Changes are Made to Medicaid06-May-2011

If your child is in enrolled in Medicaid, you have undoubtedly heard of the upcoming reductions ..

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Welcome to the
Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry!

The purpose of Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry (DSAL) is to promote an environment which fosters the growth and development of people with Down syndrome to enable them to achieve their full potential. Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry offers programs such as Moms' Night Out and Youth Group, as well as social events, resources, and educational opportunities.




DSAL Needs You!

There are immediate openings on the board that need to be filled.  If you have a few hours to devote to DSAL, please email us at DSALowcountry@gmail.com for more information or join us for the DSAL board meeting in January.  Anyone interested is welcome to attend.  We will be holding discussions regarding the new board.  


January 17th  *  7pm-9pm
Park Circle Community Center

Please come out and support this great organization!


DSAL is pleased to present the first workshop of 2012:

Preparing for Inclusion in Life:

From Elementary school through College and Beyond!

with Dr. Cindi May

What can you do to prepare for college and a successful, productive life beyond?

We will discuss steps you can take now (even in elementary and middle school) to prepare for a promising future.

Topics will include: Inclusive education, helicopter parenting, the power of failure, saving for college (including Pell grant and loan information), and considerations for the IEP.

Dr. Cindi May is a Professor of Psychology at the College of Charleston with research expertise in the field of human learning and memory. Her research focuses on ways to optimize performance for populations who may experience cognitive deficits (e.g., older adults, individuals with intellectual disabilities).

January 21 9:30-11:30

Child Care provided! Location: TBA

r.s.v.p. #of adults & children lseabright@hotmail.com



The Eyes have it for a Local Girl, 

our own Kayla Helferich! 


DSAL member Kayla Helferich is the grand-prize winner of Prevent Blindness America's "Most Beautiful Eyes" contest.

Kayla Helferich, a student at Windsor Hill Art Infused Elementary, has been awarded a $25,000 scholarship. Kayla and her family — mom Michelle, dad Joe, and little brother Lucas, received the award during the annual Prevent Blindness awards in Chicago this past weekend.

Kayla has Down syndrome. One of the characteristics is Brushfield spots on her eyes, which look like white sparkles, Michelle Helferich told The Post and Courier last week.

The first round of voting took place on Prevent Blindness' Facebook page. The top vote-getters from each state advanced, and a panel of celebrity judges chose the top three.

Two other finalists — Hailey Verrill, 4, of Maine and Lyla C. Zaragoza, 2, of Oklahoma — also received a total of $6,000 in scholarship money.




 

Down Syndrome Family Conference

 

May 5, 2012

Columbia College

Breed Leadership Center

1301 Columbia College Drive

Columbia, SC 29203

 

 

For more information, please contact WC Hoecke at 803.252.0914 or wchoecke@familyconnectionsc.org.



Thank you to everyone who made the 2011 Buddy Walk a great success!  A special thank you to all of our buddies, sponsors, volunteers, the Knights of Columbus Council 6250 and Coby Mozingo.  It was a beautiful day and a wonderful day of celebration for all people in the Lowcountry living with Down syndrome.




Thank you to all of the service organizations who donated their time to make the Buddy Walk a success.


Thank you to all of the Buddies for their friendship and support!


Thank you to all of the artists who made the Buddy Walk so much fun!


Thank you Coby for all of your hard work!


Please share your Buddy Walk pictures!  To have them posted on the DSAL website, email them to 5oxfords@comcast.net

 




Sam Hazeltine Begins Classes at the 
College of Charleston

Sam Hazeltine learns about attending and living at the College of Charleston as he walks with sophomore Grace Keating during orientation.  For more information, read the Post and Courier article.
         

 

Lose the Training Wheels wrapped up its second year on July 26th.  Congratulations to all of our new riders!  Many thanks to the Charleston Area Convention Center and the City of North Charleston for generously donating the space for camp.  Thank you also to the Catholic Heart Work Camp, the Chas Family and all of our other incredible volunteers!  Read about the camp in the Moultrie News and the Post and Courier and hear about it on  WCIV channel 4.  Also, look for more pictures in the DSAL photo gallery.


  

Buddy Camp Wraps Up an Amazing 5th Summer!



An overwhelming thanks to:  Kim Embler, Wimberly Giardina & Carrie Vassey of Palmetto Music Therapy Services that shared their gift of music and helped coordinate Buddy Camp this year; the K9 Cares Therapy Dogs for a fun filled visit; and volunteer counselors that made Buddy Camp possible!! Most of all, thanks to all the wonderful families that shared your children with us for the week & thanks DSAL for supporting the 5th Annual Buddy Camp!!  Check out our video of Buddy Camp!
A very special thank you to Diane Andrews for making camp possible and for the all of the love that she gives to our DSAL family.  

       

Check out the article The Bright Future for Children with Down Syndrome in the June edition of "Lowcountry Parent Magazine."  The article features several of our DSAL families.  Check out some of our other families in the news on the News page.