Local Resources:
Support:
Angels Forever Up! http://angelsforeverup.org/
A local support group based in Charles County
Arc of Southern Maryland : http://www.arcsomd.org/index.php
The ARC provides various support services to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Organization for the Special Olympics at the state level - there is also a St. Mary's County division. They offer sports training and competition for ages 5+ in the following areas in St. Mary's County: Basketball, Swimming, Bowling, T-Ball, Soccer, Track, Sailing, and Horseback Riding.
Special Olympics of Maryland: http://www.somd.org/
Organization for the Special Olympics at the state level - there is also a St. Mary's County division. They offer sports training and competition for ages 5+ in the following areas in St. Mary's County: Basketball, Swimming, Bowling, T-Ball, Soccer, Track, Sailing, and Horseback Riding.
Karsyn's Karnival: http://www.karsynskarnival.com/
A celebration to raise awareness about Down syndrome that is put on by a local family with a little girl with Down syndrome. 2010 was the first year for the Karnival and they are planning one for June 4, 2011!
A local support group based in Charles County
Arc of Southern Maryland : http://www.arcsomd.org/index.php
The ARC provides various support services to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Organization for the Special Olympics at the state level - there is also a St. Mary's County division. They offer sports training and competition for ages 5+ in the following areas in St. Mary's County: Basketball, Swimming, Bowling, T-Ball, Soccer, Track, Sailing, and Horseback Riding.
Special Olympics of Maryland: http://www.somd.org/
Organization for the Special Olympics at the state level - there is also a St. Mary's County division. They offer sports training and competition for ages 5+ in the following areas in St. Mary's County: Basketball, Swimming, Bowling, T-Ball, Soccer, Track, Sailing, and Horseback Riding.
Karsyn's Karnival: http://www.karsynskarnival.com/
A celebration to raise awareness about Down syndrome that is put on by a local family with a little girl with Down syndrome. 2010 was the first year for the Karnival and they are planning one for June 4, 2011!
Therapy / Facilities:
Kennedy Krieger Institute: http://www.kennedykrieger.org
KKI provides any service imaginable for children with Down syndrome. They specialize in children with special needs and they have several departments that would be useful to an individual with Down syndrome including a Down syndrome clinic, Physical therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Feeding Clinic, etc. Also, if your appointments are booked through the Down syndrome Clinic, the therapist will be specialized in Down syndrome.
Personalized Therapy: http://www.personalizedtherapyllc.com/
A therapy office that specializes in therapy for children and is currently offering PT, OT and Speech Therapy services. They are located in California, MD.
Coordinated Movements: http://www.coordinatedmovements.com/
A therapy office that specializes in therapy for children and offers PT, OT and Speech Therapy services. They are located in Charlotte Hall, MD.
Kiddos Baby and Toddler Gym: http://www.kiddosbabyandtoddlergym.com/
An indoor baby gym full of soft play equipment and ball pits. They have classes as well as open gym and gymnastics classes. A good option to mix things up with therapy and expose your little one to typically developing children of a similar age/developmental stage.
St. Mary's County Gymnastics Center: http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate/Gymnastics.asp
Gymnastics classes for children that are walking and up.
Greenwell State Park: http://www.greenwellfoundation.org/index.cfm?Content=71
Greenwell State Park offers an inclusive summer camp as well as therapeutic riding and kayaking lessons.
Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy: http://jensen-schmidt.com/
A tennis camp for kids with Down syndrome that travels the U.S. - there is a camp in DC! Check out their website; they have a great informational video!
KKI provides any service imaginable for children with Down syndrome. They specialize in children with special needs and they have several departments that would be useful to an individual with Down syndrome including a Down syndrome clinic, Physical therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Feeding Clinic, etc. Also, if your appointments are booked through the Down syndrome Clinic, the therapist will be specialized in Down syndrome.
Personalized Therapy: http://www.personalizedtherapyllc.com/
A therapy office that specializes in therapy for children and is currently offering PT, OT and Speech Therapy services. They are located in California, MD.
Coordinated Movements: http://www.coordinatedmovements.com/
A therapy office that specializes in therapy for children and offers PT, OT and Speech Therapy services. They are located in Charlotte Hall, MD.
Kiddos Baby and Toddler Gym: http://www.kiddosbabyandtoddlergym.com/
An indoor baby gym full of soft play equipment and ball pits. They have classes as well as open gym and gymnastics classes. A good option to mix things up with therapy and expose your little one to typically developing children of a similar age/developmental stage.
St. Mary's County Gymnastics Center: http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/recreate/Gymnastics.asp
Gymnastics classes for children that are walking and up.
Greenwell State Park: http://www.greenwellfoundation.org/index.cfm?Content=71
Greenwell State Park offers an inclusive summer camp as well as therapeutic riding and kayaking lessons.
Jensen-Schmidt Tennis Academy: http://jensen-schmidt.com/
A tennis camp for kids with Down syndrome that travels the U.S. - there is a camp in DC! Check out their website; they have a great informational video!
National Down Syndrome Organizations:
National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS): http://www.ndss.org/
This website has a great deal of information and is always up-to-date on current issues in legislation and the Down syndrome community. They also have a very well done Down syndrome awareness campaign called My Great Story, which can be accessed here:http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=77&Itemid=146
National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC): http://www.ndsccenter.org/
This website is also very helpful and has it's own awareness campaign, "We're more alike than different."
