Advocacy Alert: Important Disability Legislation

Important disability bills are advancing through the legislature but need a final push from disability advocates like you before they can be sent to the Governor and signed into law! Read about these two important bills and how you can help below!

Equal treatment of reports of abuse and neglect (SB395/AB 400)

• The state Senate passed its version of the bill Monday October 25th!

• Now the state Assembly must schedule a floor vote and pass SB 395/AB400.

What does this bill do?

• This bill makes a technical change to make sure reports of abuse are equally investigated regardless of a person’s age.

• Current law required Adult Protective Services (APS) to investigate reports of abuse for adults 60 and over.

• Current law allows counties discretion on whether to investigate reports of abuse for people ages 18-59 living with disabilities, known as Adults at Risk

• Bill has no fiscal impact

How to help:

• Call Rep. Jim Steineke, Assembly Majority Leader and Chair of Assembly Rules Committee, at (608) 266-2418 (Rep.Steineke@legis.wisconsin.gov)

• Call Rep Robin Vos, Assembly Speaker Assembly Majority Leader and Vice-Chair of Assembly Rules Committee, at (608) 266-9171 (Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov)

• ASK THEM TO SCHEDULE AN ASSEMBLY FLOOR VOTE FOR SB 395/AB 400 THIS FALL SESSION

• Thank your state Senator for passing SB 395

  • Find your legislator

Improve access to ABLE savings accounts (SB 158/AB 167)

• The state Senate passed its version of the bill June 9th!

• Now the state Assembly must schedule a floor vote and pass SB 158/AB 167.

What does this bill do?

• Direct the state to study establishing a Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program so people with disabilities and families can earn and save more either directly or by entering into an agreement with another state or alliance of states

• This bill will take concrete steps to make ABLE accounts more accessible for Wisconsin families.

• ABLE accounts allow people who have a disability that developed before age 26 to have a tax-exempt savings account set up to cover allowable expenses (like transportation, assistive technology, personal support services, education, etc.).

• ABLE accounts do not affect eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid.
  Bill has no fiscal impact

How to Help:

• Call Rep. Jim Steineke, Assembly Majority Leader, at (608) 266-2418 (Rep.Steineke@legis.wisconsin.gov)

• Call Rep Robin Vos, Assembly Speaker, at (608) 266-9171 (Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov)

• ASK THEM TO SCHEDULE AN ASSEMBLY FLOOR VOTE FOR SB 158/AB 167 THIS FALL SESSION

Advocacy in Action

Advocacy in Action!

Dawn and Abby at the Capitol!

DSAW advocated for the rights of people with disabilities at the Capitol earlier this month! DSAW’s Executive Director, Dawn Nuoffer, and her daughter Abby spoke directly to the members of the Assembly Committee on Health regarding Assembly Bill 539. They expressed support of the bill from DSAW and other disability organizations in the state like Wisconsin Board for People with Development Disabilities, Survival Coalition, Save IRIS, National Down Syndrome Society, Madison Area Down Syndrome Society, and more.

What is Assembly Bill 539?

Assembly Bill 539 relates to prohibiting discrimination in organ transplantation on the basis of disability. This bill clarifies that doctors, hospitals, transplant centers, and other health care providers are prohibited from denying access to necessary organ transplants solely on the basis of a qualified individual’s disability. Additionally, this bill requires that, when evaluating the likelihood of a transplant’s success, health providers consider the full range of supports available to help a person with a disability manage their post-operative care. The bill also includes a fast-track procedure for challenging discrimination to ensure that people in urgent need of an organ transplant obtain timely resolutions to their claims.

Update: Bill 539 passed both the assembly and senate unanimously! The bill now needs approval from the governor to pass.

Does this type of discrimination happen?

Although federal and state laws prohibit organ transplant discrimination, people with disabilities are often denied equal access to organ transplants because of discriminatory assumptions that their lives are of poorer quality than those of people without disabilities, in addition to misconceptions about the ability of people with disabilities to comply with post-operative care. A study by Stanford University showed that 85 percent of pediatric transplant centers consider intellectual or developmental disabilities when determining eligibility for transplants. Additionally, 71 percent of heart programs also consider disabilities as a factor.

Abby speaking to Assembly Members

Self-Advocate Spotlight: Abby

During the committee meeting, Abby Nuoffer gave a moving appeal. She spoke to her experience as a self-advocate and made sure the assembly members knew that if she needed life-saving surgery, she should have the same access to organ donation as her typically-developing peers. We are so proud of Abby’s great representation of people with Down syndrome and her willingness to use her voice to advocate for herself and others!

Looking Back on September 2021

September was WALK MONTH! All of our chapters were very busy prepping and hosting their Annual Down syndrome Awareness Walks all over the state of Wisconsin! In Southeastern WI, Fox Cities, and Madison in-person programming continues and virtual programming went on as usual across the state. Read on for more details!

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DSAW hosted 6 Awareness Walks in the month of September! These Walks raise necessary funds to help keep DSAW chapters running in every region of Wisconsin. All of our chapters thank their sponsors and volunteers as well as anyone who helped fundraise, joined a team, or showed up on Walk Day! DSAW strives to be the best-supported state in the country for people with Down syndrome and their families and we could not achieve that without the help of all of you!!

DSAW- Southeastern WI 25th Anniversary Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

DSAW- Southeastern hosted its 25th Anniversary Down Syndrome Awareness Walk and family festival at the Milwaukee County Zoo on September 26th! We had an awesome turnout and exceeded our fundraising goal of $170,000!! SNAP Poms and Bella Via Dance Troupe gave energizing performances throughout the day. There were carnival games, a rock climbing wall, raffles, and more! Tom Pipines emceed our pre-walk program and 21 Showcase. The highlight of the day was when participants with Down syndrome walked down a red carpet and were celebrated by our huge crowd of attendees. We had a record number of 21 Showcase participants- 70+! We were blown away by the support and generosity of our community! BIG thank yous to everyone who fundraised from home, virtual participants, all of our amazing corporate sponsors, and the 190 volunteers who showed up to make this day happen!

Miss our Walk? You can still donate to DSAW- Southeastern WI here!

Madison Area Down Syndrome Society 20th Anniversary Awareness Walk

MADSS kicked off Walk Season with their Awareness Walk on September 19th. They started their event with a car parade that ended at Olin Park. The Walk and family festival included music, games, raffles, and more! There was a beautiful program that announced MADSS’s accomplishments, thanked sponsors, and celebrated the top fundraising teams. Because of amazing sponsorships and community support, MADSS crushed their fundraising goal and will be able to keep making dreams come true for individuals with Down syndrome and their families in the Madison area.

Missed this Walk? You can still donate to MADSS here!

DSAW- Central Wisconsin 4th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

DSAW- Central WI held their 4th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk at Marathon Park on September 25th! They had an excellent turnout and wonderful weather. The event had a huge raffle with almost 40 baskets full of goods from local businesses. The Board would like to shout-out University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point for massive student participation in this event. The UWSP Dance Team preformed and cheered on walkers as well. Participants with Down Syndrome were celebrated during the 21 Showcase and the Top 3 Fundraising Teams were awarded cash prizes. It was an incredible event!

Missed our Walk? Donate here!

DSAW- Chippewa Valley 15th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

DSAW- Chippewa Valley held their 15th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk on September 26th at Irvine Park. This chapter had a hugely successful fundraising year thanks to wonderful corporate sponsorships. The family festival included live music, a catered lunch, and raffles for all. The Top Fundraising Teams were recognized during the pre-walk rally. The chapter is excited to use their extra fundraising dollars to benefit families in their community!

Missed this Walk? You can donate here!

DSAW- Green Bay 13th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

DSAW- Green Bay had their 13th Annual Awareness Walk in a new location this year- Capital Credit Union Stadium! The Walk was very well-attended and the chapter exceeded its fundraising goal! The family festival included raffles, games, and a 21 Showcase to celebrate participants with Down syndrome. Everyone had a wonderful day raising awareness and acceptance!

