Rachel Reit

February 27, 2020

Looking Back on February 2020

Rachel Reit

February 27, 2020

Statewide

Conference: Helping Children with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success

The Audrey Hohenwalter Endowment Fund sponsored a conference presented by Richard Lavoie on February 22nd. This seminar identified specific causes of social skill deficits, as well as field-tested strategies that will be presented that can be used by parents, teachers, coaches, and caregivers to assist students in gaining peer acceptance and developing age-appropriate social skills.

Southeastern WI

Valentine’s Dance
The Valentine’s Dance is always one of the most fun events of the year! The DSAW headquarters transformed into a lively Valentine’s Day dance floor. The atmosphere was filled with red and pink colors, and plenty of smiles!

Club DSAW

For this month’s Club DSAW, we traveled to Urban Ecology Center for a Winter Wonderland Nature Hike. Many enjoyed a hike around the woods, followed by a hot chocolate bar and other activities.

Meals, Money, and More Our Meals, Money, and More class revolves around healthy living and wellness as well as money management and other independent living skills for transition age individuals with Down syndrome. Click here to register for the Eastside and Westside location for this semester.

How to Balance My Social Life Class
We began our winter class helping students understand social boundaries, cultivate friendships, personal safety, social media, and dating. Click here to register for our Eastside and Westside locations for the winter 2020 semester!

Personal Safety Awareness Eastside
We started our Winter Semester of our Safety and Self Defense class. This class teaches real world safety techniques and strategies. Students learn self defense skills, how to get help, and how to assess a dangerous situation. Learn more about here.

Digitability Class We began our winter semester of our award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces! Learn more about the West Allis location here for the winter semester. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Life Skills Bootcamp
We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

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 offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup too! Come check out our newly renovated Littles Room at playgroup!

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 Northeastside location in Mequon! This location meets the first and third Wednesday of the month! 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.

Cooking with the Kiddos
Cooking with the Kiddos is held every first and third Wednesday at DSAW’s state headquarters! Bring your children ages 8+ to spend the evening cooking a healthy meal together! You can also drop off your child for a night of respite. Let your dinner be on DSAW!

Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! At DSAW’s Tween Club, we play games, watch movies, make crafts, and have a great time hanging out! Sign up for Tween Club!

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.

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club At Teen FrienDS Club, we listen to music, watch movies, eat snacks, and play games! Teen FrienDS Club is hosted the 2nd Friday night of each month.

Valentine’s Dance
DSAW-Fox Cities had a great time at our annual Valentine’s Dance!

Green Bay

Normie Screening Event

DSAW-Green Bay and Best Buddies Green Bay co-sponsored a special viewing of the documentary Normie: “When Annemarie looks in the mirror, she sees Down syndrome. She hates it. To her, the diagnosis is a giant barricade keeping her from the independence and intimacy she desperately desires. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to understand what it means to be normal.” Thanks to all those who attended!

Buddy Up Tennis
DSAW-Green Bay started a new session of our new Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. Program, a high energy, adaptive fitness program for children and adults with Down syndrome, this month.

Young Leaders Academy
Our Young Leaders Class is a respite program coupled with a unique curriculum that will introduce students to important topics such as work ethic, attitude, communication skills, time management, problem-solving, and more.

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. We got to play at Get Air Green Bay this month. This Trampoline Park offered dedicated time just for jumpers with special needs. Music is played at a lower volume and park’s atmosphere is calmer! So much fun! DSAW-Green Bay hosted another playdate this month at Kidz Town, free of charge. Everyone had so much fun playing with the toys and meeting new friends.

Mom’s Night Out

This month, moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers gathered for a night of camaraderie and great food at Mr. Brews Taphouse. Yum! Thanks for the great conversations!

Central Wisconsin

“Working” Coffee Club

Parents gathering for coffee and to talk sponsorship and donation strategies for the upcoming Awareness Walk!

Book Club
We continued a new book club for parents, adult siblings, and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome. We discussed the first four chapters of Scoot Over and Make Some Room by Heather Avis. Future meetings will take place at Mosinee Brewing Company on the second Tuesday of each month (from 5:30-7pm) and will include appetizers! Click here to learn more!

Wellness Club
Our Wellness Club has had an incredible winter run! We had our last session of the season this month.

MADSS

Family Bowling & Pizza Party
Strike! MADSS families enjoyed two hours of bowling, delicious pizza, and thirst-quenching soda, all for FREE.

Dynamic Duals
MADSS had their first Dynamic Duals of the decade! “Dynamic Duals, a program created and piloted as a collaboration with GiGi’s Playhouse in Madison and MADSS, is a monthly program designed specifically for families with a dual diagnosis of DS-ASD and/or sensory behavioral challenges.” The Duals engage in a variety of activities that work to support motor skills, improve communication, and explore the sensory world.

La Crosse

Sledding Party
Snow is not always a bad thing! DSAW-LAX Families gathered together for a day of sledding and tubing at Whitetail Ridge Ski Area.

Kid’s Cooking Class

DSAW-LAX hosted a cooking class at the YMCA for kids this month! Everyone enjoyed learning how to cook Hamburger Cups.

Rachel Reit

February 3, 2020

Looking Back on January 2020

Rachel Reit

February 3, 2020

Southeastern WI

Sensory Sunday at Discovery World
DSAW met up at Discovery World for a Sensory Sunday! The volume is turned down and the lights are adjusted to make a more sensory-friendly experience!

Life Skills Bootcamp
We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club At Teen FrienDS Club, we listen to music, watch movies, eat snacks, and play games! Teen FrienDS Club is hosted the 2nd Friday night of each month.

Green Bay

Buddy Up Tennis
DSAW-Green Bay started a new session of our new Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. Program, a high energy, adaptive fitness program for children and adults with Down syndrome, this month.

Mom’s Night Out

This month, moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers gathered for a night of camaraderie and sushi at Sushi Lover. Yum! Thanks for the great conversations!

Central Wisconsin

Book Club
This month, Central Wisconsin launched a new book club for parents, adult siblings, and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome. We discussed the first four chapters of Scoot Over and Make Some Room by Heather Avis. Future meetings will take place at Mosinee Brewing Company on the second Tuesday of each month (from 5:30-7pm) and will include appetizers! Click here to learn more!

Wellness Club
Wellness Club is for teens and young adults to learn more about nutrition and fitness! Nutrition plans and fitness activities will be involved. This is a great learning opportunity for both teens and young adults.

MADSS

Parent’s Holiday Party in Madison
MADSS hosted a Parent’s Holiday Party at Working Draft Beer Company this month! Parents, grandparents, adult siblings, and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome gathered to spread more holiday cheer! There were a lot of laughs with the white elephant gift exchange. Thanks to all who joined.

La Crosse

Family Night Out - Winter Pool Party
Winter is just a mindset! DSAW-La Crosse channeled their inner summer selves and enjoyed a Family Pool Party at Eliza’s House. DSAW reserved the heated pool and the hot tub for the day so families could come splish and splash. Thanks to all who came out!

Rachel Reit

January 2, 2020

Looking Back on December 2019

Rachel Reit

January 2, 2020

Southeastern WI

Holiday Party
In December, we hosted our Annual Holiday Party at the State Office. The day was full of games, crafts, food, dancing, contests, presents, and even a visit from Santa. Thank you to all the families who came out to celebrate - we had so much fun!!

Club DSAW - Packer Party
DSAW Self-Advocates celebrated the holidays at a Packer Holiday Party. We cheered the Packers on for a win against the Chicago Bears, while enjoying delicious snacks and holiday activities. It was a perfect way to kick off the holidays.

Meals, Money, and More Our Meals, Money, and More class revolves around healthy living and wellness as well as money management and other independent living skills for transition age individuals with Down syndrome. We will be offering this class again after the new year. Click here to register for the Eastside and Westside location.

How to Balance My Social Life Class
We also concluded our fall class helping students understand social boundaries, cultivate friendships, personal safety, social media, and dating. Click here to register for our Eastside and Westside Location for the winter 2020 semester!

Personal Safety Awareness Eastside
We concluded our fall semester of our Safety and Self Defense class. This class teaches real world safety techniques and strategies. Students learn self defense skills, how to get help, and how to assess a dangerous situation. Learn more about the Eastside location for the Winter Semester here.

Digitability Class We finished our fall semester of our award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces! Learn more about the West Allis location here for the winter semester. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Life Skills Bootcamp
We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

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.

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club At Teen FrienDS Club, we listen to music, watch movies, eat snacks, and play games! Teen FrienDS Club is hosted the 2nd Friday night of each month.

Green Bay

Holiday Movie Event
We got together right before the holidays for a movie event at De Pere Cinema! We all watched the new release of The Lion King and had a blast!

Buddy Up Tennis
DSAW-Green Bay concluded the fall session of our new Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. Program, a high energy, adaptive fitness program for children and adults with Down syndrome, this month.

Central Wisconsin

Central WI Holiday Event
Central WI hosted an Annual Holiday Party, filled with games, crafts, food from Texas Roadhouse, and holiday fun for all ages. Santa Claus visited from the North Pole to give a small gift to each child with Down syndrome and siblings!

Wellness Club Wellness Club is for teens and young adults to learn more about nutrition and fitness! Nutrition plans and fitness activities will be involved. This is a great learning opportunity for both teens and young adults.

Chippewa Valley

Chippewa Valley Holiday Party

Like last year, the Chippewa Valley Holiday party was held at Westgate Sportsman Club in Eau Claire! Families enjoyed delicious chili and soups, holiday treats and snacks. Kiddos could play in holiday games and make fun crafts as well.

MADSS

Movie Event in Johnson Creek
Do you want to build a snowman? Families joined Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven for a special Frozen II Movie Event. This was a free event for MADSS families!

Cookie Decorating Party
We want to thank the Schuster Family for graciously opening up their home for a fun cookie decorating party. It was a perfect way to spread holiday cheer.

La Crosse

La Crosse Holiday Party
La Crosse joined the festivities with a holiday party. From holiday cookie decorating to a hot chocolate bar to a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, it was perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Self Advocate Social
DSAW-La Crosse hosted a self-advocate social to see the La Crosse Rotary Lights. There, we enjoyed carriage rides, hot cocoa, and a breathtaking view of holiday lights. Thanks to all those who joined.

