Milwaukee
DSAW Leaders Retreat
In January, we welcomed over 50 DSAW leaders from around the state to our annual Leaders Retreat in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. On Friday night we had a member social, gave out chapter awards, and celebrated Tom O'Day, who's retiring from the State Board. On Saturday we buckled down for a day of presentations and breakout sessions centered around the theme "Growing Together". We learned about DSAW's Program Models, how to plan an awesome awareness walk, the Spread the Word to End the Word Campaign, how to be a board member, and so much more. Thank you so much to all of our chapter leaders for helping us bloom!
Snow Tubing
DSAW families got together at Sunburst Ski Area in January for an awesome Saturday afternoon of snow tubing!
Young Leaders Bootcamp
At Bootcamp in January, we made some incredible videos!! The first Tuesday we interviewed self-advocates about their lives. Later in the month we created a music video! Stay tuned! When we're done editing, we'll share the video.
Bootcamp meets on Tuesday nights at 6pm. Join us in February!
Cooking with the Kiddos
At Cooking with the Kiddos in January, families made turkey pesto paninis! Yummm. Cooking meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month at our state office in West Allis. To cook with us next month, sign up here.
Motor Skills Playgroup
Our Motor Skills Playgroup meets every second and fourth Tuesday morning! 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. Come join us in February!
Young Leaders Academy
Our Young Leaders Academy meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month. This month we started with dodgeball to get us going, and we ended with an hour of employment-readiness curriculum. Self-Advocates are invited to join our class anytime. Sign up for Young Leaders in February!
Tween Club
This month we had the biggest Tween Club ever!! We made lava lamps and had snacks. Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, February 9. Sign up here!
Parent's Night Out
Each month, DSAW parents, grandparents, and caregivers get together at Club Paragon for a night of casual conversation and free appetizers. We meet every second Friday of the month! Drop your child off at Tween Club on February 9 and stop by our Parent's Night Out!
Club DSAW
Self-advocates ages 15 and older are invited to join us for our monthly Club DSAW gathering on the fourth Saturday of the month! Each month is a new activity. This month we met at the DSAW Office for a night of beach-themed fun! Self-advocates wore their Hawaiian shirts and we spent a night on the beach. Next month we'll be going to a WAVE game on February 17! Join us.
Family Movie Night
Every fourth Friday of the month, we invite families to a movie night at our office in West Allis! We watch a family-friendly movie on our big projector screen. Parents are invited to stay with their kids, or drop them off for a night of respite. We even have snacks! This month we watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Come watch a movie with us next month!
Sheboygan
Swimming Event
This month, DSAW-Sheboygan families came together at the Manitowoc/Two Rivers YMCA for a swimming event! We went swimming during the Y's Special Needs Swim hour, and afterwards we got together for a pizza dinner and fraternal support. We had a great turnout and look forward to hosting more events in the Manitowoc area!
La Crosse
Parent's Night Out
The temps were frigid outside on January 13 but that did not stop a red-hot group of parents from enjoying our monthly Parent's Night Out at Howie's on La Crosse. There were heartwarming stories about our loved ones with Down syndrome, temperature raising behavior issues concerning our (sometimes, not-so) loved ones with Down syndrome and, of course, laughter. We start by having a connection because of our child with Ds and then learn that we have so much more in common. We love the bonds that are created at the Parent's Night Out events, when parents are able to communicate and learn from others without having to worry about watching their child with Down syndrome. Join the fun on February 24 at The Wired Rooster in Caledonia, MN for our next Parent's Night Out.
North Central WI (Antigo)
Family Bowling Event
DSAW is beginning to expand its Parent Support Groups in North Central WI, specifically in Antigo. We had a Family Bowling Event, our third get-together, in January. If you live in North Central WI and want to get involved with DSAW, join our Facebook group! We're especially looking for families who live in Rhinelander!
St. Croix River Valley
Parent's Night Out
In January, parents from the St. Croix River Valley got together at Table 65 in New Richmond for a night of free appetizers and conversation! Join DSAW next month for a local resource night.
Fox Cities
Group Fitness Class
This month we held group fitness classes in partnership with Anytime Fitness in Appleton. They were great!! The classes were functional (no machines) workouts featuring all major muscle groups. We started the session with a fun ice breaker, demos of all exercises, a dynamic warm up, 8-10 exercises, then concluded with a fun team building activity and stretching.
Adult Holiday Party
We also hosted a holiday party for DSAW adults at the Mad Apple in January. Self-advocates, parents, grandparents, and caregivers got together for food and billiard games to celebrate the holidays.
Green Bay
Mom's Night Out
DSAW-Green Bay moms, grandmas, and aunts went to Rustique Pizzeria this month for their Mom's Night Out! They enjoyed appetizers and a night of casual conversation. We host a Mom's Night Out on the fourth Sunday of every month. Join us next month at Nakashima!
Central Wisconsin
Mom's Night Out
We had a successful Mom's Night Out at the end of January at City Grill! Ten moms joined us for a night of casual conversation, food, and drinks. Moms, grandmas, aunts, and female caregivers are invited to join us for a Coffee Date next month on February 21!