You can still donate here if you missed the Walk!

DSAW- La Crosse 19th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

DSAW- La Crosse celebrated Down syndrome awareness and unity at their 19th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk! They created a visual display of their walk theme (unity) by having everyone in attendance wear their 2021 Walk t-shirts. The Walk was held at Myrick Park and had a great turnout. Winners were recognized during a pre-walk rally and then all participants walked along the route.

Missed this Walk? Donate here!

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DSAW- Fox Cities Update

DSAW- Fox Cities promoted their upcoming Awareness Walk on the local news! Dan, a member of DSAW- Fox Cities and a self advocate, spoke with Sam, a DSAW Staff Member, and his sister, DSAW- Fox Cities Client Services Manager Jen, about important fundraising deadlines and what to look forward to at the Walk! We are so proud of them for representing DSAW and getting the word out!

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Self-advocate Spotlight: Miranda!

With support from JQ, Miranda was able to achieve her dream of becoming a certified yoga instructor!

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DSAW Program Updates

DSAW Skills Training Academy

Skills Training Academy includes scheduled class instruction paired with hands-on application of skills. This class includes time for physical workout, along with some fun and creative activities for our participants. Some of these activities include: fall door decorations, technology trivia, hula hoop exercise, tic-tac-toe basketball, bingo, karaoke, technology memory & practice in creating events using an app. 

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Tween Club Is Back!

Tween Club is back in Southeastern WI and Fox Cities!!

This is a FREE program for children with Down syndrome and other disabilities who are under 18! Both locations host it once a month!

More Information & Sign Up

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Virtual Family Night: BINGO Party

DSAW loves hosting virtual fun for families once a month! This month’s family night was Virtual BINGO! Families had a great time getting competitive and having fun online. We are looking forward to the next one already!

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DSAW Small Groups

DSAW Small Groups are a huge success! Participants under and over 18 love the opportunity to develop friendships, meet new people, and explore their communities. This group went out to a delicious dinner together!

More Information

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Social Skills Group

Participants create their own SMART goals in DSAW Social Skills Group! This group and groups like it are perfect for individuals who are interested in goal setting, improving their communication skills, and working on social interactions!

Looking Back on August 2021

Summer is flying by at DSAW! State hosted the Annual DSAW Golf Outing. DSAW- Green Bay held a bike-along along the Fox River. DSAW- La Crosse invited local families to a huge outdoor picnic. DSAW-Sheboygan hosted their Mini Golf & Awareness Walk Fundraiser. Families from all over the state attended a virtual hula lesson and we wrapped up our summer in-person programs in Southeastern WI, Madison, and the Fox Cities. Read on for more!

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25th Annual Pip & Homer Golf Outing

On August 11th, DSAW hosted our 25th Annual Golf Outing! Unfortunately due to storms, golfers were unable to use carts on the course during the event, but all attendees received a voucher to come play another day, and many chose to walk the golf course instead. Despite the weather, we still enjoyed the usual activities: putting contests, raffles, a paddle auction, and of course great food.

DSAW is so grateful to all event staff, volunteers, and attendees for coming out and making the best of this day with us. We appreciate the generosity and flexibility of everyone! Thank you to Western Lakes for hosting us, to Pip and Homer for emceeing our event, and to our key sponsors: Erie Insurance, Alpine Plywood Corp, PCI, Cardinal Capital Management, and Sid Grinker.

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DSAW- Sheboygan Mini Golf & Walk Fundraiser

Thank you to everyone who helped make The DSAW- Sheboygan Mini Golf & Walk Fundraiser a huge success on August 28th! We were able to crush our fundraising goals and celebrate incredible individuals and families in our community. Thank you to volunteers, vendors, key sponsors, and everyone who participated!

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Green Bay Bike Along

DSAW- Green Bay hosted a bike along event along the Fox River! Local tweens and teens with Down syndrome rode bikes with their families all the way to Voyageur Park. Then the group had their family play group for the little kids! Thanks for everyone who showed up!

