MDSC Teen and Adult Newsletter
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June 19, 2020
Hello MDSC teens and adults (and families and friends),
We are in for some hot weather this next week, so we have included a couple of tips for staying active and cool below. We hope many of you will join us tomorrow to kick off the summer with our Summer Salsa Party!
Though school is winding down, there are lots of ways to keep learning!
- Check out presentations from MDSC self advocates at our 36th Annual Virtual Conference.
- Tune in to POWER: The Disability Vote next week.
- Having a bad day? Turn it around with 'It's a Good Day to Plan for a Good Day'!
All opportunities linked in the 'Learn Something New' section below.
We are working on plans for a couple of summer events and hope you will be able to join us! Want to see something in particular? We welcome you to share your ideas with us!
We are grateful you are part of our MDSC community,
Colleen, Kristen and Laura
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Weekly Motivation
Cooking with friends!
Becca Yelle, Alex Robichaud and Genna Keefe have been cooking together every weekend via a FaceTime group chat. A sample of their recipes include, pig waffles (pictured below), Pizzadilla, crunchy lunch wraps and many other unique creations. Following their cooking session they sit down to a meal and enjoy conversation, knock knock jokes and friendship.
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TOMORROW!
Join us for a dance party to kick off the summer!
Virtual Summer Salsa party
for teens & adults with Down syndrome and their family & friends, ages 13+
Saturday, June 20
3-4:30pm
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Staying Active & Well at Home
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As we get into the hot summer months, we'd love to see ways you are staying active - and cool! Here are a couple of ideas we came up with:
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- Hydrate: drink lots of water!
- Time it right: it is usually hottest in the afternoon. Go for a walk early in the morning or later in the day to stay cooler.
- Choose cool snacks like chilled or frozen fruit, homemade popsicles, or fruit smoothies. Jazz up your water with cucumber or lemon slices!
- Protect yourself from the sun with sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
- Try an online workout in your basement (if you have one) or pull down the shades and set up some fans for a more comfortable workout inside!
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What ways are YOU staying active and healthy?
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MDSC Virtual Conference is LIVE!
We hope you and your family will check out our
MDSC Virtual Conference. We are thankful to members of the Self Advocate Advisory Council and other adult leaders for helping lead discussions and sharing their passions & talents, including Omar Masood (pictured here) who shares his favorite games, superheroes and an exciting update!
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POWER: The Disability Vote
Are you interested in learning more about your power as a voter? The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) invites you to an online summit on Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 23.
Every year is an important year for our democracy, and 2020 is no different. In the midst of a pandemic and social distancing, we understand that voting can be intimidating and come with a lot of uncertainty. Still, it is critical that we mobilize the Disability Vote!
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Ever dreamed of acting?
You might want to check out
Improv for All, a fun improvisation class taking place on Zoom this summer!
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This yearly conference for youth and parents held in Virginia is online this year and open to anyone!
Youth sessions include:
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Leadership Opportunity - LEND Fellow
Applications are still being accepted!
The
LEND Program is seeking an adult (age 23 or over) with an intellectual, physical or developmental disability to take part in the LEND fellowship that runs from September 2020 through May 2021.
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Congratulations, Gretchen Wronski!
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Gretchen is shown above in her senior photo (right) and working at Cream last summer (left), an ice cream shop in Abington.
Looking forward to
: attending Riverview School GROW program in the fall.
In the future
: Gretchen would like to be working and living on her own with her peers.
Favorite memories of high school
: Gretchen loved all the time spent with her Green Wave Cafe teachers and classmates. She participated on the Spring Track Team all four years and ran the 100m and threw a turbo javelin. She enjoyed being on Unified Sports and had fun playing soccer and basketball with her peers. Gretchen belonged to the Drama Club and was in the ensemble each year for the musical productions (High School Musical, Oliver, Grease, and Mamma Mia). Mamma Mia was her favorite but the performances were cancelled because of the pandemic.
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Do you know someone who would like to be highlighted in the Senior Spotlight? Or, someone with an exciting milestone to share?
Please reach out to us!
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As Massachusetts and other states slowly start to reopen, there are new questions and challenges ahead. We continue to compile resources on our
COVID-19 resource page
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Recent events in our country have reinforced the need for continued work towards justice and inclusion. The MDSC is as committed as ever to our founding ideals of diversity and inclusion.
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Each spring, over 600 people with Down syndrome, their family members, health care professionals and educators from across New England attend our Annual Conference on Down syndrome. Though we are not able to gather in person this year, we join together virtually to hear the latest research findings and timely information from national and local experts on a range of topics related to Down syndrome.
Special features include the opening celebration honoring our trailblazers, sponsor and exhibitor galleries, and both recorded presentations and live, interactive workshops!
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