Swim Party

Nebraskans are used to hot weather, but at our summer swim party the hot weather stayed away.  I made for a great night for a picnic.  However,  swimming on a night that is overcast and in the upper seventies is not ideal.  We still had quite a good turn out even though the water was pretty chilly.  The kids did not seem to mind the cold too much until it was time to get out.
It was a fun night for catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.  Here are a few photos.

Give to Lincoln Day

Lincoln is Coming Together on May 16^th

 

On Thursday May 16^th, Lincoln will come together for Give To Lincoln Day, sponsored by the Lincoln Community Foundation.  We need YOU to join us. It’s 24-hours of unprecedented giving to nonprofits. It’s your chance to help make a real difference, right here in our community.

 

Show your support through Give To Lincoln Day, and your gift will be increased by helping us get a proportional share of the $200,000 challenge match fund. 

 

The Down Syndrome Association for Families (DSAF) is a Lincoln non-profit organization that provides support for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, friends, educators, and professionals who share in their lives.

Every person with Down syndrome is an individual who has a unique purpose and abilities. The Down Syndrome Association for Families provides networking and a positive vision for the future.

DSAF started in 1995. Parents wanted a group where they could meet other families, share information & concerns, listen to speakers, & learn together the best ways to help their kids reach their fullest potential. Now the group provides New Parent Support, Family Networking and a wide variety of Community services. We work to provide educational and supportive resources for families, teachers and the community including books, videos, educational workshops and networking events.

We need you to help us with these four things:

 

1.      Mark Give To Lincoln Day on your calendar for May 16^th and bookmark this giving link:  www.GiveToLincoln.com

 

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2.      Please make an online donation to support us on May 16^th.  REMEMBER for us to get the match dollars, the donation must be on May 16.  You can set up a donation prior to May 16 but make sure you mark to have the donation occur on giving day in the donation drop down box.

 

3.      Help us spread the word!  Forward this information to your family and friends along with a personal note as to why you believe in our work, and why they should give on Give To Lincoln Day on May 16^th.

4.  Go to our site on Give to Lincoln at the URL below, become a fan and make a comment about DSAF - why you believe in our work:

http://givetolincoln.razoo.com/story/Down-Syndrome-Association-For-Families

 

Please get involved, make a difference and help us. Not only will all donations be increased by the challenge match funds, but nonprofits with the largest number of donors will also receive additional bonus grants.  We can’t wait to celebrate the difference your generosity will make on May 16^th.  

Please show your support on May 16^th by donating online at www.GiveToLincoln.com

 

.  Thank you for your generosity. Please help us spread the word! Forward this information to all your family and friends!

Win a Spot at the JEO Golf Tournament

ESPN 1480 is proud to support the JEO Charity Golf Tournament of 2013 to benefit the Down Syndrome Association for Families, Friday, June 21st at HiMark Golf Course.  

This year, we are giving YOU the chance to join our 'Fearsome Foursome' for the tournament. Listen to Necessary Roughness and Hail Varsity Radio every weekday for the Cue-To-Call. When you hear it, be the correct caller to be instantly qualified for a chance to join ESPN 1480's Nick Gregath, and former Huskers Blake Lawrence and Eric Warfield on the course!  PLUS, our winner will also receive a new driver from Austad's Golf valued at $300!                                

Learn more about the tournament and sign up at JEOgolf.com

How Did You Celebrate World Down Syndrome Day?

This is how one family celebrated World Down Syndrome Day this year:

 This year it worked out for our family to give peer presentations to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades at Bennet Elementary. My husband, Kris, did all the presentations 3rd - 6th grade. He spent about a 1/2 hour in each grade talking about our son Ben, World Down Syndrome Day, showing them the "Just Like You" video and then having a question/answer session. The kids and adults asked very thoughtful questions and he felt like he had some great discussions with each grade level. Our son, Ben, is in the second grade at Bennet Elementary and I joined Kris for this presentation. We spent about 45 minutes discussing Down syndrome, watching the "Just Like You" video and having a question/answer session, then doing a few other activities. At the end we handed out bracelets to all the kids and adults in the second grade and asked them to help us talk to others about Down syndrome. At the end of the day each student, 2nd - 6th grade, was sent home with a letter to the parents talking about what was discussed during our presentations. We had a great day and we were pleased by the positive feedback we receive from teachers/staff and parents afterwards. We are very thankful for Bennet Elementary and the opportunity they gave us to share!

We have been praying that God would use us, to impact the people around us. We are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of God's bigger plan! Ben is very special to us and we have always known that God has big plans for him and the people he impacts along his path. :) Praise God!!

I included the three pictures that Ben's Special Ed teacher took of us during our 2nd grade presentation.

Kris and Lisa Phillips

DSAF Members

World Down Syndrome Day Coverage

Yesterday 3/21 was World Down Syndrome Day. The day was chosen to represent the 3 copies of the 21st chromosome that are present in a person with Down syndrome.

In honor of this special day the DSAF of NE hosted a fundraiser at Noodles and Company, where extra chairs had to be brought out and the line stretched out the door at one point. 

The local news caught our with President, Deb Safarik and her son Paul yesterday afternoon at his Baritone lessen.

 Please enjoy this news clip.

Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day 2013

March 21st, is World Down Syndrome Day. This day was selected because Down syndrome or Trisomy 21 happens when there are 3 copies of the 21st chromosome. In addition to wearing your DSAF limited edition WDSD t-shirts, to celebrate and to help raise awareness please wear socks…BUT NOT JUST ANY SOCKS…brightly colored socks, mismatched socks, long socks, printed socks, 1 sock…maybe even 3 socks (or EXTRA socks) for 3 chromosomes. Just so long as they are socks which are on display and people will ask you about.   Then you can take the opportunity to tell others about your favorite individual with Down syndrome. 

Hope to see lots of brightly colored socks tomorrow!

Have Fun!

Proclamation Signing

Governor Heineman signs a proclamation declaring March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day in the State of Nebraska.

 On March 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the Warner Chamber at the Capitol,  DSAF Famlilies gathered together to receive the proclimation signed by Governor Heineman, Declaring March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day. 

 

DSAF of Ne 2013 Educational Conference

 

Helping children with special needs meet their full potential.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make the March 2, 2013 Educational Conference such a huge success!

We would like to offer a special thank you to our presenters: Dean Fuelberth, Angie Willey, DeAnna Horstmeier, Amy Allison, Meredith Martin, Jean Anderson, Bill McGrath and Dixie Trevarthen (not photgraphed)

Lil' Stars Sign and Play Class

The Lil' Stars started the year with a fun Sign and Play class. On January 5th at St Luke's Church, the kids had fun learning new signs that related to eating and food and practiced using signs they already knew. They sang a song, read a story and played a game where they got to "feed" Hopkins the frog. Angie Willey fellow DSAF mom and ABC Signing Kids Instructor let the class. Hopefully this will be the first of many fun Sign and Play classes hosted by the DSAF of NE.

Jake "feeding" Hopkins

Abbie looking cute.

 

Emery snuggled under the blanket, and Maggie sat with her mom to hear the Hungry Caterpillar story.

 

Jennifer helping Tyler sign orange.

Decker had fun with the toys.