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DSAW- Central WI DJ Dance Party

Our Central WI chapter kicked off August with a dance party for teens and tweens. One of our awesome board members hosted the dance. What made the party really special was DJ Andrew Patterson! He is a local DJ who has Down syndrome and the events he plays for us are always the most fun:) Thanks to all who attended!

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Statewide Campground Day

DSAW- Fox Cities hosted a day of free admission to Evergreen Campground for people with disabilities and their families. The chapter extended the offer to all DSAW chapters and the event was well-attended by families from all over Wisconsin.

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Summer Skills Training Academy

Summer Skills Training Academy came to a close at the end of August. We had the best summer ever and learned so much! This program will pick back up in fall.

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DSAW Summer Work Hub

It was sad to see the DSAW Work Hub come to an end for summer. During their time together interns played games to review the major soft skills they worked on- team work, problem solving, flexibility, zones of regulation, strategies, taking initiative, positive self talk, and whole body listening! Everyone was fully aware of their goals that they made at the beginning of hub and everyone showed improvement!

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321 Fun Camp

DSAW- Fox Cities completed a 4 week long program called 321 Fun Summer Camp! Participants loved being in the new Appleton WI headquarters this summer. Camp was spent doing many fun things such as bowling, swimming and splash pads, board games, crafts, Wii sports, Just Dance, karaoke, as well as musical sessions with Expressive Therapies and yoga sessions with Be Center for Holistic Mental Health and Healing.

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Behind the scenes!

Virtual Hula Lesson

DSAW hosted a virtual hula class with Na Hale Studios! Participants had a blast learning about Polynesian culture and how each hula move represents something. The class learned a dance about going to a party - or hukilau - after a day of fishing. Tina the instructor performed the dance that was in Lilo and Stitch. Participants got to ask her questions too!

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DSAW Webinar Series Presents: Inclusive Education: Establishing a Shared Understanding of Why, What and How.

DSAW hosted a webinar called Inclusive Education: Establishing a Shared Understanding of Why, What and How. The content was geared towards educators and professionals in the education field. The presenter was Michelle Lockwood. She is the Director of Positive Behavior Support Services for the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education. She covered what inclusive education looks like in practice and what it takes to make inclusive education happen. Participants had time to ask questions at the end.

Missed this webinar? We have recordings of our webinars for you to access anytime. Please click the link to explore our Webinar Library or to access the recording of Inclusive Education: Establishing a Shared Understanding of Why, What and How.

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DSAW Small Groups

DSAW Small Groups helped these two reconnect after going separate ways following high school! The group had beach days, practiced ordering different food and drinks in the community, went shopping and had a great summer!

FINDING A JOB MADSS SEGMENT

MYTHS ABOUT HIRING PEOPLE WITH DS

WHAT IS MADSS?

Looking Back on July 2021

DSAW is having such a fun summer! DSAW- Southeastern WI continues to run Skills Training Academy from our office. Headquarters opened up to host our first in-person event in over a year- the DSAW Family BBQ! State also partnered with HEAR to host a virtual ASL lesson. Read on for more!

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Green Bay Playgroup

DSAW- Green Bay is back to hosting monthly play groups for families with little ones who have Down syndrome. This month families met up at Titletown District Playground for some fun in the sun.

Our next playgroup is August 14

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Summer Skills Training Academy

Skills Training Academy is up and running at DSAW Headquarters in West Allis, WI!

Highlight: Participants entertained each other with an epic karaoke party! This group is full of stars who have a talent for singing, dancing, and putting on a great show!

Watch video here!

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DSAW Family BBQ

DSAW headquarters opened up to host the first in-person program in over a year for the DSAW Family BBQ! Hot Off The Grill preformed awesome live music. We had yummy BBQ food, crafts, contests, and yard games. Thank you to the Self Advocate Committee for hosting the craft table and thank you to our volunteers who helped make the fun happen! Already looking forward to next year!

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Virtual ASL Lesson from HEAR

Thank you so much to Ruth from HEAR for hosting a virtual ASL lesson with DSAW! Our participants loved learning the alphabet and requesting to learn the signs for their favorite words. We even learned how to sign “Milwaukee Bucks!”