Sheboygan

Holiday Party
DSAW-Sheboygan hosted their holiday party at the Odyssey Fun Center. There, families were able to bowl, decorate cookies, listen to music, and enjoy delicious pizza. Thanks to all those who came out.

Rachel Reit

November 26, 2019

Looking Back on November 2019

Rachel Reit

November 26, 2019

Southeastern WI

Sexuality & Safety Conference
DSAW hosted an educational Sexuality & Safety Conference in November. In Session 1 of the conference, Terri Couwenhoven discussed sexual learning patterns that increase vulnerability, the unique “how-to’s” of teaching sex education for this population, as well as identified topics for empowering healthy sexuality in individuals with I/DD at home, school, and in the community. Session 2 was presented by Pam Malin. She identified safety concerns, signs and symptoms of abuse, as well as resources for when abuse occurs. Thank you to those who attended this important conference!

Parent’s First Call Support Parent Training
In November, The Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin (DSAW) in partnership with Parent to Parent of Wisconsin (P2P) hosted a training for support parents. Trainings prepare you to give support to another parent of a child with Down syndrome! We had a wonderful day meeting other parents and talking about our loved ones and how we can support new families!

Club DSAW - Turkey Trot
Club DSAW celebrated Thanksgiving with a Turkey Trot at the Urban Ecology Center. Self advocates walked and trotted off their turkey dinner before even eating it at Thanksgiving. Afterwards, we enjoyed a warm, cozy campfire!

IDDLCTF Community Housing Conversation
DSAW is involved in exciting plans for sustainable housing for people with disabilities!! Our partner Bader Philanthropies hosted a conversation about housing and living communities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We got to hear from speakers from Home of Our Own, Grace Landing, Balance Inc., and Woodside Prairie.

How to Balance My Social Life Class
We also continued our new fall class helping students understand social boundaries, cultivate friendships, personal safety, social media, and dating. Click here to register!

Safety and Self Defense Eastside
We had another great month at our Safety and Self Defense class. This class teaches real world safety techniques and strategies. Students learn self defense skills, how to get help, and how to assess a dangerous situation. Learn more about the Eastside location here. Interested in Slinger location? Find out more here.

Littles Story Time
Children ages 0-6 years old are welcome to join us for Story Time at the state office! Story time is a great way for your child to have fun while making friends and learning.This month, our incredible self-advocate interns read to the littles! We will be taking a pause from Story Time for the rest of 2019 as our office undergoes an exciting remodel project!

Digitability Class Our fall semester of our award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces continued this month! Learn more about the West Allis location here. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Life Skills Bootcamp
We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

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 offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup too! Playgroup will be taking a pause for the rest of 2019 as our office undergoes an exciting remodeling project!

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club At Teen FrienDS Club, we listen to music, watch movies, eat snacks, and play games! Teen FrienDS Club is hosted the 2nd Friday night of each month.

Green Bay

Cookie Decorating Event
We kicked off the holiday season with a Cookie Decorating Event. The sprinkles and frosting were flying as we colored up the cookies. Thanks to all those who attended!

Self Advocate Pottery Painting
Green Bay self advocates had their very own Pottery Painting Session this month. Self advocates were able to pick their piece and colors and then were able to paint it anyway they’d like!

Buddy Up Tennis
DSAW-Green Bay continued their new Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. Program this month. Buddy Up Tennis is a high energy adaptive and fitness program for children and adults with Down syndrome. Click here to learn more.

Dad’s Night Out
Dads, uncles, grandpas, and male caregivers had an exciting Dad’s Night Out playing tactical laser tag at the Battle House. They were divided into two teams: Red Team vs. the Blue Team and the competition began! During the game, there were 6-10 different mission based scenarios to complete. Thanks to all the male caregivers who attended!

Mom’s Night Out Moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers joined us at Margarita’s for a night of good food and conversation! Green Bay Monthly Mom’s Nights Out will be the fourth Sunday of every month.

Central Wisconsin

Central WI Movie Event
Let it Go! Let it Go! DSAW-Central WI enjoyed a private screening of Frozen 2 this month at the Cedar Creek Marcus Theatre. It was such a fun movie that had us singing hours afterward.

Central Children’s Museum Outing
DSAW-Central WI traveled to the Children’s Museum in Stevens Point for a FREE day of exploration around the museum. Then, we all enjoyed lunch together. Thank you to all the families that joined us.

MADSS

Rock County: Parent’s Night Out
Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome were invited for a night of fun and delicious food at Texas Roadhouse. MADSS provided the appetizers!

Mom’s Take 5
This month, marvelous MADSS moms gathered together to catch up at Benvenuto’s Italian Grill. We always love this time with fellow moms to enjoy appetizers and soft drinks.

La Crosse

La Crosse Inclusion Night DSAW-La Crosse co-hosted Inclusion Night at the Children's Museum of La Crosse, an event intended for people with disabilities to enjoy the museum at their own pace!

Parent’s Night Out
Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings gathered for a night of fun conversation and great food. We were at Schmitty’s TimeOut Tavern…Yum! Join us next time!

Rachel Reit

October 24, 2019

Looking Back on October 2019

Rachel Reit

October 24, 2019

Milwaukee

Halloween Movie Event

This month, we hosted our Annual Halloween Party at the Marcus Ridge Cinema. We held a sensory-friendly, private showing of the new Addams Family Movie. Afterwards, we hosted a Costume Contest and raffled off some cool items! Thanks to all the families that joined!

Club DSAW - Pumpkin Patch

Club DSAW celebrated Halloween at Schuett Farms this month. The day was spent exploring corn mazes, pumpkin picking, and launching pumpkins across the field with a slingshot. It was a great day.

Meals, Money, and More We had another successful month new fall class for transition age youth individuals with Down syndrome revolving around health living and wellness as well as money management and other independent living skills.

How to Balance My Social Life Class

We also continued our new fall class helping students understand social boundaries, cultivate friendships, personal safety, social media, and dating. Click here to register!

Littles Story Time
Children ages 0-6 years old are welcome to join us for Story Time at the state office! Story time is a great way for your child to have a fun while making friends and learning.This month, our incredible self-advocate interns read to the littles! We meet on the first and third Thursday of the month. Let us know you’re coming!

Digitability Class Our fall semester of our award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces began this month! Learn more about the West Allis location here. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Life Skills Bootcamp
We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

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 occupation therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other’s company. We offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup too! Sign up to join us!

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club At Teen FrienDS Club, we listen to music, watch movies, eat snacks, and play games! Teen FrienDS Club is hosted the 2nd Friday night of each month.

Green Bay

Green Bay Family Pumpkin Farm Event
DSAW-Green Bay traveled to Delzer’s Pumpkin Farm this month for a day of fall fun. Families were able to feed animals, explore the haunted granary, and travel on a haunted hayride. Thanks to all those who came out.

Buddy Up Tennis
DSAW-Green Bay launched a new Buddy Up Tennis, Inc. Program this month and it has been such a blast. Buddy Up Tennis is a high energy adaptive and fitness program for children and adults with Down syndrome. Click here to learn more.

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. We got to play outside at Titletown District Playground

Parent’s Night Out Moms, dads, uncles, aunts, grandmas, and caregivers joined us at the Thornberry Creek for night of good food and conversation!

Central Wisconsin

Central Halloween Party
This month, DSAW-Central WI celebrated Halloween at Board Member Kris Halvorsen’s house in Marshfield. It was a great night of socializing, costumes, and delicious food.

Wellness Club

Wellness Club is for teens and young adults to learn more about nutrition and fitness! Nutrition plans and fitness activities will be involved. This is a great learning opportunity for both teens and young adults.

MADSS

MADSS Fall Family Event at Schuster’s Farm MADSS joined in on the fall festivities at Schuster’s Farm. From 8 acres of corn maze, to 14+ acres of pumpkin, there was plenty of fun to be had at this event! Such a great time!

Dynamic Duals Dynamic Duals, sponsored by MADSS & GiGi’s Playhouse, is a monthly program designed specifically for families and individuals with a dual diagnosis of DS-ASD and/or sensory or behavioral challenges. Parents meet in one area to connect, have fun, share successes, resources, and strategies.

Mom’s Take 5
This month, marvelous MADSS moms gathered together to catch up. We always love this time with fellow moms to enjoy appetizers and soft drinks.

Sheboygan

Sheboygan & Surrounding Counties Awareness Walk We concluded our walk season with our 10th Annual DSAW-Sheboygan Awareness Walk! We loved seeing everyone walk the red carpet for our 21 Showcase. Thank you to everyone who supported our friends with Down syndrome this year.

Rachel Reit

October 1, 2019

Looking Back on September 2019

Rachel Reit

October 1, 2019

Statewide

23rd Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

In September, DSAW friends and families gathered for the 23rd Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk. We celebrated our friends with Down syndrome with the largest safari themed party ever. A little rain couldn’t keep us down! We want to extend a HUGE thank you to all of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers who made this event possible!

Milwaukee

Southeastern Movie in the Park Meet-Up

Families enjoyed a FREE showing of the new Dumbo Movie at Konkel Park! Not only was the movie free, but the popcorn was as well! It was a night of fun and flying elephants for the whole family.

Meals, Money, and More This month, we launched a new fall class for transition age youth individuals with Down syndrome revolving around health living and wellness as well as money management and other independent living skills.

How to Balance My Social Life Class

We also launched a new fall class helping students understand social boundaries, cultivate friendships, personal safety, social media, and dating. Click here to register!

Life Skills Bootcamp
We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

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 occupation therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other’s company. We offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup too! Sign up to join us!

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club At Teen FrienDS Club, we listen to music, watch movies, eat snacks, and play games! Teen FrienDS Club is hosted the 2nd Friday night of each month.

La Crosse

La Crosse Down Syndrome Awareness Walk Families celebrated our friends with Down syndrome at the 17th Annual Greater La Crosse Area Down Syndrome Awareness Walk. The walk was a circus-themed party with a Family Festival, Awards Ceremony, and 21 Showcase! Thanks to all who helped make this event a success.

La Crosse Brat Barn Fundraiser

DSAW-La Crosse hosted a Brat Barn Fundraiser outside of Festival Foods. Families and friends gathered to enjoy one of Wisconsin’s finest foods.

