Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia (DSANV)

Thanks to the many DSANV members, Buddy Walk Team Captains, Board members and Sponsors who joined us for our first ever virtual Buddy Walk kickoff yesterday! And thanks to Grand Marshall David Egan for an inspiring speech. My family and friends gathered at a local park and walked two and a half miles (silently) spreading awareness to our corner of NOVA. We are smiling behind our masks!

Crip Camp Virtual Discussion - July 9

DSANV Board Membe, Charlotte Woodward did a wonderful job leading a virtual discussion on the film, Crip Camp. This was the first discussion in the DSANV Summer at the Movies Series. To learn more about the series click here: https://www.dsanv.org/summer-at-the-movies-series/

We are launching our In it Together fundraising campaign. Please watch this 55 second video from Samantha Fredieu, the new President of the DSANV Board of Directors, about the ways in which we are adapting our program offerings in the era of social distancing. And please consider supporting DSANV this summer with a financial or in-kind donation of labor to help ensure DSANV remains a resource for families living with Down syndrome in the large Northern Virginia area. To read more and donate, follow this link:https://www.dsanv.org/in-it-together/

Ana is the DSANV Chef for the month of May! Congratulations Ana! Read about other DSANV Chefs on our website https://www.dsanv.org/cooking-club/

Ana - DSANV Chef for May

Listen to Ana's interview and to learn more about other DSANV Chef’s visit our website https://www.dsanv.org/cooking-club/

Making a Wrap starring Ana

Ana joined the DSANV Cooking Club Live Chat today on making cold lunches. After, Ana and her Mom made this fantastic video on how to make a healthy wrap for lunch. Great job Ana

Representatives from DSANV, and the Autism Society of Northern Virginia, joined The Arc of Northern Virginia in Richmond today to participate in one of the Developmental Disability Days hosted by the Arc of Virginia. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families, met one-on-one with state lawmakers to discuss top disability rights legislative priorities for the 2020 session and to tell their stories. Share your family's story with your state representatives at a local Town Hall during this legislative session or join the families carpooling to Richmond on February 13, 2020 for the next DD Advocacy Day. Contact Mary Ford ([email protected]) or Lucy Beadnell ([email protected]) for more information on advocacy activities in Northern Virginia!

Thanks to the generosity of DSANV member families, we helped Fox 5 collect over 60,000 diapers and 59,000 wipes which were donated to the DC Diaper Bank today! See DSANV Board Member David Egan and volunteers Kathleen Egan and Allen Ford as our donations were tallied during a live broadcast this morning at: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/fox-5-diaper-drive-heres-how-you-can-help-the-greater-dc-diaper-bank

DSANV thanks Tracy Lee and Joe Wharff of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for presenting training on "Critical Decision Points for Families of Children with Disabilities" today in support of our Parent Support Group. We also thank King of King's Lutheran Church for hosting today's event! DSANV members improved their knowledge of what decisions are made when and by whom over the career of a VA student receiving IEP services. They also walked away with information on VDOE resources, and contact information, to assist them in maximizing their student's journey through the education system. We are working with VDOE to schedule a repeat of today's training in the new year. Please consider attending our next Parent Support Group meeting on Nov 9, 2019 when DSANV hosts the VA Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) in presenting information on DARS pre-transition, and transition, services to employment. Register for this event on our website at www.dsanv.org. Contact Stacy Engels for more information on our Parent Support Group and all DSANV programs and events at Stacy. [email protected].

THANK YOU to all our members, sponsors, vendors and a big shout out to our many Volunteers who made Buddy Walk 2019 a success!! The Bishop Ireton Cheer Squad, Potomac Youth Hockey, National Charity League, the Young Men's Service League, the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts of America and the Rolfing family are among the many volunteers who made yesterday's event possible! We are proud to announce that we've already surpassed last year's total with three months remaining in our 2019 Buddy Walk campaign. Thank you for assisting DSANV in serving our Northern VA member families!!

DSANV welcomes three Virginia Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to Buddy Walk® 2019 as event sponsors! Visit the sponsor tent to speak with representatives from Aetna Better Health® of Virginia, United Healthcare, and Anthem HealthKeepers Plus. Get answers to questions about current Medicaid health coverage or make queries on how to choose a new provider during the upcoming open enrollment period.

Don’t go hungry at the Buddy Walk®! Let our culinary partners feed your family after dancing to live music, playing in the bounce houses, riding ponies and taking a stroll along the Buddy Walk®! Please check out the food trucks when you arrive on site­­­­-note that Vocelli’s Pizza takes advanced orders ... Call (703) 392-5900. We send a big THANK YOU out to our 2019 vendors who are donating a generous percentage of their profits to DSANV! Thanks to Two Smooth Dudes, Ben and Jerry’s, Chix n Stix and Vocelli’s Pizza for joining us on Oct 6!

Can’t make it to Manassas on October 6 to support the Buddy Walk®? Consider becoming a virtual walker! DSANV supports families living with Down Syndrome across the diverse Northern Virginia area. Make a personal donation, or enlist family and friends to donate any amount to help support our members, events and programs: $50 provides one or more class registrations $100 purchases equipment for a class $250 provides supplies for a quarterly New Parent Breakfast $500 sponsors a summer activity $1,000 helps sponsor one of our three large community events Please donate to the 2019 Buddy Walk at: https://dsanv.salsalabs.org/2019dsanvbuddywalk/index.html

Help raise funds for a good cause, and enjoy entertainment for the whole family! Join us at the DSANV 2019 Buddy Walk® and treat your family to live music from Charlottesville’s “The Real Geniuses,” pony rides from Hazelwilde Farms, animals from Big D’s Petting Zoo, Hop on Pop’s bounce houses, The EDGE Video Game trailer and face painting and balloons from Vienna’s Singing Princesses. Have fun and support our community all at the same time!