Check out our Virtual Hula Class on August 18

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DSAW Connects Highlight: Young Leaders

Participants in the Virtual Young Leaders class talked about friendship! They discussed what it takes to be a good friend and what to look for in friendships.
The group also participated in a multi-day discussion about different types of people you might meet while at your job: managers and different types of co-workers and customers. The group is working on learning how to manage those different types of relationships.

Looking Back on June 2021

In-person programming is back on around the state! During June, chapters across the state resumed hosting family meet-ups and playdates. Classes began in Southeastern WI, Fox Cities, and MADSS. All DSAW Awareness Walks are launched and open for registration. Read on for more info!

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Awareness Walk Virtual Fun

The WINNER of our first virtual walk contest, winning a $100 gift card to a business of her choice, was Elizabeth Weber!! Elizabeth signed up for our Statewide Awareness Walk at the Zoo and was randomly chosen out of the several hundred people that have signed up for our Walks!

Stay tuned for next month's virtual challenge!

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Rhett’s Believers

DSAW partnered with Versiti to host a blood drive at DSAW HQ in honor of a child in our community who is undergoing chemo treatments. Thanks to everyone who donated! Becuase of you, up to 84 local patients’ lives can be prolonged and/or saved!

If you’d like to donate blood in honor of Rhett, make an appointment at any Versiti donor center and enter the code: “Rhett” into the NOTES section when they make the appointment.

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Green Bay Therapy Playgroup

DSAW- Green Bay is back to hosting monthly play groups for families with little ones who have Down syndrome. June was extra special because they were joined by occupational therapists from Bellin Health. Therapists were able to provide instruction and advice to participating parents free of charge.

Our next playgroup is July 10th!

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Summer Skills Training Academy

Skills Training Academy is up and running at DSAW Headquarters in West Allis, WI!

Participants are enjoying making new friends, learning about life skills and wellness, and spending plenty of time outside making the most of the summer weather!

Highlight: Workout Scavenger Hunt! Participants were able to make their workout extra fun buy searching for clues around DSAW! The clues told them what exercise to do next. Check out our Instagram Story Highlight “DSAW” for videos of this program @dsawisconsin

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DSAW Small Groups

Our small group outings have been a huge success! We are so happy to make connections and friendships among the younger participants in our community. These groups focus on getting out in the local area, expanding interests, practicing life skills, and having fun!

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Family Farm Day at Cozy Nook Farm

Farmer Tom and Brittany guided DSAW families around Cozy Nook Farm! Participants learned about dairy cows, how a farm operates, and what the cows eat. Also, participants got to feed the cows and goats and go on a hayride to see the alfalfa field where the food for the cows is grown.

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Corny Jokes & Popcorn Night

Knock, knock! Who’s there?

Families and self advocates had a great time at DSAW’s Virtual Family Night this month. Participants came prepared with joke books and we took turns cracking each other up. We watched a few funny videos too. Participants also discussed popcorn recipes and enjoyed their snack from home.

Looking Back on May 2021

DSAW had a very exciting May! Our summer programming registration launched statewide and includes in-person options in select locations. We hosted a virtual Name That Tune Party for friends all over the state and our Self Advocate Committee hosted a pop-up program. WSG Futsal Club hosted a charity soccer game on our behalf and we got to go cheer on the team. We are excited to plan even more safe programming for you as restrictions are lifted! Read on for all the details!

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The DSAW News

Sam and Lilly share what's been going on at DSAW during May.

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Thank you WSG Futsal Club & PCI!

DSAW- Southeastern WI thanks WSG Futsal Club and PCI for hosting a very successful and fun charity soccer game on May 7! We loved watching the team play and cheering you on! Also, a big thank you to everyone who attended the game and participated in the raffles. We are so lucky to have such a dedicated community around us.