Chippewa Valley

DSAW-Chippewa Valley Down Syndrome Awareness Walk In September, DSAW-Chippewa Valley hosted their 13th Annual Awareness Walk! The massive support will help DSAW-Chippewa Valley begin implementing monthly playgroups and parent’s nights, education events, and MORE! Thank you all who made this event a success.

Green Bay

Green Bay Young Leaders Academy
Our Young Leaders Class is a respite program coupled with a unique curriculum that will introduce students to important topics such as work ethic, attitude, communication skills, time management, problem-solving, acting as a team player, self confidence, ability to accept and learn from criticism, flexibility/adaptability and working well under pressure, personal hygiene, nutrition, and how your body talks. Young Leaders Academy takes place during the first and second Tuesdays of the month!

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. We got to play outside at Titletown District Playground

Mom’s Night Out Moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers joined us at the Old Chicago for night of good food and conversation. Monthly Mom’s Nights Out will be the 4th Sunday of every mont.

Central Wisconsin

Central WI Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
DSAW-Central WI families gather at Marathon Park for the 2nd Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk. The event included a Family Festival, 21 Showcase, and cultivated in a 1-mile awareness walk around the park. Thank you to all who supported this event.

Movie Event This month, DSAW-Central enjoyed a private screening of the Peanut Butter Falcon at the Cedar Creek Cinema! We had so much fun, thanks to everyone who joined us.

MADSS

Madison Area Down Syndrome Society Awareness Walk MADSS had a fun filled day at their Awareness Walk! Olin Park transformed into a massive party which included music, inflatables, obstacle courses, tattoos, photo booth, resources, raffles, and MORE! Thank you all joined us at this event.

Self-Advocate Movie Outing Lights, Cameras, Action! MADSS had a special Self-Advocate Movie Outing to see The Peanut Butter Falcon Movie this month.

Mom’s Take 5
This month, marvelous MADSS moms gathered together to catch up. We always love this time with fellow moms to enjoy appetizers and soft drinks.

D.A.D.S. 12th Annual Camping Trip MADSS hosted their Annual DADS Camping Trip this month at the UWP Owners Retreat Center. MADSS families came down for a weekend of campfires, fun conversation, and even fireworks! MADSS supplied the food for the main meals!

Rachel Reit

August 23, 2019

Looking Back on August 2019

Rachel Reit

August 23, 2019

Statewide

DSAW Launches an App This month, DSAW launched a brand new application! The app will connect families across the state, provide program and event information, offer access to our resource library, allow you to join groups, receive notifications, make donations from your phone, and more!

Click here to to download the app.

Milwaukee

23rd Annual Tom Pipines Golf Outing On Wednesday, August 14th, DSAW friends and families gathered at Western Lakes golf course for a day of golf, great food, and fundraising! We want to extend a HUGE thank you to all of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers who made this event possible!!

Pool Party Families enjoyed a beautiful summer day by the pool for our awesome DSAW-only pool party! Thank you to everyone who came out to Hales Corners Pool to beat the summer heat with us!

Family Zoo Day DSAW families had a blast getting together at the Racine Zoo this month! We enjoyed many family fun activities including sack races and hula hooping! Of course we got to visit all the animals inside too!

Digitability Class This winter, we launched this award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces. Our summer semester just wrapped up and we learned so much! We will be offering this course in the Fall again. Learn more about the West Allis location here. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Life Skills Bootcamp
We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

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 occupation therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other’s company. We offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup too! Sign up to join us!

Fox Cities

Movie Night This month we enjoyed a screening of Where Hope Grows, which stars DSAW-Fox Cities 2019 Walk Ambassador, David DeSanctis! We had so much fun together watching the movie and munching away on popcorn!

Pool Party We had so much fun celebrating summer with our fellow DSAW families! We spent the day in the sun splish-splashing around and enjoying snacks by the pool. Thanks to everyone who joined us at Doyle Park for our annual pool party!

Camping Day What better way to spend a beautiful summer day then at the campgrounds?! Families had an absolute blast at Evergreen Campsites and Resort! We road the train, swam in the pool and lake, and played on the playground!

La Crosse

Summer Picnic La Crosse families enjoyed a beautiful summer day with a family picnic! We enjoyed all of our favorite summer foods including burgers, brats, and BBQ chicken. Kiddos had a ton of fun fishing as well!

Holmen Kornfest Parade Self-advocates and supporters walked in the Holmen Kornfest Parade to spread awareness and represent the La Crosse Chapter. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped us raise awareness!

Chippewa Valley

Pool Party DSAW-Chippewa Valley families had so much fun at their pool party this month! We spent the day at Wakanda Waterpark splish-splashing around and enjoying the summer sun. Thank you to everyone who joined us for one of our favorite days!

Green Bay

11th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
The Green Bay chapter kicked off Awareness Walk season with their Walk on August 17th at Green Isle Park with a luau themed walk! We had a beautiful day to welcome DSAW friends for inflatables, raffles, family fun, lunch, and more. It was so much fun to see the community come together and raise awareness of our friends. Thank you to all volunteers, donors, sponsors, families, friends, and to our incredible Walk committee! That’s a wrap!

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. We got to play outside at Optimist Park this month for Miracle League closing day!

Haircut Fundraiser Thank you to Hype Hair, LLC for hosting a haircut fundraiser for our 2019 Walk! Kiddos and parents got their back to school haircuts while supporting a great cause!

Central Wisconsin

Pool Day
DSAW-Central WI families traveled to Rothschild Pool for a fun day of splashing in the water. Thanks to everyone who joined us for some summer fun!

MADSS

Family Pool Party MADSS families had a blast at Sun Prairie Family Aquatic Center for a day at the pool! We also enjoyed some light snacks and catching up with our amazing community while enjoying the beautiful summer weather.

Dynamic Duals MADSS & GiGi’s Playhouse sponsor Dynamic Duals every 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, and brainstorm ideas and strategies for challenges.

Mom’s Take 5
This month, marvelous MADSS moms gathered together to catch up. We always love this time with fellow moms to enjoy appetizers and soft drinks.

Parent’s Night Out This month’s Parent's Night Out was held at Oliver’s Public House! Parents, grandparents, adult siblings, and caregivers gathered for a fun evening of conversation and good eats.

North Central

Beach Day North Central families enjoyed a family friendly, beach day at Jack Lake in August! We hung out at the beach, enjoyed yummy snacks, and caught up with each other over a beautiful summer day. Thanks to everyone who joined us!

Sheboygan

Farm WI Discovery Center DSAW-Sheboygan families had an incredible day at the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center this month! Kiddos of all ages and their parents enjoyed interactive exhibits, a birthing barn, and the local dairy farm!

Rachel Reit

July 19, 2019

Looking Back on July 2019

Rachel Reit

July 19, 2019

Statewide

Dr. Skotko Grand Rounds Training & Parent Sessions DSAW along with our partners hosted Grand Rounds Trainings and Parents Sessions with Dr. Skotko around the state this month! We visited Milwaukee, La Crosse, and Madison where Dr. Skotko presented to parents on how to boost cognition in individuals with Down syndrome. Parents had the opportunity to hear insight and asks questions. Dr. Skotko also presented to pediatric residents, medical students, and genetic counseling students on how to deliver a Down syndrome diagnosis and the latest research on Down syndrome. Parents were able to hear insight and ask questions. Thank you to our partners: Madison Area Down syndrome Society, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Waisman Center, and Gundersen Health System. A HUGE thank you to Dr. Skotko for spreading awareness and information to hundreds of medical professionals, parents, and caregivers!

Milwaukee

Down Home BBQ It was a beautiful, sunny day for our Down Home BBQ! Families enjoyed delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbeque chicken while kids played in the Splash Zone and bouncy house. Thank you to the band, Off The Grill for playing at our event

Summer Camp
This month, campers got to visit an alpaca farm, see the new Lion King in theatres, and meet a bunch of new critters during Captive Bred Specialties’ presentation! Some campers even were brave enough to have a snake rest on their shoulders!

Digitability Class Our Digitability class had another successful month in June! This winter, we launched this award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces. Our summer semester started on June 10th and is held Mondays and Wednesdays at TWO different locations! Learn more about the West Allis location here. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Life Skills Bootcamp
In June, we built a little free library and stocked it with books. We meet every Tuesday year-round to learn a variety of fun, practical life skills while making new friends. Stay tuned for next month’s topic! Register Here!

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 occupation therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other’s company. We offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup too! Sign up to join us!

Chippewa Valley

Wings for All In July, DSAW-Chippewa Valley sponsored Wings for All EAU! This airport rehearsal program is designed specifically for individuals with Autism or other intellectual disabilities. Families were given the opportunity to practice all the steps involved in air travel at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport. We had so much fun connecting with other families!

La Crosse

Parent’s Night Out This month, parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings gathered at Senor Villa in Onalaska for a casual evening of food and conversation. Thanks to all who joined us!

Fox Cities

Playdate Families gathered together for a playdate at Washington Park! We had so much fun meeting other families and enjoying the summer day.

Mom’s Night Out Moms, grandmas, and female caregivers of a loved one with Down syndrome had a blast at Mom’s Night Out this month at P.F. Chang’s! We enjoyed appetizers and good conversation with each other.

Green Bay

Self-Advocate Mini Golf Event In July, Self-advocates ages 15+ went mini-golfing. We were at Duck Creek Golf Course for a day of putting and the occasional hole-in-one. So much fun!

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. We got to play outside at Voyageur Park in De Pere this month! Join us at Southwest Park in July.

Dad’s Night Out This month, dads enjoyed a night out at Twin Oaks Golf Course for a fun round of golf together!

Mom’s Night Out
The 4th Sunday of every month, moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers come together for DSAW-Mom’s Night Out. In June, we dined at Rustique Pizzeria in Green Bay. Join us next month: RSVP Here!

Central Wisconsin

Pool Party
DSAW-Central WI families traveled to Rothschild Pool for a fun day of splashing in the water. Some of us even went down the big, blue slide! Perfect way to kickstart the summer! We also went to Rotschild Pool later in the month to beat the summer heat once again!

Sibling Event Kids who have a sibling with Down syndrome enjoyed a day at Sawmill Adventure Park. There, they were busy playing mini golf and jumping on the bounce house! Fees for the siblings were covered by DSAW.

