The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. DSG seeks to provide the entire community with information and education to broaden awareness and foster positive attitudes regarding people with Down syndrome.
Welcome Expectant and New Parents!
We welcome expectant parents to our organization and hope you will contact us to offer you support. Receiving a prenatal diagnosis that your baby will have Down syndrome can be overwhelming. We have compiled some resources to help you make an informed decision regarding your pregnancy.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel brochure comprises stories from other prenatally diagnosed couples so you can learn what information was helpful to them. Watch a video designed for expectant parents seeking more information. You may also wish to visit the Brighter Tomorrows or National Down Syndrome Congress expectant parent websites to learn more. Watch a video to learn more about adoptions of children with Down syndrome.
Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk Saturday, September 25th
Are you ready to join one of the largest celebrations for Down syndrome in the world? Don't miss this great opportunity to promote awareness and acceptance of your loved one with Down syndrome. Review the Step Up Walk team captain packet here or register online here. Our goal is to raise $400,000 to support the great work of the DSG. All funds stay here in Kansas City to help the 1100 families, 22 hospitals and 45 school districts DSG supports. Will you Step Up and help by making a team?
DSG Partners with Down Syndrome Education International for 2010 Conference
DSG was pleased to host 600 attendees from 14 states at our recent DownsEd Conferences in Kansas City. Evaluation data reflects that parents, family members, educators and therapists all found the information shared very valuable in supporting people with Down syndrome. Images from the conference can be viewed here.
Handouts from the conference can be viewed and printed at the links below:
DSG would like to thank our co-sponsoring organziations for helping us make this conference a reality. If you missed the conference here in Kansas City you can learn more about attending the DownsEd Conference in Austin, TX May 6-8, 2010 here.
MO-GAC (Missouri Governmental Affairs Committee) for Down syndrome is a coalition of parents representing Down syndrome affiliate groups in the state of Missouri. Our main objective is to understand and act upon issues that impact all individuals with Down syndrome.
We invite you to take an 8 question, one page survey to help us determine how much time students with Down syndrome are spending in the regular/general education environment. The survey is intended for parents in Missouri who have children with Down syndrome in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Please take the survey here to help us gather data!
DSG Launches Smart Start Program
DSG is thrilled to announce the launch of our pre-k Smart Start Program which consists of four sessions designed to help parents send their child with Down syndrome off to kindergarten with confidence.
Parents of 4-5 year olds with Down syndrome are invited to join the Smart Start Program for FREE! Parents who complete all four sessions will receive a $25 Wal-Mart gift card from the DSG to help purchase school supplies. For registration information contact info@kcdsg.org or 913-384-4848.
CBS Evening News With Katie Couric Features DSG Changing Lives Program
Kennedy Brownback Prenatal and Postnatal Conditions Act Passed
Congress passed SB1810 on Thursday September 25, 2008 which will require physicians to provide accurate, up-to-date information and support for parents who receive a diagnosis of Down syndrome or other disabilities such as spina bifida or cystic fibrosis either prenatally or up to a year after the birth of their child. Read a great article by Pat Bauer which highlights the bi-partisan legislation strongly advocated for by many Down syndrome organizations.
Adult Down Syndrome Clinic at KU As individuals with Down Syndrome reach adulthood, many families are faced with finding resources for their adult family member with Down Syndrome. Now at the University of Kansas Medical Center, you can access a variety of services and resources through the new Adults with Down Syndrome Specialty Clinic. The Adults with Down Syndrome Specialty Clinic can serve as a medical home where you can establish an ongoing relationship with a personal health care provider to provide comprehensive, accessible and continuous care. Learn more by visiting the Adult DS Clinic website.
DSG Partners with Ereadingpro The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City is partnering with eReadingPro to bring you an amazing opportunity! The eReadingPro system is based on the whole word approach to reading using flash cards. It offers parents and educators the TOOLS that have been missing, fully supporting the existing research of how children with Down syndrome (visual learners) learn to read.
By following a detailed progression from single words to couplets, phrases, sentences and finally books, this hands-on, proven system provides a new alternative to teaching reading to visual learners. Using this method with children of all ages not only teaches reading, but also encourages speech development, and use of proper grammatical structure when communicating. By investing just ten minutes a day, this program can be used to teach any child to read.
With every purchase of an eReadingPro product through our website, the DSG will earn funds. It is as easy as that! Help your child learn to read while helping the DSG.
DSG Family featured in FOX 4 News Story on Prenatal Testing Travis and Joy Palangi, proud parents of Ella, are interviewed regarding their experience with prenatal diagnosis. The Palangi's learned at 5 months along in their pregnancy they would be welcoming a baby girl with Down syndrome. They became involved with the DSG and learned firsthand the many joys of parenting a child with Down syndrome which made welcoming their daughter a wonderful experience.
DSG receives National Parent Group of the Year Award at the 35th Annual National Down Syndrome Congress Convention in Kansas City.
The DSG was recognized as the Parent Group of the Year in 2007 for excellence in advocacy and dedicated service to families and for support of the NDSC. The following is an excerpt of what was shared about the DSG with those in attendance at the banquet: “ The DSG boasts one of the nation’s most dynamic and comprehensive regional programs. Among their many accomplishments they hold one of the country’s largest Buddy Walks each year. They have developed a groundbreaking program, Parents and Schools in Partnership, which provides positive support and accurate information for area educators. The DSG is also responsible for creating the Affiliates in Action conference to meet the needs of connecting Down syndrome parent group leaders across the country."
2009 Affiliates in Action Conference
DSG hosted a leadership summit for Down syndrome parent group leaders across the United States in Washington DC on February 25-28, 2009. The Affiliates in Action weekend promotes interaction, sharing of resources and collaboration between groups who share similar missions and visions for the future of all people with Down syndrome. The weekend is intended for executive directors and board members of parent groups who are interested in growing their organizations and sharing their wealth of knowledge with other leaders.
DSG hosted 300 leaders from 85 groups representing 34 states. We hosted the first ever full scale Down Syndrome Advocacy Day on the Hill on February 26th were affiliate leaders took nearly 200 meetings with legislators to advance policy priorities important to people with Down syndrome. Feedback from the conference was overwhelmingly positive with attendees stating how vital the collaboration is to the advancement of the Down syndrome movement. DSG extends our sincere thanks to the Affiliates in Action planning committee who worked tirelessly for a year to make the conference a success. We also extend our thanks to our conference sponsors: National Down Syndrome Society, National Down Syndrome Congress, The Linda Crnic Institute/Anna & John J Sie Foundation, Conference Direct, Canister, Bourn Creative and MetDESK. Their financial support allowed DSG to keep registration costs affordable for attendees.
DSG will host the 2010 Affiliates in Action Conference in Kansas City, Missour, March 18-21st. The conference will culminate in a huge celebration on World Down Syndrome Awareness day which is 3/21/10. Visit www.dsaia.org to learn more.
Down Syndrome Guild's Annual Prom is Grand Success! FOX 4's Megan Cloherty reported on the Down Syndrome Guild's Annual Prom. Read more and watch the report.
Stories that Inspire Us
Watch a Today Show segment with self advocate Karen Gaffney and her parents.
View a great commercial produced by The Foundation for a Better Life regarding a young woman with Down syndrome.
Learn about NASCAR Racer David Ragan's older brother who has Down syndrome and is an inspiration to the whole pit crew.
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