Mission Statement:
To identify continuing needs of individuals with Down syndrome (DS), and create exploratory projects to meet those needs.
Who We Are:
We are parents, grandparents, doctors, educators, registered nurses, social workers and other business professionals interested in improving the quality of life of all people with Down syndrome. DS Action is affiliated with the National Down Syndrome Society(NDSS) and National Down Syndrome Congress(NDSC).
What We Are Doing:
DS Action holds monthly meetings in San Diego to identify the unmet needs of people with Down syndrome and to find creative solutions to meeting those needs. As an example, DS Action determined that many children with Down syndrome do not receive the same level of recommended medical and developmental care, and that parents often find it difficult to get referrals to a variety of available intervention services. To meet this need, DS Action worked to establish a Down Syndrome Center, where all children with Down syndrome would have an equal opportunity of receiving recommended evaluations, referrals and intervention services. Working with Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego, DS Action has made this idea a reality. The Down Syndrome Center is a much needed resource to the entire region of Southern California as well as neighboring jurisdictions including Mexico. DS Action is an affiliate of National Down Syndrome Society(NDSS) and National Down Syndrome Congress(NDSC).
Board of Directors:
Cathy Bishop is the mother to Jennifer, a 35 year-old woman with Down syndrome. Cathy is retired from her previous career as a software development project manager for a local military defense contractor.
Eric Burton is a 1994 graduate of the US Naval Academy. Following graduation he was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps and became an FA-18 pilot. He has resided in San Diego since 2005 as an instructor pilot at MCAS Miramar and currently develops command and control systems at Camp Pendleton. His daughter was born in 2002 with Down syndrome and is currently a 1st grade student in a full inclusion program at Mt. Woodson Elementary School.
Molly Coughlin, R.N., M.N. is a clinical nurse specialist currently working in school health at the Alcott Infant-Toddler Program, San Diego Unified School District.
Nancy Deutsch, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private psychotherapy practice in the San Diego area.
Robert Gray, Ph.D., ABPP-CN received his Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to his move to southern California, Dr. Gray worked as a staff pediatric neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine/Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Gray has been awarded Diplomate status in Clinical Neuropsychology (ABPP-CN) through the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology and American Board of Professional Psychology. He is a Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor in the department of Psychiatry at the University of California, and works in private practice at Advanced Neurobehavioral Health of Southern California.
Joshua Greenstein, M.D., is the Vice President of DS Action. Josh is in private practice and is a board-certified specialist in Nephrology and Internal Medicine. He currently works with the Palomar Medical Group.
Erin Grettenberger is a special education teacher for San Diego City Schools.
Michael Hank is a Professional Land Surveyor and a principal in the firm Southern California Survey. He is a private pilot and a Lead Representative for the FAA safety program.
Sharla Hank is the President of DS Action and mother of two children. Her oldest child, Adam, born in 2005, has Down syndrome and was also diagnosed with acute lymphoplastic leukemia. She enjoys working with families as an American Sign Language Instructor. Previously, Sharla was a Vice President with Union Bank of California, where she managed the ATM Department.
Elisa Mardini is a local school psychologist.
Mary Neesham is the Secretary of DS Action. Mary is the proud mother of three children, including Gage, who has Down syndrome.
Natalie Trelease is the Chief Financial Officer of DS Action. Natalie is the Manager of Financial Controls for CareFusion Corporation, headquartered in San Diego.
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