MADSS

Golf Outing MADSS had a successful Golf Outing this past month! The event took place at the Oaks Golf Course with 18 holes of golf and other fun games! The evening culminated in a dinner and program where raffle prizes were announced!

Rock County Family Picnic In July, MADSS hosted family picnic at Peace Park Pavilion. The day was spent eating, listening to music, creating crafts, and jumping in the pool. It was a great way to celebrate summer!

Dane County Family Picnic Dane County families enjoyed a family picnic at McKee Farms Park! We spent the day playing games, making crafts, eating yummy food, listening to great music, and jumping around in a bounce house!

Mom’s Night Out
This month, marvelous MADSS moms gathered at La Casa Grande! We always love this time to catch up with moms over appetizers and soft drinks.

North Central

Family Picnic North Central families had so much fun at a family friendly, summer picnic this month! Families headed to City Park for yummy food and running through the splash pad. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this day full of summer activities!

Rachel Reit

June 25, 2019

Looking Back on June 2019

Rachel Reit

June 25, 2019

Milwaukee

Brewers Outing
Take me out to the ball game! DSAW-families gathered for the BIGGEST TAILGATE of the year. There, we enjoyed a delicious lunch graciously donated by Just One More Ministries before heading into Miller Park for the Brewer’s Game! Thank you to all who could join us for this awesome event!

Summer Camp
Our summer-long camp began in mid-June. Campers learned about recycling, created posters about themselves, and even walked to Krispy Kreme’s to purchase delicious donuts! Week 2 was Everything Disney week, and we get to take a field trip to see Toy Story 4!!

Bike Camp
In June, DSAW once again partnered with the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin to host the iCan Shine Bike Camp. The camp worked to help individuals with special needs learn to ride a two-wheeled bicycle independently.

New Summer Offerings
During June, DSAW launched new summer programs, including Littles Art Program, Life Skills & Laughter, and Safety & Self-Defense! We love having an office full of amazing friends of all ages! Click here to learn more or to sign-up!

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 occupation therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other’s company. We offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup too! Sign up to join us!

Sheboygan

Red, White, & Shine: Red Carpet Date Night
DSAW families and couples had a blast playing mini golf at our Red Carpet Date Night. The event was held at the Harbor Pointe Miniature Golf and proceeds went towards DSAW-Sheboygan! It was night full of countless memories and was the perfect way to kick off the Fourth of July festivities.

Dance Class
We finished up our Dance Class at In Motion Dance Studio in Plymouth this month! The goal of the class is to get the group moving, sweating, learning, and having fun. The class is taught by Heather Jankus, Elite Coach at In Motion Dance Studio.

Music Therapy
In partnership with Take Note Studio in Kohler, Kindermusik hosted a three-session music therapy class! Each week, DSAW children sang, danced, and played instruments with their parents and new friends! The class celebrated the unique joys of the children!

La Crosse

Bike Camp
The 2nd Annual Bike Camp for children with disabilities in La Crosse was held this month. Children enrolled in the camp were provided with instruction to ride a two-wheel bike by Adapted Physical Education Teachers and UW-La Crosse Adapted Physical Education students. We loved watching our friends learn how to bike independently!!

Green Bay

Brat Fry Fundraiser
In June, the Green Bay chapter hosted a Brat Fry Fundraiser to support DSAW. We grilled some delicious brats outside of Festival Foods and had a blast while doing so! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped during this event!

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. We got to play outside at Voyageur Park in De Pere this month! Join us at Southwest Park in July.

Central Wisconsin

Pool Party
DSAW-Central WI families traveled to Rothschild Pool for a fun day of splashing in the water. Some of us even went down the big, blue slide! Perfect way to kickstart the summer!

Picnic & Playdate
In June, we gathered for a picnic and playdate at Kash Park. Families brought yummy summer foods to pass, while kids enjoyed playing with their friends on the playset. Thank you to all who were able to join in on the fun!

Wheels of Hope Cruz’n 4 Down Syndrome
Wheels of Hope hosted their 3rd Annual Cruz’n 4 Down Syndrome Event. 2-wheelers and 4-wheelers came from all over for a 100 mile ride. Along the way, there was food and prizes at five different spots. Thank you to the band Thunder Country for providing entertainment at the finish point!

Fox Cities

Bike Camp In June, DSAW-Fox Cities offered the iCan Shine Bike Camp for individuals with special needs to learn to ride a two-wheeled bike independently. A huge thank you to Covey for partnering with us and to all the volunteers who ran, clapped, and encouraged riders!

Brewers Outing Fox Cities families made a fun bus trip down to Miller Park for the big DSAW tailgate and Brewers game! Kids and adults had a ton of fun catching up with other families over good food and fun.

MADSS

Family Zoo Day & Ice Cream Social
The Family Zoo Day & Ice Cream Social was the perfect way for MADSS families to get together and start summer off on the right foot. Families got to explore the exhibits and see the animals at Henry Vilas Zoo before meeting outside for an ice cream social! MADSS provided the yummy ice cream and surplus of toppings!

Family Bowling Day
Strike! MADSS families had an awesome time on the lanes this month. There were two bowling events in June! One for Sauk and Columbia County, and another for Jefferson County! Thank you to all the families that could come on down!

Dynamic Duals: DS-ASD
MADSS & GiGi’s Playhouse sponsor Dynamic Duals every 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, and brainstorm ideas and strategies for challenges.

Mom’s Take 5
MADSS has a Mom’s Night Out on the 5th of every month! This month, marvelous MADSS moms gathered at Me & Julio in Fitchburg! We always love this time to catch up with moms over appetizers and soft drinks.

Parent’s Night Out
This month’s Parent's Night Out was held at Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company in Hilldale! Parents, grandparents, adult siblings, and caregivers gathered for a fun evening of conversation and good eats.

Rachel Reit

May 29, 2019

Looking Back on May 2019

Rachel Reit

May 29, 2019

Milwaukee

Club DSAW
Club DSAW celebrated Cinco de Mayo at the delicious Botana’s restaurant in Milwaukee. To say we enjoyed their Mexican cuisine is an understatement! It was delicious! Next month, Club DSAW spending the day at a family hobby farm! Join us!

Monkey Joe’s Party Kids had a ball bouncing, jumping, and laughing at our Monkey’s Joe Party! The morning was spent racing through obstacle courses, jumping in the bounce house, and sliding down the giant inflatable slide. Monkey Joe’s even opened an hour early just for us!

Digitability Class Our Digitability class had another successful month in May! This winter, we launched this award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces. Our summer semester starts up on June 10th, and will be held Mondays and Wednesdays at TWO different locations! Learn more about the West Allis location here. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Life Skills Bootcamp
In May, we worked in the DSAW garden, prepping, planting, watering. We are excited to watch the plants grow all summer long! In June, we will be building a little free library and stocking it with books. Register Here!

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 occupation therapy skills in a free environment, while parents enjoy coffee and each other’s company. We offer free music therapy in conjunction with playgroup! Sign up to join us!

Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! At this month’s Tween Club we had peers from the Delafield Family Tae Kwon Do Champions come to teach us some tae kwon do! Stay tuned for next month’s activity! Sign up for Tween Club!

Alzheimer’s Group Our Alzheimer’s group meets every third Tuesday of the month. All parents, caregivers, and family members who have a loved one with Down syndrome going through the aging process are invited to share and connect with others with similar stories. Click here to sign-up!

Sheboygan

Alpaca Farm Tour

In May, DSAW-Sheboygan families traveled to the LondonDairy Alpaca Ranch. We got to have our own private tour of the ranch where we even got to feed and hang out with the alpacas.

Sheboygan Dance Class

We continued our Dance Class at In Motion Dance Studio in Plymouth this month! The goal of the class is to get the group moving, sweating, learning, and having fun. The class is taught by Heather Jankus, Elite Coach at In Motion Dance Studio. There will be two sessions in June (6/9 and 6/23).

La Crosse

Parent’s Night Out
This month, DSAW-COTH-GLA parents dined at Fiesta Mexicana for Parent’s Night Out. It provides the perfect opportunity for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to converse with other DSAW adults while enjoying delicious food. Hope you can join us for our next night out in July! RSVP here.

Green Bay

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. Since the weather has been warming up, we got to play outside at Voyageur Park in De Pere this month!

Mom’s Night Out

The 4th Sunday of every month, moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers come together for DSAW-Mom’s Night Out. In May, we dined at Old Mexico in Green Bay. Join us next month at the Rustique Pizzeria. RSVP Here!

Chippewa Valley

Financial & Legal Planning Seminar

Parents gathered for a Financial and Legal Planning Seminar in May! Charles Zwiefelhofer, Financial Advisor at Woita & Associates and Nick Heike, owner of Heike Law Offices presented to us on financial and legal planning topics such as how to get started with a special needs trust, how to fund it, etc. We really enjoyed this time learning alongside fellow DSAW parents.

Central Wisconsin

Wellness Club
This month, Wellness Club served as a perfect opportunity for teens and young adults to learn more about nutrition! Additionally, teens and young adults were able to get active through fitness activities! Thank you to our instructor, Dana, who taught our group about nutrition plans and fitness activities.

Mom’s Night Out
This month, moms, grandmas, and female caregivers gathered at Townies Grill in Wausau for a Mom’s Night Out. The night was filled with delicious food and fun conversation.

MADSS

Self-Advocate Laser Tag Outing

This month, self-advocates were able to enjoy a FREE evening of laser tag at UltraZone. The self-advocates suited up in laser tag gear and were able to play multiple games in the arena. It was a night full of laughter, adventure, and some serious laser tag action!

Family Fun Night – Coral Cove Family Fun Center

We had a blast at Coral Cove Family Fun Center for our Family Fun Night! MADSS families were able to bowl, play in the arcade, jump in the bouncy house, relax in the massage chairs, and much more! They were even able to enjoy a catered meal from Bravo’s!

Dynamic Duals: DS-ASD

MADSS & GiGi’s Playhouse sponsor Dynamic Duals every 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.

Mom’s Take 5
MADSS has a Mom’s Night Out on the 5th of every month! This month, marvelous MADSS moms gathered at Tanner’s Bar & Grill in Middleton! We always love this time to catch up with moms over appetizers and soft drinks.

