Milwaukee
22nd Annual Tom Pipines Golf Outing On Wednesday, August 15th, DSAW friends and families gathered at Western Lakes golf course for a day of golf, great food, and fundraising! We also presented our special guest Tom Pipines with a Lifetime Achievement Award for all he has accomplished in his career and in the disability community! We want to extend a HUGE thank you to all of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers who made this event possible!!
Milwaukee Pool Party
Families joined us at the Hales Corners pool for a day of fun in the sun! We had a great time splashing around, eating food and enjoying each other's company!
Racine Zoo Day
We also hosted a family event at the beautiful Racine Zoo! DSAW families had a taco lunch, won raffle prizes, did sack races and summer crafts, and got to explore the zoo!
Circles Class
Our second Circles session began July 25th and went through the month of August! We have been learning about personal boundaries, relationships, safety, and appropriate social behaviors!
Down Syndrome & Alzheimer's Memory Cafe
We were so excited to host our FIRST ever memory cafe in Milwaukee. Thanks to a grant from Bader Philanthropies, we have been studying up on Down syndrome and Alzheimer's for several months. At the beginning of August, we got to teach other families what we know and see them come together in a casual environment. Stay tuned for more Ds and Alzheimer's programming!
Young Leaders Bootcamp
We spent this month at Bootcamp learning about different life skills! We did a clothing night when we made t-shirts and learned to sew buttons onto clothes. We also practiced with money and healthy eating!
Bootcamp meets on Tuesday nights at 6pm. Join us in September!
DSAW Fun Days
On the 9th, we had another Fun Day! Fun Days are mini, one day respite opportunities for kiddos ages 10-16. This was our very last Fun Day for the summer! We went to the State Fair, danced and sang along to an Elvis impersonator, and ate some GREAT fair food!
Family Movie Night
Every month, we bring our blankets, sleeping bags, pillows and teddy bears and get comfy for a Movie Night at our West Allis office! This month we watched Cars 3! Join us next month!!
Club DSAW
At Club DSAW, self-advocates ages 15+ get a chance to do fun things in the community with each other! This month we went to Comedy Sportz for the Saturday matinee!! We had so much fun watching the match and meeting the players.
Motor Skills Playgroup
Our Motor Skills Playgroup meets every second and fourth Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 11:30! This group is a fun chance for children to learn occupational therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other's company. This month we finished our music therapy program and had great time dancing and singing out hearts out! Music therapy ended this month, but awesome things are still happening at Playgroup! Sign up to join us!
Young Leaders Academy
Our Young Leaders Academy at our West Allis office meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month. We are also have a Young Leaders Class at our Northside location in Fox Point! This location meets the first and second Fridays of the month from 7 - 9 PM! Classes start off with an energetic game and end with an hour of employment-readiness curriculum. Self-Advocates are invited to join our class anytime. Come out to Young Leaders Academy in September in West Allis or in Fox Point!
Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! This month at tween club we did crafts, played games and got into some very serious games of kickball. Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, September 14th. Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. Sign up to join us!
Parent's Night Out
Each month, DSAW parents, grandparents, and caregivers get together for a night of casual conversation and free appetizers. This month we hung outside on the patio at Fourth-N-Long. We meet every second Friday of the month and will be back at Cleveland Pub in the future! Join us next time: September 14th!
Summer Wellness Class
Our summer session of Health and Wellness Class is still going strong! The class is designed for adults with Down syndrome ages 18-30 and focuses on exercise, healthy nutrition, cooking, and overall wellness. It's held at our office on Mondays and Thursdays. The fall session of this class begins September 10th and has two different locations! You can either attend class at the JCC in Whitefish Bay, or at our DSAW office in West Allis! Both classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
Green Bay
10th Anniversary DSAW-Green Bay Down Syndrome Awareness Walk!
Our chapter kicked off DSAW's Awareness Walk season with a bang!! We had a beautiful day raising awareness and acceptance of our loved ones with Down syndrome. There were games, food, raffles, t-shirts, prizes, superheroes, and MORE to celebrate our 10th birthday. We EXCEEDED our fundraising goal, and we couldn't have done it without our many donors, sponsors, volunteers, walkers, and families. We love you!! We're looking forward to providing even more programs and services for our friends with Down syndrome.
