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March 2015 | NNEDSC: Northern New England Down Syndrome Congress | 603-4791589
[Volume 1, Issue 1]
WORLD
DOWN
SYNDROME
DAY, 3/21
World Down Syndrome Day is just around the corner! On March 21st, 2015, the
NNEDSC will join the National Down Syndrome Congress and six other national
Down syndrome organizations in promoting “Random Acts of Kindness” in honor
of all individuals with Down syndrome! Participation is easy:
1) Choose a random act of kindness to do for someone.
2) Go to www.nnedsc.net and print a “Random Act of Kindness”
postcard fromthe main page. Leave your postcard with your act
of kindness to spread the word about World Down Syndrome
Day!
3) Share! Take a picture of your random act and post on the
NNEDSC Facebook page, as well as on Twitter: #WDSD15.
What better way to honor individuals with Down syndrome and spread awareness
than through acts of kindness! Happy World Down Syndrome Day!
___________________________________________________________________
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
– Aesop
___________________________________________________________________
Spread the Word to End the Word
th
WINTER CARNIVAL FUN!
_____________________________
On January 31st the NNEDSC hosted its
annual Winter Carnival! Children and
teens enjoyed carnival games, music,
food, and very special appearances by
Elsa and Ana themselves! It was a
blast, and we enjoyed meeting
families who joined us from all around
the state! A very special thank you to
Lynn Pugliese-Murray and the events
committee for their time and effort in
hosting this event! We look forward
Many of our members took to social media on March 4 to “Spread the Word to End
to seeing everyone at our next
the Word”. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram again served as excellent tools to
statewide event!
educate our communities about the harmful impact of the “r –word” for people with
intellectual disabilities. The national campaign encourages people to take the pledge
to eliminate the r-word from their vocabulary to encourage respect and inclusion.
www.r-word.org
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April 26th, 3-5:30 PM
ZUMBATHON FOR DOWN SYNDROME
Get your dancing shoes ready – the
Gateways. No tickets needed –
3rd Annual Dance Party for Down
donation only - bring the whole family!
Syndromewill take place on Sunday,
All ages and fitness levels welcome!
April 26, 2015, from 3:00 – 5:30 PM
Special thanks to Cheryl Stuart-Vail for
at the Radisson Hotel and Suites, 10
doing an outstanding job planning this
Independence Drive, Chelmsford,
event each year! For more information,
MA. There will be Zumba, Vendors,
check out the link to the event on the
high energy instructors from NH and
NNEDSC Facebook page, or email
MA, all gathered to raise money and
Jeannie Dallahi at
awareness for Down syndrome.
jdallahi.nnedsc@gmail.com. Hope to
Proceeds will go to the NNEDSC and
see you there!
“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.”
- Arthur C. Clarke
Write Your Letter of
Testimony in Support of
Governor Hassan’s
Budget
If you missed the opportunity to present
testimony at the recent House Finance
Committee public sessions, you can still
submit written testimony in support of fully
funding the DD/ABD and IHS and Family
Support Services Budgets. Our legislators
need to know how important and valuable
the services are in order to prevent budget
cuts. Send your testimony to the
HouseFinanceCommittee@leg.state.nh.us
or contact your Area Agency’s Legislative
NNEDSC to Host Educational Forum
Featuring Natalie Hale
We are thrilled and honored that Natalie Hale has accepted our invitation to come
to New Hampshire on September 12, 2015, for what promises to be a day filled
with valuable teaching and parenting resources, tools, information, and insight.
“Known as an ‘inspiring and practical’ speaker, Natalie is intent on firing up her
audience with a ‘can do’ attitude, and then giving them the tools to immediately
put into practice what they've learned. Her belief that children, teens, or adults
with Down syndrome can learn is contagious, especially when best practices are
outlined and best resources given.” The workshop will be a one-day workshop at
the Executive Court Inn and Conference Center in Manchester, NH, and will
“provide a clear, step-by-step plan for teaching reading to individuals with Down
syndrome, regardless of age or secondary diagnoses”. We are looking forward to
bringing parents and educators together for this exciting day. For more
information on Natalie Hale and her resources and tools, visit
www.specialreads.com. More details will be shared in the coming months on
www.nnedsc.net and on our Facebook page. Mark your calendars now as this is
event you don’t want to miss as Natalie is in high demand throughout the country!