Down Syndrome Education USA: http://www.downsedusa.org/en/us/default.aspx
This group is based out of the UK, but they have set up a separate website for families in the United States. Downsed runs their own school and completes their own research as well as publishes a research journal, Down Syndrome Research and Practice. Through their research they have discovered many things and developed programs specifically for children with Down syndrome like See-and-Learn (www.seeandlearn.org), which is a speech and language program. They also fundraise so that they can provide the materials free of charge off of the website. This website is very helpful for all questions about the learning profile of individuals with Down syndrome, transitioning/preparing for adulthood, and specfic strategies for both. They also hold several conferences a year in the United States that are worthwhile to attend.
Down Syndrome Information Alliance: http://www.downsyndromeinfo.org/
A group out of Sacramento, CA that has put together a very informative website which includes a book called Whispers of Hope that you can download for free. It is a compliation of stories from families with children with Down Syndrome. They also have an informational book series for parents new to Down Syndrome. The informational books for new and expectant parents are located on this page: http://www.downsyndromeinfo.org/resources and you can download Whispers of Hope below.
| dsiawhispersofhope.pdf |
Recommended reading:
*available through the Southern Maryland Library System
Roadmap to Holland By Jennifer Graf Groneberg
An excellent book to read/recommend to someone in the first days/weeks/months after the diagnosis of Down syndrome. The authors tells you her unfiltered feelings about her journey through the sometimes trying time of dealing with the diagnosis.
Gifts and Gifts 2 edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper - http://giftsds.segullah.org/
These two collections are essays written by the friends and family of children with Down syndrome.
Gross Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome by Patricia Winders
Reference book for exercises and guidelines for typical gross motor progression for a child with Down syndrome.
Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome by Libby Kumin, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Reference book for activities to promote speech and language development.
Fine Motor Skills in Children with Down Syndrome by Maryanne Bruni
Another resource similar to the previous two books, but for fine motor skills.
Down Syndrome Issues and Information published by Downsed International
Can be accessed online free at http://www.down-syndrome.org/information/
Whispers of Hope - A book by Down Syndrome Information Alliance
Can be accessed online free at http://www.downsyndromeinfo.org/resources or downloaded above under National Organizations.
DVDs / Documentaries:
Deedah - http://www.deedahandme.com/
A documentary film about two siblings, one with Down syndrome. A film that makes great strides in inspiring families with children with Down syndrome and breaking down stereotypes and misinformation about the abilities and potential of individuals with Down syndrome.
A documentary film about two siblings, one with Down syndrome. A film that makes great strides in inspiring families with children with Down syndrome and breaking down stereotypes and misinformation about the abilities and potential of individuals with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome: The First 18 Months DVD by Woodbine House (available through the Southern Maryland Public Library System)
http://www.woodbinehouse.com/main.asp_Q_product_id_E_0-9748071-0-9_A_.asp
The Specials: A docu-soap about adults living with intellectual disabilties: http://www.the-specials.com/home
You can watch all of the episodes online and there are several adults with Down syndrome in the show. A great look into independent living for adults with Down syndrome. There is also a documentary film coming out.
Monica & David: http://www.monicaanddavid.com/
An HBO documentary is a love story about two adults with Down syndrome who get married and are beginning their new lives together. It will be out on DVD in Spring 2011.
Discovery: Pathways to Better Speech for Children with Down Syndrome by Woodbine House (available through the Southern Maryland Public Library system)
http://woodbinehouse.com/synopsis.asp?product_id=0-9748071-4-1
My friend with Down Syndrome - A documentary
http://www.hanliumm1.com/my-friend-with-downs-syndrome-a-documentary/
http://www.woodbinehouse.com/main.asp_Q_product_id_E_0-9748071-0-9_A_.asp
The Specials: A docu-soap about adults living with intellectual disabilties: http://www.the-specials.com/home
You can watch all of the episodes online and there are several adults with Down syndrome in the show. A great look into independent living for adults with Down syndrome. There is also a documentary film coming out.
Monica & David: http://www.monicaanddavid.com/
An HBO documentary is a love story about two adults with Down syndrome who get married and are beginning their new lives together. It will be out on DVD in Spring 2011.
Discovery: Pathways to Better Speech for Children with Down Syndrome by Woodbine House (available through the Southern Maryland Public Library system)
http://woodbinehouse.com/synopsis.asp?product_id=0-9748071-4-1
My friend with Down Syndrome - A documentary
http://www.hanliumm1.com/my-friend-with-downs-syndrome-a-documentary/
Be My Brother - by Genevieve Clay
A short film about a young man's charm and charisma challenges the prejudices of a stranger at a bus stop.
A short film about a young man's charm and charisma challenges the prejudices of a stranger at a bus stop.
Fun Stuff:
Inspiration through Art -
This nonprofit pairs children with disabilities with a photographer for a photo session to showcase the beauty in everyone. Take a look!
Toys 'R Us' Differently-Abled Kids Toy Catalog - http://www.toysrus.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2257808
This catalog gives suggestions for toys to work on various skills including fine motor, gross motor, social, language, visual, tactile, auditory, and more. This is a great resource to give to your family if they are looking for a gift or to investigate yourself for a toy to work on a particular skill.
This catalog gives suggestions for toys to work on various skills including fine motor, gross motor, social, language, visual, tactile, auditory, and more. This is a great resource to give to your family if they are looking for a gift or to investigate yourself for a toy to work on a particular skill.