Parent’s Night Out
This month’s Parent's Night Out was held at Breakwater in Monona! Parents, grandparents, adult siblings, and caregivers gathered for a fun evening of conversation and good eats.

Fox Cities

FrienDS Club

We had fun at this month’s FrienDS Club. Teens had fun playing games together, listening to music together, and watching movies together. We will be taking a break from FrienDS Club over the summer, but we’ll be back when September rolls around.

Mom’s Night Out

We spent this Mom’s Night Out at one of Appleton’s highly rated newer restaurants—Wilder’s Bistro. Mom’s Night Out is for moms, aunts, grandmothers, and caregivers of a loved one with Down syndrome.

Rachel Reit

April 29, 2019

Looking Back on April 2019

Rachel Reit

April 29, 2019

Statewide

NDSS Adult Summit

Dawn Nuoffer, Executive Director, and Rachel Reit, Marketing and Development Manager, presented on a panel at the National Down Syndrome Society Adult Summit this month! They had a great time with our friends of Down Syndrome Network of Arizona talking about adult and aging programs. One of our favorite parts of the summit was a presentation by Karen Gaffney, an incredibly accomplished self-advocate, who talked all about changing the playing field for adults with Down syndrome!

Milwaukee

Club DSAW
We kicked off our first Club DSAW of 2019 this month with a karaoke event! We rented out a private room at Punch Bowl Social and enjoyed an afternoon filled with songs, snacks, and laughs! Self advocates ages 18+ had so much fun belting out their favorite tunes with good friends! Stay tuned for next month’s Club DSAW activity!

Family Bowling Event Families had a blast bowling at Castle Lanes in Racine! This was a great time for all ages and abilities. It’s always fun to socialize with fellow DSAW families while hitting the lanes. We even enjoyed a yummy pizza lunch!

Digitability Class Our Digitability class had another successful month in April! This winter, we launched this award-winning employment-readiness course used to prepare students with special needs for today’s tech-driven workplaces. Our summer semester starts up on June 10th, and will be held Mondays and Wednesdays at TWO different locations! Learn more about the West Allis location here. Interested in the Eastside location? Click here!

Relationships Class
This month, we wrapped up our course on relationships for individuals with special needs. Throughout the course, we learned about personal boundaries, dating, self-defense, stranger danger, and safety.

Nutrition & Wellness Class
This month we continued our two sessions of the Nutrition and Wellness Class. The class meets twice a week throughout the spring and participants have been learning about personal health and well-being, exercise, and healthy cooking. This month students made a healthier (and super yummy) version of chocolate chip cookies!

Life Skills Bootcamp
In April, we participated in a number of service projects! We had so much fun giving back to others while learning new skills. Stay tuned for May’s topic. Register Here!

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!

Central Wisconsin

FUNdamentals of Special Education
In April, fellow parents joined us for a discussion on Special Education! We talked about IEP teams and tips for parent advocacy! DSAW member and special education teacher, Garrett Lancelle, conducted a brief presentation, followed by a group discussion. Thank you to the parents who joined us and contributed to this very important discussion!

Wellness Club
This month we launched Wellness Club thanks to the support of the Wausau-Marathon County Fund of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin! This club provided a great learning opportunity for both teens and young adults to learn more about nutrition and fitness. Thank you to our instructor, Dana, who taught our group about nutrition plans and fitness activities. Sign up for the next Wellness Club here!

Dad’s Night Out
Dads, uncles, grandpas, and male caregivers gathered at Townies Grill this month for a casual social. We always enjoy this night of food and conversation with other men who have a loved one with Down syndrome!

La Crosse

All Abilities Day
This month we partnered with the La Crosse Area Autism Foundation for All Abilities Day! This is always a great opportunity at the La Crosse Wellness Center for families to chat with local therapy providers and disability resources.

Inclusion Night
We had a blast at Inclusion Night at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse! DSAW-COTH-GLA co-hosted this fun night in partnership with the La Crosse Area Autism Foundation! Families got to enjoy the museum at their own pace, without the extra stimulation of busy open hours. The night included sensory-friendly exhibits, snacks, and fun with other families!

Green Bay

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay meets the first Saturday morning of every month for playgroup. This winter, we escaped the chilly outdoors by bouncing around at Get Air Trampoline Park! They offered our families a dedicated time just for jumpers with special needs. Now that it is warming up, we will hold playgroup at Voyageur Park in De Pere next month!

Blizzard Game Resource Table
This month we hosted a resource table before the Blizzard game against the Nebraska Danger! DSAW-Green Bay members sold tickets for a special DSAW raffle basket. The lucky winner was announced during the game. Thanks to everyone who visited our table!

Dad’s Night Out

Dads had an extra fun Dad’s Night Out this month! DSAW men gathered for an exciting game of tactical laser tag at the Battle House! Players were given a mission that required team strategy and tactics to accomplish!

Parent’s Night Out
This month parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings gathered at Mackinaw’s in Green Bay for a Parent's Night Out! We always enjoy this time catching up with fellow DSAW adults over good food and drinks.

Self-Advocate Event at Get Air
Self-advocates enjoyed a fun day at Get Air Trampoline Park! Jumpers of all abilities bounced around at the trampoline park while socializing with each other. Thank you to the self-advocates who joined us for this entertainment filled day!

MADSS

Dynamic Duals: DS-ASD MADSS & GiGi’s Playhouse sponsor Dynamic Duals every 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.

Family Field Trip
We had so much fun on our Family Field Trip to the Madison Children's Museum! Families discovered, played, and learned while hanging out with other MADSS families. This day provided entertainment for all ages.

North Central

Bowling Event
DSAW-North Central Families gathered for a fun day of bowling at North Star Lanes in Antigo! Families enjoyed this time to catch up up with each other while hitting the lanes. Thank you to everyone who came out to join us for this wonderful event!

Fox Cities

Puberty Workshops
DSAW-Fox Cities offered Puberty Workshops this month. Terri Couwenhoven, MS, CSE, a well-known sex educator and author, presented these workshops designed especially for pre-adolescents. Parent/daughter workshops and parent/son workshops were presented separately and were full of useful information.

Jump with a Buddy
DSAW-Fox Cities kiddos as well as our Teen FrienDS Club enjoyed a private party at Vertical Velocity Trampoline Park! We also had yummy pizza and soda! Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fun day!

Sheboygan

Dance Class
This month, we kicked off our DSAW Dance Class with In Motion Dance Studio in Plymouth! Kiddos enjoyed moving, sweating, and learning all while having fun! Throughout the next two months, students will learn how to stretch and create a foundation of dance techniques. All ages and abilities are welcome to participate in this class - join at anytime! Register here.

Rachel Reit

March 26, 2019

Looking Back on March 2019

Rachel Reit

March 26, 2019

Milwaukee

World Down Syndrome Day Waterpark Event

We had a blast celebrating World Down Syndrome Day a few days early at the waterpark! Southeastern WI families gathered at the Ingleside Hotel & Waterpark for a day full of fun! Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us!

New Parent Breakfast

This month we hosted a New Parent Breakfast at our headquarters! This provided the opportunity for fellow parents to make connections, learn about DSAW programs and services, and hear about the other important resources in the area! We got to do this all over a yummy breakfast. Thank you to the families that joined us for a morning of learning and fun!

Ben’s Cycle Indoor Century Ride

Thank you to our amazing friends at Ben's Cycle/Milwaukee Bicycle Company Racing team for hosting an Indoor Century Ride to raise funds for DSAW! Teams rode 100 miles to benefit DSAW and raised over $4,000!

Family Movie Event

We ended the month with a sensory-friendly, private screening of Wonder Park at the Marcus Ridge Cinema in New Berlin! We rented out an entire theater for our families, and the sound was played lower and lights were on brighter. Thank you to all the families who joined us for this screening!

Digitability Class

Our Digitability class had another successful month in March! 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 at the state office. Learn more here!

Relationships Class
We had another great month of our course on relationships for individuals with special needs. Throughout the course, we have been learning about personal boundaries, dating, self-defense, stranger danger, and safety. Learn more here.

Nutrition & Wellness Class
This month we continued our 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. This month students made healthier versions of two yummy foods - tacos and brownies!

Life Skills Bootcamp
In March we talked all about self advocacy, self-advocacy skills, and why they are important. Stay tuned for April’s topic, Register Here!

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!

Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, April 12th. Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. At next month’s Tween Club, we have peers from the Delafield Family Tae Kwon Do Champions coming to teach us some tae kwon do! Sign up!

Central Wisconsin

World Down Syndrome Day Party

DSAW-Central WI partnered with GiGi's Playhouse Wausau to provide an afternoon of bounce houses, games, food and photo prop fun in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day! Thank you to all the families who came out to join us for this fun day!

Parent Coffee Date

Parents gathered for coffee and conversation at Vino Latte on World Down Syndrome Day! Parents, grandparents, and caregivers attended this casual social. We always enjoy this time gathering with fellow parents.

Family Night Out

DSAW board member and parent, Kris Halvorson, graciously opened her home for a fun family night this month! Families enjoyed pizza and conversation with other families who have a loved one with Down syndrome.

Chippewa Valley

World Down Syndrome Day Party

DSAW-Chippewa Valley families celebrated World Down Syndrome Day at Action City and Chaos Waterpark! We started the day bouncing around at the trampoline park followed by a pizza buffet! We ended this fun packed day at the waterpark! Thank you to all the families who joined us to celebrate!

La Crosse

World Down Syndrome Day Event
DSAW-La Crosse Families gathered for a Sock Hop themed Celebration for World Down Syndrome Day! The afternoon included a yummy lunch and a guest performance by Applause Dance Academy. Families even got to join in on the dancing and do the Cha Cha Slide! Andrew Gerbitz from Andrew’s Voice made an appearance and talked about his journey! We also got to enjoy some delicious cake. One of our favorite parts of this day is the famous wall of extra chromosome posters - this year we had 34 wonderful faces adorning it!

Parent’s Night Out

We always enjoy Parent’s Night Out! This month we met at Features Sports Bar and Grill in West Salem for a casual evening of food and conversation. Our next Parent’s Night Out will be held on May 18th at Fiesta Mexicana! RSVP here!

