Down Syndrome Indiana Inc

WE ENHANCE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE ADVISE, EDUCATE, ENCOURAGE, CONNECT, INCLUDE, AND ADVOCATE.

BUDDY WALKTHE BUDDY WALK PROGRAM WELCOMES PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROMOTE ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. THIS PROGRAM IS HELD ANNUALLY IN THREE CITIES IN INDIANA INCLUDING INDIANAPOLIS, LAFYETTE, AND TERRE HAUTE. DUE TO COVID-19, THE REGIONAL BUDDY WALKS IN TERRE HAUTE AND LAFAYETTE WERE VIRTUAL. THE INDIANAPOLIS BUDDY WALK WAS IN-PERSON. THESE EVENTS HAD A COMBINED 2,200 PARTICIPANTS.

PARENT SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONNEW PARENT PACKETS - DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE PARENT PACKETS THAT CONTAIN A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TO PARENTS THAT HAVE A NEWBORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME OR HAVE JUST LEARNED OF THE DIAGNOSIS BEFORE THEIR CHILD IS BORN. THESE PACKETS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE FAMILIES UPON REQUEST OR THROUGH LOCAL HOSPITALS. A SPANISH VERSION OF THE NEW PARENT PACKET IS ALSO AVAILABLE! THERE WERE 185 NEW PARENT PACKETS DISTRIBUTED IN 2021.COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS - DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA RECOGNIZES THAT THERE ARE VARIED INTERESTS AMONG THE DOWN SYNDROME COMMUNITY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE GEOGRAPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS, CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS, EDUCATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, AND AGE CONSIDERATIONS. DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA RECOGNIZES THE BENEFITS OF A COMMUNITY GROUP AMONG THESE FAMILIES. COMMUNITY GROUPS INCLUDE: CASS AREA DOWN SYNDROME (CADS), CUENTA CONMIGO, DADS APPRECIATING DOWN SYNDROME (DADS), DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA LAFAYETTE, DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA TERRE HAUTE, MADISON HANCOCK PLAYGROUP, MOM'S NIGHT OUT, SELF-ADVOCATES, AND WESTSIDE.FIRST CALL - FIRST CALL VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN LIVES BY SERVING AS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT WITH A NEW FAMILY. A FIRST CALL PARENT IS TRAINED IN EMPATHETIC LISTENING SKILLS AND IS A NEW PARENT'S FIRST LOOK AT WHAT LIFE WITH A CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME IS LIKE.MEDICAL OUTREACH - THE GOAL IS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUST AND RESPECT BETWEEN MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND THE DOWN SYNDROME COMMUNITY. PROVIDE ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME TO MEDICAL PROVIDERS.THE LEARNING PROGRAM - THE LEARNING PROGRAM PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND WAS DEVELOPED TO SUPPLEMENT TRADITIONAL EDUCATION IN READING AND MATH THROUGH DIRECT INSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS FOR STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME OR OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS - DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA REPRESENTATIVES SPOKE TO OVER 980 PEOPLE IN 2021 THROUGH DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS PRESENTATIONS. WE SPEAK TO K-12 STUDENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND CORPORATE PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONS.DURING 2021, DOWN SYNDROME INDIANA WAS ABLE TO REACH 2,553 PARENTS AND 1,291 INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMMING.