On April 26th, we celebrated 10 years as an organization! Thank you for joining us for a fun evening of trivia and dancing. We hope you had as much fun as we did!
We wouldn't exist without YOU! YOU are The FOUNDATION! YOU have made the dream become a reality. Four families may have set the cornerstone, but our SUCCESS is due to our amazing parents, volunteers, donors, and community partners!
It is because YOU believe in the same vision of a more inclusive world that offers our loved ones the opportunities to be their very best! Together, we are a strong FOUNDATION.
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On March 21st, we began online programming with the goal of keeping our community connected. Below you'll find several opportunities for you and your loved ones to learn, grow, play, laugh, dance, and bond! We recognize that there may be other things you need to get through this time. If there is anything else we can do to support you, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here for you.
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Please take a moment to complete our member survey. We will be using the feedback we receive to help guide us as we plan our programs and events for the future. We value your input and look forward to hearing from you!
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May
- Wednesday, May 13 - ABLE United webinar
- Thursday, May 21 - Unique Therapies for Loved Ones with Designer Genes
- Mondays - Virtual Mom's Night In (9:00pm)
- Tuesdays - Virtual Zumba with Elysse (4:00pm - 5:00pm)
- Wednesdays - Virtual Club 321 (4:00pm-5:00pm)
- Thursdays - Virtual Playdates (10:00am-10:40am)
- Thursdays - Virtual T21 Social Network (18+) (4:00pm-5:00pm)
July
- July 19 -24 - iCan! Bike Camp
Don't want to miss out on our events?
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Webinar
: How to Enroll in an ABLE United Account
When
: Wednesday, May 13 at 11:00am
Did you know that ABLE United, Florida’s qualified ABLE program, was designed specifically for Floridians with disabilities as a way to save tax-free without impacting public benefits?
Join ABLE United for a webinar with Sumday Administration, their records administrator, to show you how easy it is to enroll in an ABLE United account. They'll cover what’s needed as part of the application process, a step-by-step tutorial, as well as share the basics on who is eligible and how an account could benefit you or your loved one.
Now, children and adults with a diagnosis such as Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, cognitive, developmental or mental health disorders have an opportunity to save and invest.
SPEAKERS INCLUDE:
JOHN FINCH, Director of ABLE United
JOHNNIE LAWSON, Sumday Administration
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Unique Therapies for Loved Ones with Designer Genes
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When
: Thursday,
May 21
Time:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location
: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
Topic:
Unique Therapies for Loved Ones with Designer Genes
Parents will form a panel to discuss various alternative therapies that they have used for their loved ones and answer questions.
The panel:
Sara Land - Targeted Nutritional Intervention (TNI)
The aim of Targeted Nutritional Intervention (TNI) in Down Syndrome (DS) is to manipulate the over expression of genes by blocking their transcription through supplements and diet.
Sara Land is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Trisomy 21 Research Foundation as a parent representative. She is also a Targeted Nutritional Intervention Consultant with the Conscious Pod, a Naturopathic Doctor in Australia who treats children with Down Syndrome. She assists parents, as administrator of Facebook education groups, in understanding Down Syndrome biochemistry, epigentics, and nutrigenomics in the treatment and regulation of their genetics.
Paige McMillen - Craniosacral Therapy
Cranial sacral therapy (also known as craniosacral therapy or CST) is a gentle, noninvasive form of bodywork that addresses the bones of the head, spinal column and sacrum. The goal is to release compression in those areas. The technique from CST can instantly shut down your stress cycle. It allows your body's restorative nervous system, the parasympathetics, to come into dominance and re-balance.
Paige McMillen has an extensive background seeking health and wellness. When Tristan was born 3 years ago her desire to find optimal health for him went into overdrive, his health and development have improved greatly. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Trisomy 21 Research Foundation as a parent representative. She is an international administrator for T21 education groups, assisting in understanding the biochemistry of Down Syndrome, epigentics, and nutrigenomics in treatment and regulation of genetics. She is currently a TNI Consultant under renowned Australian Naturopathic Doctor, Gabi Giacomin of The Conscious Pod. She loves to share alternative therapies that have worked, to the benefit of all.
Brenda Krayzel - QRI Lasers
QRI® combines the powerful effects of cold laser, sound, and reflex integration techniques. Reflex Integration revives the nervous system for quick, visible results. These techniques re-pattern both primitive and lifelong reflexes for the development of efficient neurological processing.
Brenda is mom to 5 incredible children, 28,27,25,22,19 (Jacob, 19yr, Down Syndrome, severe apraxia). All have been home-schooled and the older four have graduated from college. Brenda is always on the look out for different therapies that would help Jacob with his speech. She has used the laser for a year now and has seen improvements with her son. She is happy to share how it has worked for her family and answer your questions.