Liaison for more information. Together, we
can make a difference!
D.A.D.S. Comes to New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s new chapter of Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (D.A.D.S.)
recently held its first monthly meeting on March 5! D.A.D.S. from around the state
gathered for this meeting, and they have begun to plan events for the upcoming year
including the first annual D.A.D.S. golf tournament! If you would like to get involved
with D.A.D.S. please contact Kevin at DADSCHAPTER.NH@gmail.com. The next
D.A.D.S. meeting will be held on April 2nd at 6:00pm, at the Common Man
restaurant in Concord, NH.
Family Support Grants
EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AWARDS 2015:
Nominate Outstanding Teachers, Aides, and
Therapistsand Reward Their Hard Work
Did you know that the NNEDSC offers
family support grants for individuals
with Down syndrome? Grants may be
awarded for medical, educational,
therapeutic, and recreational
purposes. Applications will be
accepted throughout the year and will
be reviewed quarterly. First quarter
applications are due by March 31,
2015. Applications can be
downloaded directly from the
NNEDSC website at www.nnedsc.net,
and are located under the
“Resources” tab. We look forward to
supporting your needs!
We are accepting nominations for the 2nd annual “EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AWARD”
through April 24, 2015, and winners will be announced by May 15, 2015. This award
is in recognition of outstanding contributions to the education of people with Down
syndrome, ages 3 to 21. Two awards will be given in the amount of $250 to the
individual winners, and an additional $250 given to the school for the purchase of
new learning materials for students with Down syndrome. Nominations may be
submitted by a student, parent, co-worker, or any individual. Teachers,
paraprofessionals, therapists, and any educator can be nominated for their
achievements related to working with individuals with Down syndrome. The NNEDSC
would like to recognize contributions made by educators who go beyond
expectations, promote inclusion, innovation, and who are dedicated to advancing the
educational goals of the student (s). Last spring, we had the honor of recognizing
Jenn McCoo, a paraprofessional at Hooksett Memorial School, and Danielle Costa, a
Special Education Teacher at Main Dunstable Elementary School in Nashua, for their
remarkable contributions to educating students with Down syndrome. To submit a
nomination, please download a Nomination Form from our website, and postmark it
by April 24, 2015, www.nnedsc.net.
“Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give
up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists
that they become the best that they can possibly be”
- Rita Pierson
First Call Program
The NNEDSC’s First Call program has
welcomed many new families of children
with Down syndrome to the community
this year! The First Call program also
recently trained four new volunteers to be
new-parent mentors! Parent mentors are
trained to support parents whose baby
has received a prenatal diagnosis of Down
syndrome, who recently gave birth to a
baby with Down syndrome, and even
families of older children who may be
receiving a newdiagnosis or who are going
through a rough patch. If youwould like
to become a new-parent mentor, or
know of a parent in need of a mentor,
please contact Jenn at 603-479-1589.
4
NNEDSC: Northern New
England Down Syndrome
Congress
Gearing Up For Buddy Walk 2015
Have you considered getting involved with the annual Buddy Walk?
Well, now is your chance to make that happen for 2015! The
Buddy Walk committee is gearing up to begin preparations for
PO Box 259,
Londonderry, NH 03053
603-479-1589
info@nnedsc.net
Buddy Walk 2015, and we want your voice! In order to make it
possible for members in all parts of the state to participate,
monthly Buddy Walk committee meetings will be held via
conference call. If you are interested, please email Melissa, Buddy
[Company slogan]
Find us on the Web:
www.nnedsc.net
Walk chairperson, at melissa.mccreary@gmail.com.
Help US Help YOU!!! Survey Monkey
Please help us best meet your needs by taking a few minutes to answer 10 questions on our
short survey. We want to know what kinds of programs and services that you would like to
see us provide for your families. Please go to:http://nnedsc.net/membership-survey/
NNEDSC: Northern New England
Down Syndrome Congress
PO Box 259,
Londonderry, NH 03053
[Recipient Name]
[Street address]
[Address 2]
[City, ST ZIP Code]