Downs Syndrome Association Of Greater Richmond Inc

THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF GREATER RICHMOND IS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BENEFITS THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY. WE ADVOCATE FOR AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING BY EDUCATING OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ABOUT DS, AND OFFERING EDUCATION PRACTICES TO HELP OUR MEMBERS NAVIGATE THE SCHOOL YEARS - FROM IEPS TO BEHAVIOR AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. WE BELIEVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME ARE VALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IN WHOM ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH FULL OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, INDIVIDUALS WITH DS WILL ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS. WE BOAST A MEMBERSHIP OF HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES, A COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES AND EMBRACES RAISING CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME WE LISTEN, WE LEARN, AND WE HAVE FUN TOGETHER, WE HELP OUR MEMBERS EVERY STEP OF THE JOURNEY.

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD. PROGRAMS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES ARE LISTED IN DETAIL BELOW. THESE PROGRAMS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES HELPED TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS, THERAPISTS AND OTHER HEALTH RELATED PROFESSIONALS.IN ADDITION TO VOLUNTEER SERVICES, THE ORGANIZATION IS THE GRATEFUL RECIPIENT OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY 100% OF ITS BOARD AND STAFF. DURING 2021, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO HOST SOCIAL AND EDUCATION VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDED 116 SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS WITH 1,308 PARTICIPANTS (PARTICIPANTS ARE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND/OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS). OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: DSAGR PROVIDES SOCIAL PROGRAMMING AND MEMBER ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL FAMILIES, AS WELL AS TARGETED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME BY A VARIETY OF AGE GROUPS. OUR SOCIAL GROUPS BY AGE FOSTERS FRIENDSHIPS, PEER SOCIALIZATION, NETWORKING AND RESOURCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND PARENTS. MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY GROUP THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.HANDS UP! - AGE 0-5 YEARS OLDADVENTURERS - AGE 6-12 YEARS OLDFUNQUEST - AGE 13-21 YEARS OLDFUN4LIFE - AGE 21 AND UPDURING 2021, DSAGR HOSTED A VARIETY OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SOCIAL GROUP EVENTS. IN THE SPRING, DSAGR HOSTED VIRTUAL SOCIAL MEETINGS FOR ALL AGES WHERE MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO PLAY GAMES AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES AND SOCIALIZE. THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED A VARIETY OF POPULAR GAMES, SUCH AS JEOPARDY, MEMORY, AND SCRAMBLE. DURING SPRING 2021, OUR ADULTS IN FUN4LIFE MET EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY VIA ZOOM FOR LUNCH BUNCH. THE MEMBERS RECEIVE THE RECIPE AND INSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF TIME, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO SHOP FOR INGREDIENTS AND THEN ON THE MEETING THEY PREPARE AND EAT LUNCH TOGETHER. DURING THE FALL 2021, OUR FUN4LIFE ADULTS MET FOR DINNERS OUT AND TRAIL HIKES. OUR ADVENTURERS AND FUNQUEST GROUPS SOCIALIZED WITH MINIATURE GOLF OUTINGS, TRAIL WALK AND SCAVENGER HUNTS AND PARK MEET-UPS. OUR HANDS UP MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER FOR A SPLASH DAY AT THE PARK, PARK MEET AND GREETS AND ART CLASSES. FAMILY EVENTS FOR 2021 INCLUDED A FAMILY PICNIC, TRUNK OR TREAT, ORNAMENT DECORATING AND HOLIDAY PARTY.DSAGR HAS OTHER TARGETED GROUPS TO HELP PROVIDE MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. THESE GROUPS INCLUDE:DSPLUS - DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONE HAS DOWN SYNDROME, BUT MAY ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL "SOMETHING EXTRA" THAT CAN BRING DIFFERENT NEEDS. THIS GROUP PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS TO COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER, NO MATTER WHAT THAT EXTRA SOMETHING MAY BE.MOMS AND DADS- DESIGNED TO GIVE EACH PARENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN UNIQUE NETWORK OF SUPPORT. THESE GROUPS HELP PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP, RESOURCE SHARING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. DURING 2021, OUR SOCIAL GROUPS DADS AND MOMS CONTINUED TO MEET BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETINGS TO RESOURCE AND NETWORK. GRANDPARENT TO GRANDPARENT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE EACH GRANDPARENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN UNIQUE NETWORK OF SUPPORT. THIS GROUP PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP, RESOURCE SHARING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.COMMUNITY GROUPS - IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA AREA, DSAGR ALSO SUPPORTS THE DOWN SYNDROME COMMUNITIES IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, WILLIAMSBURG AND THE CENTRAL SHENANDOAH VALLEY. THESE COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE EACH FAMILY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN UNIQUE NETWORK OF SUPPORT, RESOURCE SHARING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE COMMUNITY GROUPS A VARIETY OF FAMILY EVENTS IN 2021 INCLUDING FAMILY PICNICS AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN OVER 16 DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES HAVE HELPED PARENTS LEARN HOW TO RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICES, PROVIDE THE BEST SCHOOL AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, GATHER AND SHARE RESOURCES ABOUT HOW TO BEST INCLUDE THEIR CHILD IN THE COMMUNITY. DURING 2021, DSAGR LAUNCHED A NEW LEARN TO GROW BABY SERIES FOR PARENTS WHO HAD CHILDREN 0-18 MONTHS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. THIS CLASS PROVIDED PARENTS AN 8-WEEK CLASS SERIES WITH INFORMATION & RESOURCES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT. IT INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS BY SIX EARLY INTERVENTION & THERAPY PROFESSIONALS COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS, SPEECH & LANGUAGE, ORAL MOTOR PLANNING, SENSORY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, BEHAVIOR & SOCIAL, AND VISION & HEARING.IN ADDITION, DSAGR WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND HELD MANY MEETINGS VIRTUALLY. THIS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:ANNUAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE - HELD VIRTUALLY IN FEB 2021 AND WAS 3-SPEAKER SERIES ON TOPICS ON INCLUSION, BEHAVIOR AND TRANSITION. THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE HAD OVER 135 ATTENDEES FROM 30 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT VIRGINIA AND ATTENDEES FROM 14 OTHER STATES.LEARNING PROGRAM 2021-2022 - 12 FAMILIES ATTENDING VIRTUAL CLASSES EACH SATURDAY ONCE A MONTHPARENT VIRTUAL CLASSES FOR PRE K-ELEMENTARYHOSTED SEVERAL PARENT EDUCATION WEBINARS, INCLUDING PARENT CHAT ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL AND INCLUSION, SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST WEBINAR AND VCU ACE IT COLLEGE INFORMATION. MOVING ON - HOSTED TWO 6-WEEK COMMUNICATION CLASSES FOR ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY SPEECH THERAPY GRADUATE STUDENTS.SUMMER EMPLOYMENT ACADEMY - HELD OUR 4-WEEK EMPLOYMENT ACADEMY WITH 8 STUDENTS AND PARTNERING WITH 8 BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY. IEP REVIEWS AND PARENT EDUCATION SUPPORTADVOCACY/AWARENESS:SPREADING AWARENESS, ADVOCACY AND INCLUSION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARC OF VIRGINIA, THE NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY AND THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA ON WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY. ALSO, DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THEIR ABILITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SOME EXAMPLES ARE:STATE BUDGET HEARINGS ADVOCACY DAY ON CAPITOL HILL IN RVAWORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAYVISIT TO CAPITOL HILL IN DCSTATE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGSFUNDRAISING: MONTHLY RESTAURANT FUNDRAISERS OTHER COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS ANNUAL RAFFLEANNUAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT - 2 WEEKENDSONLINE AUCTION AND VIRTUAL TRIVIA NIGHTANNUAL STEP UP FOR DOWN SYNDROME 5K & FAMILY FESTIVALDADS GOLF TOURNAMENTANNUAL APPEALFAMILY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH:ENGAGING FAMILIES AT EVERY STATE OF LIFE BY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, BRINGING THEM TOGETHER WITH PURPOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPANDING DSAGR'S GEOGRAPHIC REACH IS A MAJOR PRIORITY AND THE MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH BEGINS AT BIRTH AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE LIFESPAN.COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS BY THE FOLLOWING GROUPS: VCU DENTAL, VCU MEDICAL STUDENTS, HANOVER SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND VCU EDUCATION DEPARTMENTFIRST CALL VISITS - 26, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 49 NEW FAMILIES REACHING OUT TO DSAGR, FOR A TOTAL OF 75 NEW FAMILIES.PROVIDED $15,698 TO 37 INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS.FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS ON OUR MULTIPLE PAGES - 500 ON FIVE PARENT PAGES AND 2,961 ON MAIN DSAGR PAGETWITTER FOLLOWERS, 177. INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS, 463