National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. To honor this month and bring attention to it, I’d like to take a moment of your time and introduce you to the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh (DSAP). For those of you who may not be familiar with the DSAP, it is a small, non-profit agency who supports the Down syndrome community in Western PA. The DSAP is made up of multiple board members along with their Executive Director, Meredith Peterson, MA. Not only does Ms. Peterson head the DSAP, but she is also the parent of a child with Down syndrome.
The mission of the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh “is to enrich the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, their families and communities in which they live. We accomplish this through communication, education, advocacy, fellowship and support for our community members’ well-being through our longstanding alliance with the Pediatric and Adult Down Syndrome Centers of Western PA.” Their vision is to have “a community in which all of its citizens appreciate and benefit from the diversity of the people who live there, including those with Down syndrome. A place where we are all accepted and valued for our unique abilities and contributions and are guaranteed the opportunity and choice to create our own pathways to our definition of a successful life.”
One of the ways the DSAP supports the community and families is through their many resources. For parents they are there to offer support, motivation, and a helping hand. There is also the annual calendar, which is made up of their loved ones. The annual calendar is created by local photographers who donate their time and have personal ties to the Down syndrome community. Calendars are gifted to new parents and the many health care providers who work in the community. Lastly, is the blog, This Life We Got, written by Shannon Striner. In this blog, Ms. Striner, shares the story of her family’s struggles and acceptance about her daughter, Sienna. Ms. Striner is also a board member.
Community Resources are available for both children and adults with Down syndrome. Community Resources cover Early Intervention, Therapy Centers, Athletic Programs, Dance Programs, Music Programs, Parent Support, Sibling Support, Financial Support, Home Health Aide, Misc. Resources, and Misc., Programs. To keep this list current, the DASP relies on your help. If you know of a program that would benefit families or individuals, please send an email to meredith@dspgh.org.
COVID-19 Resources offer up-to-date information. Topics covered are COVID-19 Medical Updates, Virtual Community Opportunities, Remote Learning Resources, and Social Stories and Visual Schedules. If you know of a resource to add to this list, please send an email to info@dsapgh.org.
Medical Resources are offered through the Down Syndrome Center of Western PA, located at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, for children and adolescents. The center offers Family Support, Clinical Services, Resources and Information, Professional Training, Research, Transitions Program, and Behavioral Health. Patients are seen at nine clinic sites throughout Western PA. The center collaborates with the Adult Down Syndrome Center at UPMC Montefiore, as well as other entities.
The Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh holds several exciting events to help service the Down syndrome community in Western PA. Upcoming Events are Virtual Fitness Opportunities (currently going on now through the week of November 23), World Down Syndrome Day Dance, Top Golf Fundraiser, and a Zoo Day. One of the DSAP’s biggest events took place on October 3, the Virtual Pittsburgh Buddy Walk. Please visit the Upcoming Events page for up-to-date information.
As with any non-profit, the DSAP relies on donations, as well as the funds collected through the events they hold, to help them carry out their mission and provide the services and support to the Down syndrome community and families. If you would like to donate, you can do so through their donation page on their website at: https://www.dsapgh.org/donate.html.
