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Apply Now for Historic Falmouth Road Race
Once again, the MDSC has secured 25 non-profit numbers for the historic Falmouth Road Race along the pristine Cape Cod coastline.
Now it's your chance to run on this amazing 7-mile course, and follow in the footsteps of past winners, like legends Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit, Frank Shorter, and Alberto Salazar.
The event, in its 41st year, will be held August 11, 2013. Join the cause for a fun day on the Cape that will make a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families.
Go here for an application. For more information email MDSC Executive Assistant Jacquie Sherman at race@mdsc.org.
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MDSC Seeking Summer
Communications Intern
The MDSC is looking for a Strategic Online Communications Intern to join our team for the summer, and learn skills that will serve him/her well going forward.
The 15-hour/week position will help the MDSC achieve our mission by bolstering our media presence, forging online connections with key allies, and assisting with messaging consistent with our brand and identity standards.
He/she will also assist with traditional media outreach, such as writing press releases and pitching stories to newspapers, radio and television stations. This position is unpaid, though a work-study arrangement is possible.
See here for complete description.
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AIM: Out of Swimming Pool and into Job Pool
On Sunday April 7, AIM'sTeen and Young Adult Program participants jumped into the swimming pool at the West Suburban YMCA, where they worked hard on their kayaking skills with instructors from Waypoint Adventures.
Youth learned about the different parts of the kayak, paddled in the indoor pool, and even flipped their kayak to learn how to stay safe in dangerous waters. Some attendees were veterans of kayaking while others were newbies, but everyone had a great time. Most importantly, everyone challenged themselves and discovered new strengths. We look forward to more challenges in the future!
Speaking of which, the next AIM event is on Sunday, May 19th from 12:30-3:30pm at the West Suburban YMCA in Newton. As summer approaches, you may be thinking of applying for a summer job or volunteer position. This session will provide participants with an opportunity to develop some resume and interviewing skills. We will also have a visit from music therapist, Suzie Denu, so get ready to sing and dance! Please send us some names of your favorite songs. Attendees can also bring along real job applications for practice.
Email aim@mdsc.org with any questions.
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2nd Annual Rock'N'Dock Festival May 30 - June 2
At the end of May/beginning of June, Patriot Place in Foxboro will be jumping with dogs - literally. That's when the 2nd Annual "Jumping Up for Down Syndrome" Festival, organized by Dave Skoletsky of Go Team 21, comes to town.
Three world-record holding dogs will perform, including Dave's own Yeager, the canine world-record holder for vertical leap, all to raise funds and awareness for Down syndrome (Dave's daughter Eve has Down syndrome). You may remember them from an unbelievable performance last October during our Buddy Walk.
The first night features a Down syndrome benefit concert featuring Nashville recording artist,five-time Boston Music Awards Best Folk Artist, singer/songwriter Lori McKenna. See here for more information.
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Save the Date: June 7 for Annual CJs Spring Swing
Every year since 2004, Sandra, Sean and CJ Buckley (pictured) have hosted a golf tournament and auction that raises much-needed funds to support programs and individuals dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with Down syndrome.
The MDSC is proud to be one of those organizations. This year, join the Buckleys and support these organizations on June 7 for the 9th Annual CJ's Spring Swing. It will be held at the New England Country Club in Bellingham, Mass.
For more information, contact the Buckleys at
snsbuck@verizon.net.
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Save the Date: D.A.D.S. Family Outing on June 16
The Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (D.A.D.S) annual Family Outing at Kimball Farm in Westford will be held Sunday June 16.
The cost is $10/person for those 2 years and above. The cost will include some activities. Details are being finalized, Kimball Farm features an 18-hole mini-golf course, bumper boat rides, batting cages, a driving range, arcade, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pitch and tug of war pit.
D.A.D.S, a proud affiliate of the MDSC, will have its own tent for the more than 300 anticipated attendees.
Contact Jeff Roback at 339-788-1460 or dadsmass@yahoo.com.
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Boston Marathon: Grieving yet Grateful
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Two "Team MDSC" runners, James Davis and Jeffrey Pransky, were featured in stories in the Boston Globe, one before the race and one after. The second story was called
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House Budget Supports Continued Down Syndrome Funding; Now onto Senate
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'Signing Time!' Returns for 17th Buddy Walk & Family Festival; 'Sign Up' Now
We are thrilled to welcome back to our Buddy Walk stage in 2013 Rachel Coleman of "Signing Time!", the television program that teaches children basic American Sign Language in a fun, engaging way.
Anyone who saw her in past years remembers her unbelievable stage presence and ability to connect and interact with members of our audience while teaching sign language. Coleman has been nominated for an Emmy in the "Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series" category. She is not only the face of the program; she also produces and directs the series.
In 2013, building on the theme of this year's Annual Conference, we have dubbed our 17th Annual Buddy Walk & Family Festival the "Walk for Real Lives." Like our Real Lives Conference, the name stems from the "Real Lives Bill," the critical piece of state legislation that promises to give people with Down syndrome and other disabilities more control over the their funds and their lives.
Same Lead Sponsor, Better Name, More Lunch Options
This year, we are happy to welcome back our lead sponsor, Verizon. But they are no longer sponsoring our Buddy Walk & Family Picnic.... It's now the Buddy Walk & Festival! Why? We felt that our previous name didn't quite describe the "festival" atmosphere and the variety of entertainment offerings - live performances, face-painting, music-making, climbing trucks, etc. - that our Buddy Walk now boasts. That is why it is now more accurately called the Buddy Walk & Family Festival.
Second, in response to demands for more variety in the food offerings, we are launching a new lunch program. Rather than include lunch in the cost of registration, we are giving you more control over your lunch options. You can reserve a bagged lunch when you register for an additional cost, or you can buy food from private vendors who will be on site throughout the event.
The MDSC Buddy Walk Program is New England's largest public awareness platform to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk & Family Festival, our signature walk, takes place during National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and draws in 4,000 people to celebrate our community and support the important work of the MDSC.
We ask that all walkers, ages 13 and up, strive to reach the $150 fundraising minimum by October 31st. Your fundraising efforts are critical to our mission and directly impact programs and services that provide hope to new and expectant parents, training to medical professionals and students, best practices to educators, opportunities for teens and adults, and a strong voice on Capitol Hill.
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Complete Northeast Down Syndrome Ed Conference Archives Available Online
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MDSC Plays Host to Japan Public TV
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Calling for Your Education/Inclusion Photos for our Educator's Manual
The MDSC Education Task Force is looking for pictures of elementary school children (grades K-6) with Down syndrome to include in our first Educators' Manual. The Task Force has been working on the comprehensive Educator's Manual for more than two years, and now it is almost ready to go to print..... except we need more photos!
The Manual includes best practices to guide educators in making the accommodations and adaptations necessary to best teach students with Down syndrome.
Your pictures of your loved ones learning will bring the manual to life. Please complete this photo release form for each individual pictured (including your own child, other children, classmates or educators).
Here are some ideas of what your child might be doing: reading, writing, working with math problems, at the computer, using an augmentative device, signing, working in a small group, listening to a story, talking to friends, at their kindergarten graduation, doing a presentation, getting on the bus, eating lunch with friends, attending a school assembly, participating in an after-school/extra-curricular event, working on an art project, in music class, on the school playground, in gym class.
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