Green Bay

Playgroup
DSAW-Green Bay held their playgroup at Get Air Trampoline Park this month! They offered a dedicated time just for jumpers with special needs. We will be at the trampoline park again in April. Sign up here!

Mom’s Night Out

This month moms, aunts, grandmas, and female caregivers gathered at the Cannery for a Moms Night Out! We always enjoy this time socializing with fellow DSAW women.

WDSD Bowling Party

We celebrated World Down Syndrome Day with a bowling party! Green Bay families gathered at the Gutter for an afternoon filled with bowling, pizza, and celebration! Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fun event to celebrate our loved ones with Down syndrome!

MADSS

Mom’s Take 5
MADSS has a Mom’s Night Out on the 5th of every month! This month, moms gathered at the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. We love this time for moms to enjoy conversation with one another over appetizers and drinks.

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.

Self-Advocate Hockey Outing

Self-advocates had a great time at the Madison Capitols game! The night was filled with cheering and laughing at the ice arena!

Parent’s Night Out

We kicked off the month with a Parent's Night Out at Vintage Brewing Co! Parents, grandparents, adult siblings and caregivers joined us for a casual evening of conversation and good eats.

Family Bowling and Pizza Party

Families enjoyed a bowling and pizza party at RiversEdge Bowl! We had tons of fun bowling and eating yummy pizza with other MADSS families!

Playgroup

This month we had our first playgroup in Janesville! Parents had the opportunity to discuss specific goals and needs for the children with CI Therapy staff while the kiddos played!

Day with the Experts: Down Syndrome

This event was hosted in partnership with Gigi’s Playhouse Madison as a part of the Waisman Center Day with the Experts series. The series is sponsored by the Friends of the Waisman Center. Attendees learned about advances in research and clinic services as well as hear from a panel of experts consisting of individuals with Down syndrome and their family members.

Gallery 21

We spent the evening of World Down Syndrome Day celebrating increased awareness, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. This year’s theme was “Be a Dreamer” and featured photographs of local kids and adults with Down syndrome doing the things they love. Thank you to Geoffrey Mikol, photographer and owner of River Bend Gallery!

WDSD Movie at the Library

The Madison Public Library - Meadowridge hosted a movie day for our friends with Down syndrome and their families in honor of WDSD. We enjoyed pizza and snacks along with the movie!

Dad’s Night Out

Fathers, grandfathers, and male caregivers met for a casual evening of conversation and food with other MADSS dads at Toby’s Supper Club this month! We always enjoy this time to catch up.

Library Storytime

This month we went to Hedberg Public Library in Janesville to listen to stories from the Children’s Librarian. The kids had so much fun engaging in these interactive stories.

North Central

World Down Syndrome Day Celebration

Families gathered to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day at the Clara R. McKenna Aquatic Center! Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of swimming and celebration! We even enjoyed some ice cream thanks to Culver’s! We had so much fun celebrating one of our favorite days of the year!

Sheboygan

WDSD Waterpark Event

DSAW-Sheboygan families enjoyed an early World Down Syndrome Day celebration at Breaker Bay Waterpark! This was such a great escape from the winter weather. The kids splashed in the water and parents enjoyed socializing with each other. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating with this fun day at the waterpark!

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club

This month our Teen FrienDS Club had a zentastic time at “Be” doing yoga! Thanks to the instructors for leading our teens through a great class!

KITE Conference

DSAW-Fox Cities partnered with SOAR Fox Cities, WisconSibs, and the Autism Society of Wisconsin to host a mini conference for parents, adult siblings, self-advocates and professionals. This was a great opportunity to learn about disability-related topics through breakout sessions and to connect with local community resources.

Luv 2 Play Event
Babies, toddlers, and school aged children with Down syndrome attended a playdate at Luv 2 Play Indoor Playground! The kids enjoyed escaping the winter weather at the indoor playground. We also enjoyed pizza!

World Down Syndrome Day Party

Families celebrated World Down Syndrome Day with a fun filled afternoon at Monkey Joe’s! Kiddos got to play in the inflatable play area and enjoy pizza while celebrating one of our favorite days!

Rachel Reit

February 28, 2019

Looking Back on February 2019

Rachel Reit

February 28, 2019

Milwaukee

Snow Tubing Outing
DSAW was able to take advantage of the snow in a big way at our Snow Tubing Outing. We were able to spend the day tubing down the snowy slopes while the sounds of laughter and excitement filled the air.

Valentine’s Day Dance

We had a blast at our annual Valentine’s Dance! The state office was transformed into a red and pink extravaganza. The night commenced with music, dancing, games, and a whole lot of food, including delicious mini bundt cake from our dessert sponsor, Nothing Bundt Cupcakes. There was even a surprise visit from Frozen’s Elsa! Thank you to the DSAW families that joined us for this night of fun.

Nail Painting Party This month, we hosted our first ever Nail Painting Party to kick off Valentine’s Day. It was an awesome day filled with excitement, nail polish, and plenty of snacks!

Family Movie Event Lights. Cameras. Action. 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 Pete’s Dragon! Families got to enjoy the movie with the sound played lower and lights on brighter.

Digitability Class

Our brand-new Digitability class had another successful month! 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 at the state office. Learn more here!

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.

Young Leaders Bootcamp
This month at Bootcamp we discussed taking responsibility for our actions! In March 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!

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, March 8th. Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. Sign up!

Central Wisconsin

Movie Event

We had a “tale as old as time” at our own private screening of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Cedar Creek Marcus Theatre. We were able to relive the magic of the classic film while enjoying some delicious buttery popcorn and other fun snacks!

La Crosse

Parent’s First Call Training
In partnership with Parent to Parent of Wisconsin, we hosted a training to support parents and match them with new and expectant parents who are looking for resources and support. Connecting with another parent who has a child with Down syndrome can be one of the most helpful resources a parent will have – it can help make their journey a little easier.

Green Bay

Snow Tubing Event
Green Bay had a blast tubing on the snowy slopes at Kewaunee Winter Park! Smiles and laughter were abundant throughout the day despite the cold weather! Thank you to all the families who joined us for this fun day.

MADSS

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.

Family Bowling & Pizza Party MADSS families enjoyed a Sunday Funday at Schwoegler’s bowling alley! We had so much fun bowling and mingling with families while eating yummy pizza!

Parent’s Night Out This month we had our first ever MADSS Parent’s Night Out in Rock County! Parents, grandparents, adult siblings, and caregivers joined us for a casual evening of conversation and good eats at Texas Roadhouse. Thank you to those who came out and joined us!

Sheboygan

DSAW-Sheboygan families enjoyed a fun day at Just4Fun Playland in February! The kiddos enjoyed the indoor playground that’s equipped with fluffy white clouds, a faux yard, a basketball court, and a giant rainbow play-system superstructure! This was such a fun way to to escape the winter weather together for a little indoor fun!

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club
This month our teens painted their own pottery at the Fire in Appleton! 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.

Valentine’s Dance
Thank you to all of the families that joined us for our Valentine’s Dance at the Elk Lodge! Everyone had fun, young & old! A DJ and dancing provided great entertainment. We also enjoyed snacks, drinks, and crafts!

Rachel Reit

January 29, 2019

Looking Back on January 2019

Rachel Reit

January 29, 2019

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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”.

Rachel Reit

December 20, 2018

Looking Back on December 2018

Rachel Reit

December 20, 2018

Milwaukee

Family Movie Event We kicked off December with a sensory-friendly, private screening of the newest release of The Grinch! Family! Families got to enjoy the movie with the sound played lower and lights on brighter.

Holiday Party
We had such a great time at the Southeastern WI Holiday Party this month! Santa and his elf made their way down from the North Pole to visit the kiddos! We enjoyed a variety of games, ornament crafts, cookie decorating, food from Pizzeria Scotty, dancing, and contests! This party attracted almost 350 members of the DSAW family!

Relationships Class
We just wrapped up a course on relationships for individuals with special needs. They talked about personal boundaries, dating, self-defense, stranger danger, and safety. We will be hosting another session starting on January 12! Learn more here.

Nutrition & Wellness Class
DSAW and DSAW-Family Services also offered two sessions of a Nutrition and Wellness Class this month. The class met twice a week and participants learned about personal health and well-being, exercise, and healthy cooking.

Young Leaders Bootcamp
This month at Bootcamp we learned about holidays around the world, how are they celebrated, how they are different, and why each one is unique and special!

Self-Advocate Packer & Holiday Party Self-advocates joined us for a Packer & Holiday Party at the State office on December 16. We had gifts, a bloody mary bar, and lots of cheering! Thank you to the self-advocates who came out to help us celebrate and cheer on the Packers!

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!

Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! This month we did holiday activities, made jingle bell necklaces, and had snacks! Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, January 11th. Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. Sign up!

Central Wisconsin

Holiday Party
We had our Holiday Party at the wonderful Moose Lodge earlier this month. Guests brought yummy potluck dishes and Santa stopped by! We are very thankful for the generous donations made by Texas Roadhouse and the Rib Mountain Dollar Tree! Also, thank you to the awesome UWSP Speech/Communication students for volunteering their time. We hope you all had as much fun as we did!

Mom’s Coffee Date
DSAW women got together for a Mom’s Coffee Date at Vino Latte in Wausau on the second Wednesday of the month. We love this time to talk to other moms and grandmas while enjoying coffee and treats!

La Crosse

Holiday Party
We had such an amazing time at this year’s Holiday Party at the Black River Beach House! We made crafts, played games, and even visited with Santa! Thank you to all of the families who joined us and to everyone who helped plan and execute this event!! Happy Holidays! :)

Parent’s Night Out
Our Parent’s Night Out this month was at TimeOut tavern in La Crescent! Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings had a casual evening of conversation and free appetizers!

Green Bay

Holiday Movie Event
Families joined us to watch Smalfoot at the De Pere Cinema on Saturday, December 15! We had a great turnout and enjoyed watching with our DSAW-Green Bay families!

MADSS

Holiday Cookie Decorating Party
We had another busy month in December! We started off the month with a Holiday Cookie Decorating Party. Thank you to the Schuster Family for graciously opening up their home for this celebration of the holiday season!

Family Holiday Movie
This month, we watched The Nutcracker and the Four Realms at the Marcus Palace Cinema in Sun Prairie! It was a great time for all of the families. Santa and his elves were even there to say hello!

