Down Syndrome Guild Of Greater Kansas City Inc

MISSION IS TO PROVIDED SUPPORT AND RESOUCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THEM. DSG SEEKS TO PROVIDE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO BROADEN AWARENESS AND FOSTER POSITIVE ATITUDES REGARDING PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. DSG CURRENTLY SERVES 37 COUNTIES IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI. WE PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OVER 1600 INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME.

PUBLIC AWARENESS - DSG WELCOMES 50-60 NEW BABIES AND THEIR FAMILIES EACH YEAR. OUR PARENT-TO-PARENT PROGRAM PROVIDES A WELCOME BASKET, QUARTERLY SUPPORT BREAKFASTS AND PARENT-TO-PARENT MATCHES. OUR BI-MONTHLY CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER IS DISTRIBUTED TO 3,500 HOUSEHOLDS AND CONTAINS UPCOMING EVENTS, COMMUNITY GROUP ACTIVITIES, AND UP-TO-DATE ARTICLES ON MEDICAL OR EDUCATIONAL BEST PRACTIVES FOR PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. DSG SUPPORTS 14 COMMUNITY GROUPS TO HOST 8-10 ACTIVITIES IN THEIR IMMEDIATE GEOGRAPHICAL REGION TO CONNECT MEMBERS ON A SMALLER SCALE. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, DSG FACILITATES AWARENESS INITIATIVES IN SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY OFTEN SHOWING JUST LIIKE YOU-DOWN SYNDROME FILM, TO FOSTER POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME. SHOULD ANY OF OUR MEMBERS EXPERIENCE AN OVERNIGHT STAY IN THE HOSPITAL, DSG PROVIDES A $50 MEAL VOUCHER TO SUPPORT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STAY. MEMBERS CAN SHOW SUPPORT OF THE DSG BRAND BY PURCHASING BRANDED ITEMS TO GENERATE AWARENESS WTIHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS AND OTHERS ARE SHARED IN DETAIL IN THE DSG ANNUAL REPORT.

PUBLIC EDUCATION - DSG HOSTS ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES TO BRING TOGETHER EXPERTS IN THE FIELD TO DISCUSS BEST PRACTICES IN WORKING WITH INDIVIUDALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DSG SPONSORED OR NATIONAL SPONORED CONFERENCES. DSG ALSO HOSTS SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS REQESTED BY DSG MEMBERS. DSG PARTNERS WITH 45 LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO HAVE NAMED DOWN SYNDROME SPECIALISTS WHO ACT AS LIAISONS BETWEEN DSG, SCHOOLS, AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY DOWN SYNDROME. WE OFFER THE SPECAILISTS A RESOURCE MANUAL, FREE REGISTRATION TO DSG CONFERENCES, BI-ANNUAL BREAKFASTS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND MAKE DSG AREA OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS AND ONGOING UPDATES REGARDING RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES FOR EDUCATING STUDENTS WITH DOWN SYNDROM. DSG ALSO OFFERS INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING AND PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO HAVE DOWN SYNDROME SPECIALISTS. INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED BY ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DSG'S 24-HOUR PHONE INFORMATION LINE.

SOCIAL EVENTS - DSG SUPPORTS MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE SPAN BY HOSTING SPECIAL EVENTS TO HELP MEMBERS AND FAMILIES ENGAGE AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER. SOCIAL EVENTS OFFER UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO MEET, FORM FRIENDSHIPS, AND SHARE RESOURCES. WE HOST 5 ALL GUID ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHICH WELCOME THE MEMBER WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND IMMEDIATE FAMILTY MEMBERS TO ACTIVITIES LOCATED AROUND THE METRO. ELEMENTARY AGED STUDENTS MEET QUARTERLY AT THE DSG OFFICE FOR EVENTS AND PREPARATION FOR THE S.T.A.R.S. PROGRAM WHICH MEETS WEEKLY ONCE MEMBERS TURN 12 YEARS OLD. ADULTS CAN ENJOY MONTHLY DSG ACTIVITIES IN ADDITION TO REGULAR COMMUNITY EVENTS AVAILABLE TO THEM. EACH MEMBER IS RECOGNIZED DURING HIS/HER BIRTHDAY MONTH THROUGH THE DSG BIRTHDAY BLUB WHICH SENDS A CARD TO EACH MEMBER.