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Introducing the DSAW Self-Advocate Program Committee

DSAW has a new group of self-advocates who meet up and share their ideas and experiences so DSAW can become even better! The group hosted a virtual Pop-Up class on May 10th. They introduced the DSAW Self Advocate Committee and defined what they will do. Each self-advocate presented on a topic important to them and shared it with the rest of the group. Here is what they shared:
Tilly: "The Power of Poetry”
Hannah: “How Others Express Their Feelings”
Kathryn: “Social Media Platforms”
Katya: “Your Voice is Your Superpower”
Sam: “Friendships & How to Be a Good Friend”

We can’t wait to see what this awesome group does next!

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DSAW Webinar: Transition Workshop

DSAW hosted a webinar for parents across Wisconsin that covered the transition that occurs when an individual with Down syndrome turns 18. It was well attended and thank you to everyone who logged on for the amazing questions. Your participation generated great conversation.

You can access the webinar recording here.

Upcoming Webinar: Advocating for Inclusive Education: Supporting Parents & Families

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Check out our next Virtual Family Night: DSAW Corny Joke & Popcorn Night

DSAW Virtual Family Night: Name That Tune Party

Our Zoom Name That Tune Party was a hit! Families from around the state had a great time guessing song titles, lyrics, and albums and competing for bragging rights:) Our playlist featured songs old and new from a variety of genres.

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Milwaukee Milkmen Game Day

DSAW was the featured non-profit at the May 29th Milwaukee Milkmen baseball game! Thank you to the Milkmen and everyone who bought tickets! Jen and Dan K from DSAW- Fox Cities threw out the first pitch!

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Free Program Fun

Stream Team

Stream Team was excited about meeting on Cinco de Mayo so they had a party to celebrate the holiday! The party included a few rounds of Kahoot trivia about Cinco de Mayo.

Mom’s Book Club

DSAW Mom’s Book Club is for moms and female caregivers who want to get together once a month to meet, talk about a positive/inspiring books, and share support. In May, DSAW Mom’s Book Club read “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig.

Looking Back on April 2021

Happy spring! A few of our chapters enjoyed the nice weather with outdoor hiking programs. DSAW hosted several virtual events including a virtual open mic night and a webinar series. Read on to see what DSAW got up to around the state this month!

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Volunteer Appreciation

April 18-24 was National Volunteer Week! DSAW is lucky to work with an incredible group of volunteers who truly put their hearts and souls into helping individuals with disabilities and their families.

Thank you, DSAW Volunteers, for the effort, energy, and time you give to our organization. We absolutely could not do it without you!

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DSAW- Green Bay Summer Therapy Scholarships Launch

This summer, DSAW- Green Bay is launching a new scholarship program to support families in paying for out-of-pocket summer therapy programs for their loved one with Down syndrome.

Please read the requirements and fill out the form to apply. You will be contacted by DSAW to confirm your scholarship.

More Information & Apply

Thank you to the Green Bay Packers Foundation for sponsoring this program!

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DSAW Webinar Series: Respond Don’t React

DSAW hosted a webinar series during the month of April. The series was called “Respond Don’t React” and was led by DSAW’s Education & Projects Specialist, Chris Gagne. Chris walked participants through Dr. David Stein's book “Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome.” Participants were able to get their specific child care questions answered and the group discussed real-life scenarios.

DSAW keeps recordings of previous webinars for you to access anytime. Check out this webinar recording here.

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Virtual Open Mic Night

DSAW hosts monthly virtual family nights and April’s was an Open Mic Night! This program attracted many young self-advocates from all over the state and even a few friends from other states. Participants sang karaoke songs, danced, and cheered each other on.

Check out the next virtual family night here!

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DSAW Family Nature Hike at Retzer Nature Center

DSAW families in Southeastern WI got together on a rainy Saturday afternoon for a guided hike at Retzer Nature Center! A naturalist from the nature center talked to participants about the changes that happen in the environment during springtime. We went on a hike in the woods and participants were able to fill out nature “Bingo” cards to keep track of all the cool things they found. Highlights were seeing a bird’s nest, a turkey vulture, and finding a lot of creepy crawly bugs!

Check out our next family event here!

