Central Florida Down Syndrome Association Inc

TO CHANGE WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME THROUGH PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND ADVOCACY.

ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH1. LOW DOWN ON LAW: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DAVEY LAW GROUP, THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS ABLE TO PROVIDE TWO LOW DOWN ON LAW DAY WORKSHOPS EACH YEAR. EXPERT LAWYERS, JUDGES, AND OFFICIALS IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO BREAK DOWN THE LEGAL COMPLEXITIES FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS MUST NAVIGATE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.2. STEP UP FOR DOWN SYNDROME WALK: A DAY OF COMMUNITY CELEBRATION, FAMILIES GET TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THEIR LOVED ONE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. FAMILIES SET UP WALK TEAMS, RAISE FUNDS, FOR THE ORGANIZATION, AND ON THE DAY OF THE WALK, COME OUT TO WALK AND CELEBRATE THE ABILITIES OF THEIR LOVED ONE. COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN SHOWCASE THEIR SERVICES, WARES, ETC. 3. FAMILY FUN DAY: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL THEME PARKS, DSACF IS PERIODICALLY ABLE TO PROVIDE COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO THEME PARKS SO THAT FAMILIES CAN ENJOY A DAY OF CAMARADERIE AND PAMPERING, WHILE CELEBRATING THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. TICKETS ARE RESERVED FOR MEMBERS WHO HAVE AN ACTIVE, PAID MEMBERSHIP AND CAPACITY LIMITS ARE DICTATED BY EACH THEME PARK. IN FY22 FAMILIES ENJPYED A FAMILY FUN DAY AT LEGOLAND FLORIDA, COURTESY OF THE MERLINS MAGIC WAND FOUNDATION.4. WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY CELEBRATIOIN: A COMMUNITY EVENT CELEBRATING ALL THAT MAKES THE DOWN SYNDROME COMMUNITY SPECIAL5. UF & UCF MEDICAL SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS: A SESSION WHERE DSACF BRINGS MULTIPLE FAMILIES TO PRESENT TO EMERGING MEDICAL STUDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW THEY DELIVER A DOWN SYNDROME DIAGNOSIS AFFECTS FAMILIES. STUDENTS ALSO HEAR FROM FAMILIES ON THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY ABOUT BEING A PARENT AND NAVIGATING A WORLD THAT LARGELY DOESN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME.

RESOURCES1. SCHOLARSHIPS AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: DSACF OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO COVER EXPENSES THAT TRADITIONAL INSURANCE MY NOT COVER, INCLUDING: SWIM LESSONS, THERAPIES, SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, MEDICAL BILLS, ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, ETC. DSACF ALSO OFFERS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE AN UN-PLANNED NEED THAT CANNOT BE MET. FOR THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, DSACF PROVIDED OVER $20,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.2. EDUCATIONAL TRAININGS & SEMINARS: IT STARTS WITH HELLO (SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING); LUNCH & LEARN MONTHLY SERIES; SPECIAL READS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS; FND PATHWAYS, FND EDUCACION ESPECIAL (FOR SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES), COFFE TALKS (SPANISH SPEAKING), NEW BABY WELCOME & BASKETS AND NEW FAMILY CELEBRATION (TWICE PER YEAR); SUPER SIBS (SIBLING SUPPORT GROUP WERIES THAT TAKES PLACE TWICE PER YEAR)3. SOCIAL GROUPS, OUTINGS AND EVENTS: D.A.D.S (DADS APPRECIATING DOWN SYNDROME) SUPPORT GROUP; MOM'S NIGHT OUT SUPPORT GROUP; ; FRIENDSHIP CLUB (FOR ADULTS LOOKING TO MINGLE AND INTERACT IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OTHER MEMBERS WITH DOWN SYNDROME): TRUNK OR TREAT; HOLIDAY MOVIE UNDER THE STARS, 3 KINGS DAY EVENT; SUMMER MOVIE

PROGRAMS1. PROGRAMS FOR AGES 0 - 5 YEARS OLD: NEW FAMILY CELEBRATION; NEW PARENT WELCOME KIT AND VISITS; MUSIC WITH MRS. RACHEL, PRE-K READINESS CAMP2. PROGRAMS FOR AGES 5 YEARS OLD - 18 YEARS OLD: IT STARTS WITH HELLO (SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING); BUDDY UP TENNIS; UP BEAT JR.!; SUMMER SMILES CAMP3. PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS: BUDDY UP TENNIS; FRIENDSHIP CLUB; ENTREPRENEUR ACADEMY; UP BEAT!; READY SET SIGN; 4. PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS: READY SET SIGN; POTTY TRAINING; SPECIAL READS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS; LOW DOWN ON LAW (TWICE PER YEAR)