessment decisions.  

THIS SURVEY IS VERY IMPORTANT.  It's results will be reported to MCPS and will help DSNMC in its efforts to advocate for students with Down syndrome.    

If your child with DS (1) attends a Montgomery County Public School; and (2) is in 2nd grade -12th grade, we implore you to take five minutes to fill-out the attached survey.  Your individual answers will be anonymous but together have the potential to make a big impact on the MCPS special education system.  PLEASE PARTICIPATE! Please also pass the link to the survey along to other parents who meet the criteria above.

Click in the following link to complete the survey: Survey

CAMPERSHIPS ARE HERE!!!

Thanks to the success of this year's Buddy Walk the DSNMC will continue to provide financial assistance for summer programs to individuals with Down Syndrome in Montgomery County.  Please click in the following link for more information and to download our campership application: 2009 CAMPERSHIP PROGRAM

 

                        

                         IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE DSNMC PRESIDENT

MID ATLANTIC DOWN SYNDROME COUNCIL AND INSPIRE LAUNCH ONLINE SUPPORT COMMUNITY

Virtual Community Connects Families, Friends, and Caregivers who have been touched by Down Syndrome

Mid Atlantic Down Syndrome Council today announced the creation of the Down Syndrome Exchange Support Group – a new online community that connects families, friends, and caregivers for support and inspiration. Located at:  http://www.inspire.com/groups/down-syndrome-exchange, the community will allow registered members to take part in moderated discussion groups and post  personal blogs, enabling them to support one another through their individual journeys and experiences.

Those joining the community will find strategies and answers to their questions, as well as vital support, compassion, encouragement, and inspiration from others sharing experiences similar to theirs. Registration is free; upon joining, members will have complete control of their privacy options and can communicate with others in a safe, secure environment.

Among the many features the new Down Syndrome Exchange Group offers, members can:

·       Participate in discussion groups – or even just read what others have to say

·       Post personal profiles – share as much or as little as they’d like about themselves

·       Post personal photos or videos (optional)

·       Invite other members to be friends

·       Create a personal journal (or “blog”) where they can express their feelings and allow others to         comment

·       Read others’ journals to learn about their experiences

 About Inspire

Founded in 2005 and based in Princeton, NJ, Inspire builds and manages online health-focused communities in which patients, their caregivers, and their families can support and communicate with one another in a safe, secure, privacy-protected environment. By enabling those affected by medical conditions to seek out and help one another, we foster the creation of vibrant, effective, and close-knit social networks. To date, Inspire’s 80,000+ members have written more than 275,000 posts and over 50 million words.

 About Mid Atlantic Down Syndrome Council

The Mid Atlantic Down Syndrome Council is a network of Down syndrome groups from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.  The Council shares resources and information to collaborate in pursuit of common goals.   The Council provides support for families and friends of children with Down syndrome, networking opportunities to families and service providers, social opportunities to families and individuals with Down syndrome, and to promote research and advocacy by supporting the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Down syndrome Congress and their affiliate groups.

For more information contact:                                                                                                     

Gena Mitchell

Member of Mid-Atlantic Regional Council (MARC)

DSNMC President

genadsnmc@hotmail.com