Just because we are still staying safer at home doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy! We still got to see our friends from around the state in the month of May. Our spring session of DSAW Connects comes to an end this month and DSAW Connects: Statewide Summer Programming begins on June 1st!
Statewide
Covid-19 and Down Syndrome Webinar
MADSS hosted a webinar led by Amy Lyle, MSSW, APSW and Maria Stanley, MD called “COVID-19 & Ds: The Knowns, Unknowns, & Tips for Survival.” The webinar was well attended and covered the current status of the pandemic, and how it affects individuals with compromised immune systems or serious health conditions. The recording of this webinar can be accessed from the DSAW COVID-19 Resource Page.
DSAW Webinar Series Presents:
The DSAW Webinar Library holds recordings of all past DSAW webinars such as the April webinar “Behavior Basics.”
Mark your calendars for the upcoming summer webinars: “Healthy Students with Down Syndrome: All the Medical Updates that Parents & Educators Need to Know” on June 5th, “Toilet Training for Every Child” on June 17th, and “Advocacy in Wisconsin” on July 15th!
Wrap Up: DSAW Connects: Virtual Class Series
Throughout the spring, DSAW Connects offered 11-13 classes each day for Southeastern WI and the Madison area. Two of the programs had multiple class sections to accommodate participants’ schedules and ages. Some are offered completely free! We are continually working to make our online programming just as accessible and individualized as our “in-house” programming.
MADSS Life Skills and Laughter
This group accomplished so much during May! They developed daily goals like learning new signs, keeping up with the news, and practicing dance moves.
Wellness & Workout
A daily exercise program that helps participants get moving! We explored a variety of workouts throughout the month like yoga and dancing. This class also discusses the benefits of movement, healthy lifestyle habits, and nutrition.
Life Skills & Laughter
This class provides an interactive way to sharpen our everyday life skills, strengthen our brains, and uplift our spirits. Class content and topics are always changing, but the goal is constantly to increase life skill knowledge!
Creative Corner
Creative Corner is about fun, art, and resourcefulness! The instructor provides participants with information about how to turn household objects into craft projects.
Stream Team
Stream Team is a fun, virtual hangout for self advocates ages 14+. This is a social hour packed with music, videos, and laughter. Our Stream Team loves Disney karaoke parties, virtual talent shows, and watching videos for “Song of the Week.” Participant’s pets have also been showing up to class:)
Social Skills
This class combines activities, games, and humor to get the group talking! A game our Southeastern group loves is “Would You Rather?” This game allows participants to share their opinions and thoughts in a structured and fun format.
Young Leaders Academy
It’s our Young Leaders Academy course… just online! This class is a continuation of the in-person classes we offer at DSAW’s office (west side) and on the east side, but we welcome new registrants as well!
Parents’ Night In
Parents’ Night In continued to be a much-needed break for parents and caregivers during “Safer at Home.” Hop on the call when you can or stay the whole time!
Parents’ Night In will continue on the second and fourth Friday from 7pm-9pm as a part of our Free Fraternal Programming. It will be open to parents and caretakers statewide.
Virtual Prenatal Diagnosis Support Group
This completely non-judgmental support group decided to meet twice a month starting in May and going forward into summer. The group is for women in various stages of their pregnancy and decision-making journey. We welcome everyone, regardless of any decisions made, to attend our judgment-free group. Join us as we gather to provide support and share our experiences. Click here to learn more about this group and to sign up.
Fox Cities, Green Bay, and Central WI
DSAW expanded the new online programming to the Fox Cities area and beyond! This series has all of the DSAW Connects content run by the familiar faces from Fox Cities that our families know and love! This fun-loving bunch started Friday Fun Days and had many themed days throughout May like Disney Day and Disguise Day.
See what DSAW- Fox Cities has been up to during their classes!
Wellness & Workout
This is the DSAW-Fox Cities “no couch potato club"!” We try different forms of exercising and movement every morning. During recent weeks, the class has been enjoying the nice weather and doing their workouts outside!
Creative Corner
Creative Corner is a relaxing and fun class that tells participants how to turn household objects (cereal boxes, toilet paper tubes, etc.) into crafts! This month participants used construction paper to craft different types of animals and did Disney themed crafts.
Stream Team
Stream Team focuses on letting the participants socialize with their peers through a variety of activities! DSAW- Fox Cities loves playing “Name that Tune!” They had another talent show in May and participants showed off their musical abilities, dance moves, and more!
Life Skills & Laughter
This content-based course has been focused on problem-solving and emotional awareness during May. The instructors used visual aids to help participants categorize example problems into different levels of seriousness. For this course, the lesson topics change every day!
Looking to Summer:
DSAW Connects: Statewide Summer Programs & Free Fraternal Programs
We can already see the incredible interest in DSAW Connects: Statewide Summer Programs! The webpage has over 450+ page visits as of its launch. Classes begin on June 1st and run through August 14th. People from any of DSAW’s chapters and from the Madison Area Down Syndrome Society are welcome! Not already connected to any of our locations? That’s okay!! All are invited.
Make sure to check out our Free Fraternal Programming too!