Janice Hendrix - PROMPT
PROMPT stands for Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. It is a tactile-kinesthetic approach to speech therapy, which means that the speech-language pathologist uses touch cues on the client’s face (vocal folds, jaw, lips, tongue), to support and shape correct movement of these articulators.
Janice's son was diagnosed with speech apraxia when he was 3 years old and under the recommendation of their Oral Motor Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), they sought out a local therapist who had PROMPT training and Janice truly believes the progress he is making with articulation, motor planning, and language would not be the same without the incorporation of this modality!
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When
:
Every Monday
Time:
9:00pm
Location
: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
Every Monday at 9pm we're providing the opportunity for moms to share some time together !
Upcoming Topics:
May 4:
Join us to talk about supplements that support your immune system and how to use them.
May 11:
Gardening: What you can do with items you have around the house, what's super easy to grow in Florida and how you can even use gardening to teach your children.
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Virtual Zumba with Elyse!
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When
:
Every Tuesday
Time:
4:00pm
Location
: Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
Elyse Mundelein will be teaching a virtual zumba class! We will post the zoom information in the event for details to log in. No experience needed, just get ready to dance and have fun!
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Join our Club 321 virtual meet up for middle and high-schoolers!
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When
: Every
Wednesday
Time:
4:00pm-5:00pm
Location
:
Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
We'll be connecting once a week with different activities, opportunities to socialize, move around, and engage with each other!
Upcoming Topics:
May 6: Madlibs
May 13: Pet Parade
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When
: Every Thursday
Time
: 10:00am-10:40am
Location:
Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
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We'll sing songs, read stories, and have fun - all through Zoom!
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Virtual T21 Social Network (18+)
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When:
Every Thursday
Time:
4:00pm-5:00pm
Location
:
Virtual meeting using Zoom - can be found on our private Facebook page, MeetUp, or by emailing Erin.goding@dsfflorida.org
This is a great opp
ortuni
ty for our adult group to socialize, engage, and connect with each other. We'll have something new and different each week!
Upcoming Topics:
May 7: Career Day - share about your educational/career experience and goals!
May 14: Karoake
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iCan! Bike Camp Registration is OPEN!
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It's time to register for
The FOUNDATION's
9th Annual iCan! Bike Camp
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Click on the video below to check-out this AMAZING adventure!
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Lose The Training Wheels…
and see where they go!
The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida partners with iCan Shine to bring Central Florida much more than just a bike-riding program. The mission of this camp is to teach individuals with Down syndrome and other unique abilities to ride a conventional two wheel bicycle and become lifelong independent riders.
This achievement, in turn, creates a gateway of opportunity, helping them gain assurance and self-reliance in many other aspects of their lives. For many people, it’s a seemingly impossible task to master but with this program 80% of the participants usually do it in less than a week’s time. Within days of learning to ride, many individuals begin exhibiting independent behaviors at home. This achievement, in turn, creates a gateway of opportunity, helping them gain assurance and self-reliance in many other aspects of their lives.
Learning to ride a two wheel bicycle has many benefits, some obvious and some not so obvious including:
- Increase in self esteem & self confidence
- Inclusion opportunities
- Positive change in family dynamics
- Improved quality of life through recreation
- Independent transportation
- Improved physical fitness
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Where:
Orange County Convention Center
9400 Universal Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32719
When:
Sunday, July 19 - Friday, July 24, 2020
 For many people, it’s a seemingly impossible task to master but with this program 80% of the participants usually do it in less than a week’s time. If your son/daughter is over 8, you don't want to miss this life changing opportunity!
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Save the DATE! - Camping Jamboree
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The CARES Act provided important economic impact payments to people to help them meet their financial obligations during the COVID-19 crisis and provided $500 dependent credits for qualifying children in recognition of the financial needs of families with dependents. However, it only provided the $500 dependent credit for children younger than 17. This means that college students, adults with disabilities, and others who are dependents under section 151, but are over the age of 17 neither receive the full $1200 stimulus payment nor the additional $500 credit, providing them with no direct financial support during this time.
The FOUNDATION is one of several organizations to add it's name to a letter to our legislative leaders encouraging the inclusion of adult and young adult dependents in the economic impact payments.
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Technology Tip and Tricks
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In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time.
Even if you’ve done it before, working from home because of coronavirus might feel like a whole new world.
These tips will help you make sure that you’re successful, both at getting your work done and at maintaining your mental well-being.
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Let's get social!
Follow us on social media for more information
and to stay updated on our upcoming events!
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