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!

Fox Cities

Teen FrienDS Club
Our 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.

Santa Celebration
DSAW-Fox Cities teamed up with WisconSibs for a Santa Celebration at the Grand Meridian in Appleton. Families visited with Santa, played holiday games, made gifts, decorated cookies, and enjoyed sweet breakfast treats!

Sheboygan

Parent’s Night Out In December, we met at the 8th Street Ale Haus in Sheboygan! Parents, caregivers, and adult siblings joined us for an evening of good food and conversation. We discussed 2019 and had a ton of fun. Thanks to everyone who joined us!

Children’s Museum Night DSAW families joined us for a field trip to Above & Beyond Children's Museum in Sheboygan! Every second Monday of the month from 5-7pm, the children's museum hosts a Special Needs Night. The museum is closed to the general public, sound is turned off on loud exhibits, there is a craft/activity, and a local vendor offers frozen yogurt.

Holiday Party DSAW-Sheboygan families celebrated the holidays together at our Holiday Party! This year’s party took place at the Odyssey Fun Center in Sheboygan Falls. We had pizza, cookie decorating, music and bowling! Santa stopped by to pay us a visit as well!

Chippewa Valley

Holiday Party

We had a great time at our holiday party this month! We had so many generous contributions this year! Thank you to Westgate Sportsman Club for donating their wonderful space, Scheel’s for donating fishing poles for gifts, and Big Stack Meats supplying smoked pulled pork. Also a huge thanks to Santa and Mrs. Clause as well as MMC Eau Claire Hospital for donating gifts! We could not have done all of this without the planning committee members. The kiddos enjoyed crafts, games, and other holiday activities!

Abbey Nicholas

December 17, 2018

DSAW-Central Wisconsin

Abbey Nicholas

December 17, 2018

When you make a gift to the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, you help to fund fraternal support and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. In the past two years, DSAW has expanded into new areas of the state, providing support and services for families who previously had none.

When Miriam, whose daughter Laurel has Down syndrome, moved to Wausau, she found herself "missing my fraternal support group in Indiana. It wasn't easy to connect with, or even find, other families with a loved one with DS. I knew we needed a network in the central part of the state."

Miriam approached DSAW's state office in late 2016 to see how she could get things started in her community. State staff assisted her in planning events like a playgroup and lunch for families, a Mom's Coffee Date, and a World Down Syndrome Day event in 2017. In just a few months, DSAW went from having nothing in Central Wisconsin, to hosting events almost every month.

Miriam continued to be instrumental in DSAW's growth: "Hearing families comment on how nice it was to have opportunities for connecting was deeply gratifying. We kept adding monthly events along with regular coffee times and the group continued to spark interest and growth." By mid-2017, "We had families driving an hour for our gatherings. We began offering social interactions in other cities too (Stevens Point, Marshfield, Antigo)." From Miriam's initial spark and help from other local leaders, the DSAW-Central WI chapter was born.

In early 2018, planning began for the first DSAW-Central WI Awareness Walk that would allow DSAW to raise even more awareness in Wausau and surrounding communities and to fundraise for future programs and events. People from across Central WI helped to plan the Walk, which took place on September 29, 2018.

Everyone's favorite part of the day was the 21 Showcase! Individuals with Down syndrome got to walk the red carpet in front of their friends and family. Miriam recalls that "Hearing a little snippet of what each person (baby to adult) enjoys about their valuable and precious life and then seeing the contagious smiles brought on the tears! With about 400 people in attendance, we celebrated the precious gifts in our lives and appreciated the support we are blessed to have here in Central Wisconsin."

Two short years ago, DSAW had nothing available in Central Wisconsin. Now we offer regular events in Wausau, Stevens Point, and Antigo, we hosted our first Awareness Walk in the area, and we're planning some incredible programs for 2019! All it took was one mom to stand up and say that she wanted to connect with other families. If you're unsure what's available in your area, click here to find support near you. If DSAW does not yet provide coverage in your area, contact Rachel to learn more about how to bring events and services to your families!

When you support DSAW, you bring our resources and our incredible community to families who need us. You facilitate our expansion into areas of the state where families who have a loved one with Down syndrome have nowhere else to go. Will you think of DSAW in your year-end giving?

Abbey Nicholas

December 5, 2018

Grandparents Support Group

Abbey Nicholas

December 5, 2018

You've heard about our Parent's First Call program for new and expectant parents, our programs for individuals with Down syndrome who are aging, and our resources for transition-aged individuals learning to advocate for themselves. Did you know that DSAW also has resources for grandparents?

Grandparents are important members of the family, and they too seek support when a grandchild is diagnosed with Down syndrome. After learning that their grandson James has Down syndrome, Jim and Robbie became very involved with DSAW.

Both Jim and Robbie have volunteered with DSAW for several years. Jim serves on the State Board and acts as the Medical Outreach Committee Chair. They also help at events and lead DSAW's Grandparents Support Group out of our state headquarters.

The group "provides opportunities for our grandparents to ask questions, learn from each other, and just have others to talk with and share emotions." The Grandparents Group often hosts guest speakers and self advocates who demonstrate what life might look like for the members' grandchildren. Jim notices that much like the parents, "Many of our new grandparents come in scared, uncertain, and worried about the future, but they are soon able to reverse roles and provide encouragement and support to the next round of new members."

Everyone's favorite part of each meeting is the beginning; they start by sharing pictures of their grandchildren. What grandparent doesn't enjoy showing off pictures of their little ones? Our Grandparents Group started with 4-5 members a short time ago, and now it has grown to a membership of 16!

Jim and Robbie truly feel that "the DSAW Grandparent Support Group is a valuable resource for all new and prospective grandparents of children with Down syndrome. Grandparents are a vital part of a family's support system, and this group helps to strengthen the bond between generations!"

If you're in the Milwaukee area, join us for Grandparents Group on the first Tuesday of the month at 4pm! Our next meeting is February 5 as we will break to celebrate the New Year. If you are in another area of the state and would like to start a Grandparents Group, contact Rachel to learn how easy it is to get one going!

When you support DSAW, you are allowing grandparents the opportunity to connect, learn, and find reassurance. You are providing a network for family members who may have difficulty finding one elsewhere.
Please consider DSAW in your year-end giving. By donating today, you can give others the community that Jim and Robbie have helped to create at DSAW's Grandparents Group.

Warmly,
Dawn Nuoffer
Executive Director
Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin

PS - Will you make a year-end gift to support our vital work? We couldn't do it without you!

Rachel Reit

November 27, 2018

Looking Back on November 2018

Rachel Reit

November 27, 2018

Milwaukee

Transition Conference
We had a great turnout for our Transition Conference in partnership with the Down Syndrome Clinic at Children’s Hospital, Family Voices of Wisconsin, and the Southeast Regional Center for CYSHCN. We heard sessions about moving from child to adult health care, what comes after high school, and what it’s like to transition to adult life. Thank you to our partners for a great fall conference!

Learning and Skills Night with the Medical College of Wisconsin
On November 8 our Young Leaders Academy students took a trip to MCW to talk to and learn from the medical students. The med students taught us about different kinds of doctors and how to do a medical examination. We got to tell them about what we like and don’t like about going to the doctor’s office, and then we got to practice examining them! Thanks to the MCW Friends of Special Needs for their incredible partnership. We had so much fun and are looking forward to working more with them again in the future!

Relationships Class
We offer a course on relationships for individuals with special needs. They talk about personal boundaries, dating, self-defense, stranger danger, and safety. There are classes on Monday nights and Saturday mornings, and it runs until December 19!

Nutrition & Wellness Class
DSAW and DSAW-Family Services also offered two sessions of a Nutrition and Wellness Class this month. The class meets twice a week and learns about personal health and well-being, exercise, and healthy cooking.

Young Leaders Bootcamp
This month at Bootcamp we focused on creating friendships. We discussed questions like “What are good friendships and why are they important?” and “How are good friendships built?” We really learned a lot!

Bootcamp meets on Tuesday nights at 6pm. Join us in December to learn about different holidays around the world.

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! This month at cooking, we made mini pizzas. At the second session we made gluten free mac n cheese and biscuits! They were delicious!

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!

Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! This month we prepared for Thanksgiving with apple pie, turkey crafts, and games! Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, December 14. Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. Sign up!

Central Wisconsin

Parent’s First Call Support Parent Training
We had a wonderful group of parents join us in Weston on November 3 for a PFC Support Parent Training. These parents came together to learn how to meet the need for peer support! As a part of Wisconsin’s Network of Support Parents, they now can be connected to another parent of a child with Down syndrome looking for support. Thank you to the parents and to Parent to Parent of Wisconsin for making this training happen!

Children’s Museum Outing
We went to Stevens Point this month to visit the Central WI Children’s Museum! We explored the museum together and had lunch!

La Crosse

Family Night Out
At the beginning of the month we went to The Children’s Museum of La Crosse with our friends from the La Crosse Area Autism Foundation. The museum hosted an Inclusion Night for people with disabilities, and we had a great night exploring the museum without the extra stimulation of its busy hours!

Self Advocate Bowling Event
DSAW self advocates went bowling at Pla-Mor Lanes in La Crosse on November 10. Everyone did an awesome job out on the lanes, and we had a great afternoon!

Parent’s Night Out
Our Parent’s Night Out this month was at Pacifico Mexican Restaurant in Viroqua! Parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings had a casual evening of conversation and free appetizers!

Green Bay

Dad’s Night Out
In November, DSAW-GB dads had a night to themselves! We went to Buffalo Wild Wings and shared some free appetizers while watching sports!

Cookie Decorating Event
Families got together at the Howe Resource Center on November 24 for cookie decorating, ornament making, and designing aprons! We loved decorating (and eating!) all of our cookies and getting ready for the holiday season!

Mom’s Night Out
DSAW moms, grandmas, and female caregivers took a break from the holiday madness to get together for a night out! We went to Caliente in De Pere and had a great evening! Please note that there will be no Mom’s Night Out in December due to the holidays.

MADSS

Playgroup at Sky Zone
We had a busy month in November! We started off with a playgroup at Sky Zone. Everyone had so much fun jumping around on the trampolines and launching into the foam pit!

Arts and Crafts Workshop
We made Fall-themed arts and crafts this month at UW-Madison! Families enjoyed light refreshments and got to express their creativity with painting crafts!

