Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month!
October was Down Syndrome Awareness Month! DSAW celebrated our friends online with custom FB banners and profile pic frames. We also shared the words of people with DS and facts about DS on our Instagram. The cherry on top—Cranky Al’s in Wauwatosa, WI sold a DS Awareness donut that benefitted DSAW all month long!
Cranky Al’s “Kitty Special” Donut for Down Syndrome Awareness Month
The "Kitty" donut was created by DSAW-Southeastern member, Kitty, with the help of friends at Cranky Al’s! All October long, Cranky Al’s made and sold a blue and yellow “milk & honey” donut, and the profits benefitted DSAW! We are so grateful to Cranky Al’s for choosing DSAW for this partnership. We also thank Kitty for capturing the whole story on her YouTube channel, “Cooking With Kitty.” Watch her video below!
Celebrating a SWEET Friendship: Thank you Cardinal Capital Management and Professional Construction, Inc.!
The Cranky Al’s Kitty donut made the perfect thank you gift for two incredible sponsors of the 2020 Down Syndrome Awareness Walk: Cardinal Capital Management and Professional Construction, Inc. These companies really showed up for DSAW this year and we are so appreciative of their support during these uncertain and challenging times. Thank you for your generosity and dedication to our mission every year- we could not do what we do without YOU!
Uniquely Created Designs: Supporting DSAW during DS Awareness Month and Beyond!
Uniquely Created Designs is owned by Teri Larsen, a mother to a daughter who has Down syndrome. Her online store sells adorable DS awareness merchandise. From now until 2021, a portion of sales on their site will benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin! Get your DS Awareness Month gear, holiday gifts, or prepare for WDSD 2021! Thank you so much, Uniquely Created Designs!
Fall Family Fun
Our organization is continually finding new ways to connect our community during the pandemic. DSAW- Southeastern and MADSS hosted socially distant family outings to pumpkin patches and found safe and spooky ways to celebrate Halloween!
DSAW- Southeastern Fall Family Outing at Schuett Farms
DSAW- Southeastern hosted a socially-distant family day at Schuett Farms! To keep things a little more distant, families and self-advocates could show up to the farm at their leisure. When they arrived, they received a goodie bucket full of Halloween treats and tickets for pumpkin picking and a turn in the corn maze. Even though the day was a little chilly, DSAW families made the best of it and enjoyed their time on the farm!
A big thank you to Schuett Farms for hosting us! We could not have had this meet up without your beautiful farm and generosity! Thank you for helping us have a wonderful, fall family day!
This event was well-attended and showed us how much our families miss each other! DSAW is working hard to find safe ways for our community to connect during the pandemic.
Check out the next in-person family event: DSAW Winter Wonders Meet Up!
Madison Area Down Syndrome Society Family Farm Day
MADSS members enjoyed a gorgeous fall day with their families at Schuster’s Farm. To keep this event extra safe and distanced, MADSS purchased tickets for families in advanced, and people could pick a time that worked for them to go. While we missed meeting up all on the same day, families still enjoyed the apple cannon, picking pumpkins, and giant wooden horse! Thank you to Schuster’s Farm for hosting our families throughout the last few weeks and for our families for posting such awesome pics on Facebook.
Statewide DSAW Trivia Night
DSAW is hosting monthly virtual family events throughout fall and winter! We kicked them off with Statewide DSAW Trivia Night on October 22! Families and self advocates from across the state participated in Trivia Night virtually!
November’s Virtual Family Event is a remote showing of the Kohl’s Wild Theater Production, “Welcome to the Zoo!” Sign up ASAP to reserve your spot.
More info on Virtual Family Events is coming soon!
Statewide Support Parent Training
The Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin (DSAW) partnered with Parent to Parent of Wisconsin (P2P) to train a new group support parents! This group went through a lengthly virtual training that prepared them to give support to another parent of a child with Down syndrome. These parents will be matched with new and expectant parents who are looking for resources and support!
DSAW Connects: Fall Programming
On September 1, DSAW launched the fall section of DSAW Connects which runs until December 18th! Read below for updates on what a few classes have gotten up to in October!
Body Blast
Body Blast is a modified and inclusive fitness class for all abilities! They make sure that staying fit is FUN! This month, the class practiced a yoga routine that followed along the plot of the movie Trolls.
Navigating Our World
Navigating Our World is a class that focuses on current events and managing the uncertainty of this year. This month, the class had a creative outlet day. The photo shows the progress that participants have made on their creative projects that identify things that are "in or out of their control.”
Free Fraternal Fall Programs
DSAW is thrilled to be able to offer FREE, virtual programming during the fall/winter. The current programming runs through December 18th. Read below for some class updates!
Crafts & Conversation
One of the free fraternal programs DSAW is offering this fall is Crafts & Conversation. This is a class that encourages self-expression by exploring creative craft projects, such as basic scrapbooking and making greeting cards. Instructors focus on creating art with recycled materials (pictured) like bottle caps and cardboard.
Stream Team
DSAW Stream Team is a popular program for self advocates 18+! Some fall highlights include our Halloween Trivia Day, and spooky Halloween Party which featured festive music, videos, and of course costumes!
13th Annual Self Determination Conference
Self Advocates from DSAW presenting
Keynote Speaker and DSAW Member, Erin
DSAW was excited to be one of the few organizations invited to the 13th Annual Self Determination Conference. One DSAW member, Erin, gave a keynote speech about mental health. Four self-advocates affiliated with DSAW, and our Program Manager Lily, presented at the 13th Annual Self Determination Conference put on by Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities, InControl Wisconsin, and People First Wisconsin.
Their session was called, "Virtual Learning: Let's Stay Connected and Healthy" and covered how to best utilize virtual resources during the pandemic and beyond. We couldn't be more proud of all of them for sharing their knowledge with such a wide audience!
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