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DSAW- Central WI Active Moms

This group, from our Central WI chapter, hosts occasional outings (outside and socially distanced) for moms who have children with disabilities in our community.

On April 9th, the group hiked the Ice Age Trail: Emmons Creek Segment. They braved the cold and rain and had a blast getting outside and spending time together.

More outings coming soon!

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Mom’s Virtual Coffee Chat

DSAW- Central WI hosted a virtual coffee date for moms and caregivers in the Central WI area. Moms logged on to Zoom and chatted about the pandemic, working from home while raising kids, and their plans once things start opening up. It was such a nice way to connect with friends we haven’t seen in a while.

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Self Advocate Spotlight: Tim

Congratulations to Tim for starting his new job at MOD Pizza! Tim worked with DSAW Family Services to achieve his employment goals. Go, Tim! Your DSAW family is so happy for you!

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What’s Going on in DSAW Connects?

Creative Corner

This virtual class uses everyday objects around the house to create art projects. This month participants recycled cardboard to make cute frogs.

Travel The Globe

Throughout April in Travel the Globe we finished up our tour of the US and headed out of the country. After learning about a ton of states, we have now traveled to Canada, France, and are currently in Italy.

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Free Program Fun

Stream Team

Stream Team explored some new games this month. The group played a storytelling game, found a new “would you rather” question generator online, and discovered Zoom “Guess Who.”

Mom’s Book Club

DSAW Mom’s Book Club is for moms and female caregivers who want to get together once a month to meet, talk about a positive/inspiring books, and share support. In April, DSAW Mom’s Book Club read “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah.

Looking Back on March 2021

We celebrate our friends with Down syndrome all year long, but March is especially important to our community because of World Down Syndrome Day on 3/21! The DSAW Chapters spent the month prepping for various World Down Syndrome Day celebrations, both online and in-person, while our regular DSAW Connects programming continued. DSAW also recognized our important supporters virtually throughout the month.

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Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day… Virtually

Like all holidays, celebrations, and events, WDSD looked different this year. DSAW adapted our programming to virtual formats to make celebrating World Down Syndrome Day possible for everyone in our community. All you needed was an internet connection to get in on the 3/21 fun!

Celebrating on Social Media

DSAW invited our friends and followers online to post pictures on social media of their loved ones with Down syndrome. We encouraged people to use the hashtag #EXTRAordinary321 to highlight how their loved one exceeds expectations. DSAW also created its own Facebook frame so people could raise awareness about WDSD online.

DSAW’s Digital WDSD Party

Ahead of World Down Syndrome Day, DSAW and MADSS families logged on to Zoom for a Virtual WDSD Party! Participants played a Kahoot and answered some DS trivia. The event ended with a virtual dance party!

Check out our next Virtual Family Night on April 15th!

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World Down Syndrome Day Celebrations Across the State

DSAW- Central WI

DSAW- Central WI had an amazing time celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with GiGi's Playhouse Wausau on 3/21! DJ Andrew Patterson was taking song requests and he brought a bubble machine. Participants danced, enjoyed the nice weather, and ate delicious snacks and treats.

Thank you to all who attended and to the volunteers who made sure this event ran smoothly and safely! Thank you to ACE Kids Club for providing crafts and activities, Rachel Roelse and her family for sharing cupcakes and a WDSD cake, Texas Roadhouse Wausau, and Andrew Patterson/ DJ Buffet for his DJ services!

DSAW- Fox Cities

DSAW- Fox Cities had a GORGEOUS day for their WDSD Drive-Thru Event. The chapter leaders had a wonderful time seeing familiar faces and absolutely loved meeting some new families and welcoming them to the DSAW- FC family!

DSAW- Green Bay

DSAW- Green Bay enjoyed a very sunny World Down Syndrome Day on 3/21! The chapter had perfect weather to distribute goodie bags full of local treats outside. Thank you to the following businesses for contributing items for the goodie bags:

Poppin' Z's Gourmet Popcorn

Batter up bake shop

Village Roasters LLC

De Pere Cinema

Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream - Green Bay

And thank you Faith Lutheran Church Green Bay for letting us use your parking lot!