DSANV Buddy Walk

Only one week to go! Looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, October 6th! Registration is still open! If you can't make it, please consider donating! https://dsanv.salsalabs.org/2019dsanvbuddywalk/index.html

DSANV Buddy Walk

Only a week and a half to go! Looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, October 6th! Registration is still open! If you can't make it, please consider dontating! https://dsanv.salsalabs.org/2019dsanvbuddywalk/index.html

DSANV Buddy Walk is just around the corner!

Join us on October 6th, 2019 at Signal Hill in Manassas for the 15th Annual Buddy Walk! In addition to being a wonderful celebration of individuals with Down syndrome, Buddy Walk is our primary annual fundraiser to sustain our services and programming. Please register to join us or donate today! https://dsanv.salsalabs.org/2019dsanvbuddywalk/index.html

And the winner of the early bird team registration raffle is....... Team Noodle! Thank you to everyone who registered a team early! If you have not registered yet, there is still plenty of time to start your team! Invite your friends and family to join us on October 6th! Everyone who creates a fundraising page is entered into a raffle for an amazing Disney tickets and lodging package. Get more details and register at: https://dsanv.salsalabs.org/2019dsanvbuddywalk/index.html

DSANV 2018 Buddy Walk Video

We love this video collage of Buddy Walk 2018 -- join us for the 2019 fun on October 6th! https://dsanv.salsalabs.org/2019dsanvbuddywalk/index.html

Wow High Point Pool HPP Swim team swimmers have already completed 76 miles, meeting the team goal with time to go! New goal is 100 miles! Great job swimmers!!

Thanks to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Arc of Northern Virginia for hosting the 2019 Disability Inclusion Conference! DSANV proudly participated with other non-profits, government representatives and families across Fairfax County to help "foster a more inclusive community where we all live and work together."

Thanks to author Janice Goldschmidt, DSANV volunteers and budding chefs for a great start to our Cooking Club today! We had fun while learning how to promote independence in the kitchen by providing as much choice as possible, overcoming common obstacles to cooking and ensuring safety. Watch our website for more information on the Cooking Club and how to join either in person or virtually!

DSANV honored our Spring 2019 Interns in a semi-annual Volunteer Recognition ceremony today. Susy Dominguez made an impact from Day 1 in assisting with Development and supporting programs. David Serpas served as our first Self-Advocate Intern teaching us the positive impact that could be realized by hiring individuals with an intellectual disability. David received a stipend today for his services courtesy of a Global Down Syndrome Foundation Employment grant. Thanks to David, Suzy and all the volunteers who supported us in the first half of 2019!

Thanks to the many sponsors and players who contributed to a successful 15th annual Golf Tournament benefiting DSANV and Special Olympics today! DSANV also wishes to recognize the dual organization committee who planned this year's event and volunteers Maureen Buckley, Sheila Erhardt, David Egan and Gina and Eric Latcheran for their help in making everything run smoothly!

Thanks to Ford's Theater in Washington, DC for hosting the disability community in their sensory friendly production of Into the Woods! Self Advocates Matthew Shaw and Christian Ford join DSANV Executive Director Mary Ford and her husband Allen for the May 11, 2019 performance. The staff couldn't have been more supportive or accommodating of the families present today. After an amazing performance, the cast posed for photos and took all the hugs our children and young adults wanted to share! We look forward to many sensory friendly productions at Ford's Theater in the future!

DSANV members gathered in Manassas today for our Spring Picnic and Annual Membership meeting. Board President Kathryn Ramchand conducted the business meeting gaining member approval for new and renewing Board members. Families enjoyed the beautiful weather and excellent company at Bull Run Regional Park. Many thanks to our wonderful DSANV staff and volunteers who organized the event and the hardworking volunteers from the Young Men's Service League who joined in the fun today! DSANV thanks you for your generosity!

DSANV Board members David Egan, Charlotte Woodward and Erin Thompson, and Executive Director Mary Ford, joined a myriad of advocates in thanking Sara Hart Weir, current President and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), for her many years of service to the Down syndrome community as she steps down to follow a new career in advocating for disability rights. Congratulations to incoming President / CEO Kandi Picard! We also salute Priya Chandan, MD, MPH from the University of Louisville, Project Director for the National Curriculum Initiative in Developmental Medicine, who is training medical students in the care of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the lifespan. Thanks Dr. Chandan!

DSANV Executive Director (ED) Mary Ford and her family joined Tonya Milling, ED of The Arc of Virginia, in lobbying Virginia legislators on Capital Hill for disability rights. This day on the hill was conducted by a coalition of five non-profit organizations which produce the annual Disability Policy Seminar. The Seminar gathers advocates from across the US to learn, and gain hands on practice, in speaking to legislators about the issues important to families living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many thanks to the members of Congress from both political parties who hosted the disability community yesterday to include Northern Virginia Representative Jennifer Wexton pictured below!