Rock County Family Holiday Movie
Rock County families came together in Janesville to see the latest release of The Grinch! We loved celebrating the holidays with each other and this silly movie! Thank you to all of our families who joined us :)

Parent’s Night Out
At the end of the month, parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings met up at Bonefish Grill for a casual evening of conversation and free appetizers!

Mom’s Take 5
MADSS also has a Mom’s Night Out on the 5th of every month! November was no different! We always love getting together with these incredible women.

Fox Cities

Mom’s Night Out
Moms, grandmas, and female caregivers got together at the beginning of November for an evening of respite at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen in Appleton! We had a fun night of conversation and good eats!

Rachel Reit

October 26, 2018

Looking Back on October 2018

Rachel Reit

October 26, 2018

Milwaukee

Halloween Party
This month we got to celebrate Halloween!! We had a spook-tacular Halloween Dance at our state office, complete with a pasta bar, costume contests, games, crafts, sno cones, and of course, awesome dance moves! It was so much fun to see all of our friends dressed up in costume. We saw Jafar, Elvis, Snow White, some cats, and more :)

Sibling Event with Gnat & Corky
We continued our sibling program this month with an event for kids ages 5-9 who have a sibling with Down syndrome! Gnat and Corky, author and illustrator of Addison the Light Catcher (a book about a sibling!), came to read their book, lead a discussion, and host a related craft. We all had such a great time meeting each other and learning new things. Stay tuned for our next sibling event!

Young Leaders Bootcamp
This month at Bootcamp we talked about worry and anxiety. We learned strategies to cope with them, and we made some awesome worry dolls! At the end of the month, we got in the spirit of Halloween with related crafts and activities.

Bootcamp meets on Tuesday nights at 6pm. Join us in November to focus on creating friendships!

Family Movie Night
Every month on the fourth Friday, 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 celebrated Halloween and Dia de Muertos by watching Coco! Join us next month!

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. In October we started up our free music therapy program 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. On November 8, students in the Thursday program will be going to the Medical College of Wisconsin to learn about advocating for themselves and the doctor’s office. To prepare for this field trip, medical students came to Young Leaders in October and helped teach us about what to expect.

Tween Club
The second Friday night of the month, DSAW transforms into a hoppin' place for tweens to hang out! This month we had a Halloween-themed party just for tweens! Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, November 9. We’ll be preparing for Thanksgiving by making apple pie, doing holiday themed crafts, playing games, and more! Drop your 10+ year old off for a night of games, snacks, activities, and more. Sign up!

Fox Cities

9th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
DSAW-Fox Cities hosted their annual Awareness Walk on Saturday, October 6 in Neenah! It was an awesome day with raffles, trampoline bungee jumping, food, a miniature train, and raising awareness of our friends with Down syndrome!! Fox Cities CRUSHED their fundraising goal! Thank you to everyone who supported this Walk with their time, talent, and treasure. We appreciate you! Check out the news coverage here.

Teen FrienDS Club
DSAW-Fox Cities also continued their monthly Teen FrienDS club for teens with Down syndrome. Every month during the school year they get together for movies, snacks, music, games, and more!

Sheboygan

9th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
Our Sheboygan chapter closed out Awareness Walk season with their Walk on October 13 at Kiwanis Park. We had a brisk sunny day to welcome DSAW friends for inflatables, crafts, music, a Texas Roadhouse lunch, community resources, and raffles. We had a lovely 21 Showcase and introduced all of our friends with Down syndrome! It was so much fun to see the community come together and raise awareness of our friends. Thank you to all volunteers, donors, sponsors, families, friends, and to our incredible Walk committee! That’s a wrap!

Green Bay

Monthly Playgroup
In October we met at the new Titletown District Playground at Lambeau Field!! It was awesome! We had a fun time on the playground and playing out on the field. Although playgroup usually meets the first Saturday of every month, we are going to suspend it during the winter months so people can stay warm and cozy :)

Self Advocate Corn Maze Event
DSAW self advocates ages 15+ got together at Polly’s Pumpkin Patch to do some corn mazes!! We had an awesome time on a hayride and exploring the corn maze.

Parent’s Night Out
This month we invited ALL parents, grandparents, caregivers, and adult siblings to join us for a well-deserved night out! We met up at Joe Rouer’s in Luxemburg for a night of casual conversation and appetizers. Come join us for Mom’s Night Out or Dad’s Night Out next month!

Central WI

Family Fall Festival
After our Walk at the end of September, we took a little bit of a rest! We did host a Family Fall Festival on October 14 at Wilke’s! We took wagon rides, picked pumpkins, had lunch, and enjoyed a day together at the dairy farm!

Mom’s Coffee Date
We also got together for a Mom’s Coffee date at Vino Latte in October on the second Wednesday! Come join us in November!

MADSS

Fall Family Event
DSAW helped our friends at MADSS host a Family Farm Event on Saturday, October 27! We went to Schuster’s Farm in Deerfield and took a hayride, got pumpkins, did corn mazes, and had some delicious sweet treats!

Dad’s Night Out
MADSS dads got together at Graze in mid-October for a night out together. We welcomed a good group of guys and had a lot of fun!

Mom’s Take 5
MADSS also has a Mom’s Night Out on the 5th of every month! October was no different! We always love getting together with these incredible women.

La Crosse

Parent’s Night Out
In October, DSAW adults met up at Elmaro Vineyard for a great evening of wine, apps, and conversation. The location was beautiful, and we had a great time!

Chippewa Valley

Fall Family Event
We got to celebrate Fall at the end of October with a trip to Schultz’s Country Barn in Eleva! We had a hot dog dinner, took train rides, made s’mores, and painted pumpkins! It was fun to see all of our new DSAW friends from the Awareness Walk last month :)

Rachel Reit

September 27, 2018

Looking Back on September 2018

Rachel Reit

September 27, 2018

Milwaukee

22nd Annual Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
We held our Statewide Awareness Walk on Sunday, September 23 at the Milwaukee County Zoo! We had perfect weather for our Mardi Gras themed party, and we had MORE participants, MORE teams, and raised MORE money than EVER before! Almost 3,000 of our closest friends joined us for a day of inflatables, carnival games, raffles, music, crafts, sno cones, rock climbing, food, and a walk around the Zoo. THANK YOU to everyone who made this year’s Walk so incredible - especially our sponsors, donors, volunteers, families, friends with Down syndrome, and YOU!

Puberty Workshops
In partnership with the Down Syndrome Clinic and Terri Couwenhoven, we sponsored puberty workshops for teenagers with disabilities! In separate sessions, boys and girls learned about sexuality and changes that happen during puberty.

Relationships Class
We’re offering a relationships class during our fall semester for individuals with disabilities. We meet on Saturdays and discuss relationships, personal boundaries, dating, and self-defense.

Nutrition & Wellness Class
DSAW and DSAW-Family Services also offer two sessions of a Nutrition and Wellness Class. The class meets twice a week and learns about personal health and well-being, exercise, and healthy cooking.

Young Leaders Bootcamp
This month at Bootcamp we all came with our favorite recipes. We got to cook and taste them and plan for the cookbook that we’re creating with everyone’s favorites!

Bootcamp meets on Tuesday nights at 6pm. Join us in October!

Cooking with the Kiddos
Cooking with the Kiddos happens every first and third Wednesday at our State office! Don’t miss this chance to skip the cooking at your house! We’ll provide food for your family and practice cooking skills.

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’ll be starting up music therapy again in October! 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 had fun with a back to school theme! We had a school-themed photobooth and made crafts. Next month's Tween Club will be on Friday, October 12. 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 were back at Cleveland Pub, where we’ll be for the rest of 2018! We meet every second Friday of the month in conjunction with Tween Club! Join us on October 12!

La Crosse

16th Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
DSAW-COTH-GLA hosted its Annual Awareness Walk as well this month! We had a giant luau-themed party and a gorgeous, warm September day. Everyone came out in their leis and grass skirts to celebrate our friends with Down syndrome! We had inflatables, raffles, a photobooth, yard games, lunch, and more! Thank you to all of our volunteers, donors, families, and friends! A special thank you to our Awareness Walk planning committee for all the work they did to prepare for this day!

Nature for All Families
We continued our partnership with WisCorps again this month on September 30! DSAW families got together to learn about nature, enjoy a snack, and get together with other people with disabilities!

MADSS

Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
DSAW partnered with the Madison Area Down Syndrome Society this year to help them throw their annual Awareness Walk! We had all new activities like a petting zoo, rock climbing wall, carnival games, inflatables, and much more! We had a hot sunny day on September 16 as we welcomed 700 people to Olin Park in Madison!

Central Wisconsin

FIRST Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk!
This month, we hosted the first EVER Down Syndrome Awareness Walk in Wausau! We had a fantastic turnout for the event (400 people!), and had fun at Doepke Park with disability resource vendors, inflatables, music, raffles, top fundraising prizes, and lunch. Thank you to everyone who helped us pull off our first walk! We’re already looking forward to next year!

Chippewa Valley

Down Syndrome Awareness Walk
DSAW-Chippewa Valley also hosted their Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Walk at Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls! We had a great turnout for a fun day of crafts, inflatables, family photos, a delicious lunch of pulled pork and burgers, and more. Thank you!!

Green Bay

Family Orchard Event
Families from DSAW-Green Bay traveled to Sturgeon Bay to visit Seaquist Orchards! They got to learn all about pie-making in a kitchen tour and make their own caramel apples! Everyone even got a slice of pie to bring home!

Playgroup
We also hosted our monthly playgroup on the first Saturday of the month! This month we went to Voyageur Park in De Pere.

Mom’s Night Out
Every month DSAW women get together for a well-deserved night out! This month we met at Heartland Pizza Company and had drinks and free appetizers!

Sheboygan

Children’s Museum Night
Families came together for our monthly playgroup at the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum! On the second Monday of the month, lights are turned down, noise is turned off, and exhibits are adapted for our friends with disabilities!

Family Farm Outing
DSAW-Sheboygan families also took a trip to Juneau to visit Waldvogel’s Farm, the largest pumpkin farm in Wisconsin! We had fun on the pumpkin trampoline, taking hay rides, doing a corn maze, and more! Happy Fall!!