DSAW- La Crosse

La Crosse families had a blast at the DSAW- La Crosse WDSD Outdoor Party. Participants gathered outside for a picnic lunch and to pick up their one-of-a-kind World Down Syndrome Day posters. The whole community enjoyed seeing friends after these long months indoors. Already looking forward to WDSD 2022!

DSAW- Southeastern WI

DSAW- Southeastern WI had an EXTRAordinary time at their World Down Syndrome Day Drive-Thru & Celebration on 3/21! Chapter leaders and participants were so happy to gather in a socially distant way and celebrate their friends and loved ones with Down syndrome.

Thank you to all the families that stopped by and to our wonderful volunteers who helped the event run smoothly and safely.

DSAW- Sheboygan

Thank you to everyone who signed up to receive a World Down Syndrome Day goodie bag from DSAW- Sheboygan! We hope you had an EXTRAordinary day celebrating your loved ones with Down syndrome. We had a blast packaging up these swag bags and giving them to our community.

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30th Anniversary Extrava-Gala Awards

As part of our World Down Syndrome Day celebration, DSAW recognized the awardees that we intended to celebrate at our 30th Anniversary Extrava-Gala! Throughout the month, we sent out emails with information about our wonderful partners who helped to shape DSAW into what we are today. You can watch the awardee videos and learn more about them below!

30th Anniversary Extrava-Gala Awardees

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DSAW Webinar:

On March 24th, DSAW hosted a webinar that featured Dr. David Stein called “Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome: The respond but don’t react method.” Dr. David Stein is the founder of New England Neurodevelopment, LLC, a pediatric psychology practice in the greater Boston area of Massachusetts (www.NENeurodevelopment.com). He is also the author of the book Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome: The Respond, but Don't React Method (Woodbine House, 2016).

This webinar covered the basic neuroscience of Down syndrome and how it informs effective behavior management. It presented practical strategies for use in the home and school settings from childhood through transition to adulthood. Watch the recording of the webinar here.

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Health & Wellness Pop Up Class

Towards the end of March, DSAW hosted a health & wellness pop-up class that featured two guest speakers: a licensed dietician & a personal trainer. The first half of the class focused on being active! Participants swapped tips for exercising and being healthy right at home.

The second half of class was about eating healthy. The class learned about eating foods that are a variety of colors, learned about healthy cooking, and got a few recipes. The class also visually saw how much sugar is in one bottle of Coke. Everyone was shocked!

If you’d like to sign up for Pop Up classes, 30 additional units will be added to your plan. These are fun classes and events that will “pop up” during January- June. You can pick and choose which ones you’d like to attend! DSAW Instructors will turn to YOU for class ideas and actives! Questions about Pop Up Classes? Contact Mary, Adult Services Manager.

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DSAW Connects During March

Read on to see what our virtual classes have been up to!

Sports Talk

In our Sports Talk class, instructors work with self-advocates to help them co- lead the class and lesson plan! A participant, Sam, gave a powerpoint presentation about his favorite athletes and talked about his job experience working with the Shorewood High School Athletic Department girls/boys basketball teams!

Exploring Music & Movies

The class celebrated International Women's Day by exploring women in music & film. They looked at the history of women in the industry and explored some examples. The class ended with a video of the "Top 10 Girl Power Songs!”

Exploring Food

This class’s March theme was “Healthy Snacks.” Participants chatted about all their favorite healthy snacks! We learned what makes a snack healthy vs. unhealthy. Then we made a favorite healthy, no-bake snack: Energy Balls! Together we measured, rolled the balls, and washed dishes. Such a blast!

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Stream Team

Stream Team continues to enjoy chatting and playing activities over Zoom. This month we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a festive round of trivia.

DSAW Zoom Zumba

Zoom Zumba is a fun and FREE hour of fitness hosted by DSAW and MADSS. The class is guided by a certified Zumba instructor. Participants have enjoyed requesting songs and rockin’ out to the upbeat music.