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 which supports the Down syndrome community in Western PA. The DSAP is made up of multiple board members along with their Executive Director, Cherise Sandrock. With more than two decades of progressive non-profit leadership and relationship building skills, she makes a great servant leader.
The mission of the Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh is“ to support, connect, educate, and inspire individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.” Their vision is “an empowering, enriching and inclusive world for individuals with Down syndrome.”
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 filled with pictures of people with Down syndrome and 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.
Resources are available for both children and adults with Down syndrome. Just to name a few: Early Intervention, Therapy Centers, Fitness, Dance, and Music Programs, Parent and Sibling Support, Toolkits, Financial Planning, EBT Card Perks, and AFO Brace Friendly Shoes. They even have an entrepreneurship webinar. To keep this list current, the DASP relies on your help. If you know of a resource to add to their list, please send an email to info@dsapgh.org.
The Down Syndrome Center of Western PA, located at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, for children and adolescents. The center offers Family Support, Health Care Services, Resources and Information, Professional Training, and Research. The center collaborates with the Adult Down Syndrome Center at UPMC, as well as other entities. The Center even provides a Down Syndrome Podcast Series. Contact the DSC at DownSyndromeCenter@chp.edu or 412-692-7963.
The Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh holds several exciting events to help service the Down syndrome community in Western PA. Check out the Event Calendar to stay connected to all upcoming activies. Notably, they’ve offered World Down Syndrome Day Dances, Fitness opportunities, including Down to Box events, Top Golf Fundraisers, and Zoo Days. One of the DSAP’s biggest events takes place in October: the Virtual Pittsburgh Buddy Walk. This year it is scheduled for October 18, 2025. Please visit the News & Events and Event Calendar pages 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.
