Statewide
DSAW Leaders Retreat In January, we hosted our Annual Retreat for DSAW leaders around the state! Board members, volunteers, and families from all of our chapters and from MADSS came together in the Wisconsin Dells to enjoy social time, learn more about DSAW, and hear from other leaders about programs and models that can be implemented in communities around the state. We also welcomed guest speakers Kay Edwards of Outsight Network and Heather Avis of The Lucky Few. It’s always amazing to see our leaders in person! Thank you to all of them for the work and time they put into DSAW. We appreciate each and every one of you!
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Wave Outing
We had such a great time at the Milwaukee Wave game this month thanks to our partners at Professional Construction Inc.! We even were able to attend a post-game autograph session on the field and make a high five tunnel for the players after halftime! Thank you to the DSAW families that joined us for a wonderful night of soccer, food, and fun!
Digitability Class This month we launched our Digitability class at the state office! This new course is an award-winning employment-readiness program used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces. Young adults meet Mondays and Wednesdays through May. Learn more here!
Family Movie Event Family Movie Night is a fun opportunity for DSAW families to get together for a relaxing night of snacks and movies. This month we enjoyed a sensory-friendly, private screening of Hotel Transylvania 3! Families got to enjoy the movie with the sound played lower and lights on brighter.
Relationships Class
We just started two new sessions of a course on relationships for individuals with special needs. Throughout the course, we will talk about personal boundaries, dating, self-defense, stranger danger, and safety. Learn more here.
Nutrition & Wellness Class
This month was the beginning of two sessions of the Nutrition and Wellness Class offered through DSAW and DSAW-Family Services. The class meets twice a week throughout the winter and participants will learn about personal health and well-being, exercise, and healthy cooking.
Young Leaders Bootcamp
This month at Bootcamp we discussed taking responsibility for our actions! In February we will be talking about self advocacy, self-advocacy skills, and why they are important. Register Here!
Cooking with the Kiddos
Cooking with the Kiddos happens every first and third Wednesday at our State office! Don’t worry about dinner plans — we’ll take care of it! Kids 8+ are welcome to join us next month!
Coffee Club Coffee Club is hosted at our state office on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. This acts as a great opportunity for DSAW parents and their loved ones to meet other families while enjoying coffee.
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. We also offer free music therapy in conjunction with 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 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.
Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! This month we did winter/snow themed activities including a snowman activity and cookie decorating! Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, February 8th. Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. Sign up!
Parent's Night Out
Each month, DSAW parents, grandparents, and caregivers get together for a night of casual conversation and free appetizers. We meet every second Friday of the month at Cleveland Pub, in conjunction with Tween Club! Come join us for one of our favorite nights of the month on Friday February 8th!
DADs Meeting Fathers and male caregivers are welcome to join us the first Thursday of every month to come together and support each other. We discuss upcoming events, listen to speakers, recruit volunteers, and talk about our kids while enjoying food and drinks at the New Berlin Ale House.
Central Wisconsin
Mom’s Night Out This month we went to City Grill for Mom’s Night Out! We had a great turnout despite the snow and weather. Join us next month for food and conversation with other women who have loved ones with Down syndrome.
Dad’s Night Out
DSAW men got together for a Dad’s Night Out at Townie’s Grill in Wausau. We love this time to talk to other dads and grandpas while enjoying food and drinks!
La Crosse
Parent’s Night Out
Our Parent’s Night Out this month was at Moxie’s in La Crosse! Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings had a casual evening of conversation and free appetizers. Our next Parent’s Night Out will be March 9th!
Green Bay
Mom’s Night Out
This month’s Mom’s Night Out was at Jimmy Seas in Green Bay! We always enjoy this time with fellow moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers. We meet the 4th Sunday of every month. Join us in February at the Cannery Public Market!
MADSS
Mom’s Take 5
MADSS also has a Mom’s Night Out on the 5th of every month! This month, moms enjoyed cookies that were decorated at the Holiday Cookie Decorating Party!
Dynamic Duals: DS-ASD MADSS & GiGi’s Playhouse sponsored Dynamic Duals this month! It is a group for families with a child with DS-ASD or other significant behavioral challenges. It’s a time to connect and have fun, share successes and resources, brainstorm ideas and strategies for challenges. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Wendy Kaplan at: info@MADSS.org.
Fox Cities
Teen FrienDS Club
This month Teen FrienDS Club invited the younger age group to join for a fun event! We went to Sky Zone for Jump with a Buddy event and had so much fun! Teen FrienDS Club is held at the DSAW-Fox Cities Office on the second Friday of each month from 6:30-9:30pm during the months of September-May. The club is for teens with Down syndrome ages 13-19. If your teen is interested in joining, please contact Maria SteenPorte at maria@dsawfoxcities.org.
Adult Holiday Party
We kicked off the month with the Adult Holiday Party at Mad Apple! Free appetizers were provided as well as drinks and billiard-style games!
Inclusion Speaker Seminar
DSAW-Fox Cities sponsored two amazing opportunities for parents and educators to learn about inclusion. Dr. Christi Kasa, Ph.D. spoke at the two day seminar about two different topics. These topics included “What Every Parent Should Know When Advocating for their Student” and “Creating Successful Inclusion for All”.