Playgroup
This month's playgroup was held at Optimist Park! We meet the first Saturday of every month, and no RSVP is required! Join us :)
Family Splash Time
We had another morning of Family Splash Time at the Manitowoc Family Aquatic Center in August! We LOVE that they adapt the waterpark for kids with special needs.
Haircut Fundraiser
DSAW-Green Bay also hosted our annual haircut fundraiser with HYPE Hair in August! Both kids and adults could get haircuts, and ALL of the proceeds went toward our Awareness Walk! We raised $668 at this incredibly successful event!
La Crosse
Breakfast Club Fundraiser
In August we hosted a fundraiser for our Awareness Walk at The Breakfast Club! 10% of all of the day's proceeds went toward our Walk! We also played egg roulette! In total, we raised $650!! Thank you so much to The Breakfast Club and for everyone who donated/participated!
Family Bowling Night
DSAW-COTH-GLA families had a fun night out bowling on August 11! DSAW provided dinner and bowling for families who had fun competing for strikes!
NASA Family Boat Ride
The weather held out this month for a NASA Family Boat ride! The fish were safe as we enjoyed a beautiful night on Lake Onalaska. Thanks DSAW and NASA for providing this incredible opportunity. Elizabeth, William and Eliza even got to drive the boat!
Holmen Kornfest Parade
DSAW families and friends represented our organization in the Holmen Kornfest Parade on August 18! We walked together in the parade and told others about DSAW!
Parent's Night Out
On the last Saturday of August, the parents got to have some fun! We went to Slice of Chicago in Sparta for a night with other DSAW parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings. DSAW provided free apps, and we purhcased drinks!
Sheboygan
Above & Beyond Children's Museum Field Trip
In August, we took our monthly field trip to the Children's Museum for Special Needs Night! The exhibits were adapted, sound was turned low, and the museum was closed to the general public. Meet us in September for our next trip!
All Abilities Dance Class
This month, we had our final dance class at In Motion dance studio. We have had such a great time learning about our bodies and minds and discovering how to take care of them through dance!
Family Pool Party
DSAW- Sheboygan families got together at Two Rivers Family Aquatic Center to enjoy a day of fun in the sun. We had a great time splashing around and staying cool!
Central WI
Pool Party We had a beautiful day for a Pool Party on August 4! We went to Schulenburg Pool for a morning of swimming and snacks.
Movie Under the Stars DSAW-Central WI families also got to enjoy the outdoors at our movie under the stars! We watched The Lion King drive-in style and got to make popcorn, have a bonfire, and do crafts!
Fox Cities
Pool Party
DSAW-Fox Cities gathered together for their Annual Pool Party this month! We look forward to seeing families and friends with Down syndrome of ALL ages at this event every year. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Chippewa Valley
Pool Party
August was the month of Pool Parties, that's for sure! DSAW-Chippewa Valley also held their annual Pool Party at Wakanda Waterpark in Menomonie!
MADSS
Rock County Family Picnic
Rock County families had a Family Picnic at the beginning of August! We went to Riverside Park in Janesville to enjoy their splash pad, eat food, and make crafts! We made a marble painting craft, played yard games, and hung out on the playground!
Beloit Snappers Baseball Outing
On August 12, DSAW and MADSS families headed to a Beloit Snappers baseball game! We had fun meeting new families in Rock County.
Weekend Playgroup
On Saturday the 18th MADSS partnered with GiGi's to host a weekend playgroup! We love getting together with the little kiddos for a morning of play and a snack!
Down Syndrome & Alzheimer's Memory Cafe
DSAW and MADSS partnered to host a memory cafe in Madison for people with Alzheimer's and Down syndrome and their caregivers! We gave a brief presentation about the relationship between Ds and Alzheimer's, and we did a scrapbooking activity! Stay tuned for more Ds and Alzheimer's programming!
