CRDSS had a wonderful 2023 edition of World Down Syndrome Day, with over 200 people joining for the 3-21 Celebration Dance at the State College High School Cafeteria! Everyone enjoyed the DJ's light show & sounds, yummy food & treats, our tradition of fun games & crafts, the photo booth, wildly popular face painting and more! Our members received crazy socks door prizes and we danced the night away as Katie Feliz led our now traditional 3-21 Line Dance! That's the way to get folks on the dance floor Katie!

We have photo memories and more joys to share with you below.

Enjoy this wrap-up of our 2023 celebrations!!

Sharing Elliot

by Stacey Herncane

For the ninth time, students from my classroom will be standing in front of their peers speaking on behalf of my son, Elliot. This tradition started in March of 2015 with an amazing group of students. That first presentation will be one of my most memorable days as an educator.

It began with a new group of students and me returning to my first full year of school since becoming a mom to Elliot. Initially, I had decided not to share Elliot’s diagnosis with my students. How would I explain it to third graders? I instead shared Elliot with my students as any other proud first-time mother would. I plastered my walls with his pictures. I shared his milestones and antics. And they adored him, despite never actually meeting him.

Read the full article here >

Special Feature Video

Sharing Elliot II

In the student's voice

by Chestnut Ridge Middle School 4th Grade

A video by 4^th grade students who gave Elliot a voice and helped him spread his message of kindness, acceptance, and being “awesome”!

Enjoy the Production Here >

Our Remarkable Village

by Katie Feliz

I am the mama of Emberly, a 7-year-old little girl with Down syndrome, and Arlo a 3-year-old little boy without Down syndrome. I will never forget my family’s first interaction with the Down syndrome community. It was at the CRDSS fall Buddy Walk event. Emberly was just a baby, and I wore her in a carrier the entire time. She slept peacefully while we took in the festivities as two wide-eyed and exhausted parents – thrilled to finally get an in-person peek at people of all ages with Down syndrome. Our first experience in our new community was life-changing.

Read the full Centre Daily Times OpEd here >

For Good Troupe

SPRING PERFORMANCE!

Saturday April 22nd, 11am

Fairmount Auditorium, State College

Come celebrate with us! Our For Good Troupe presents its spring show, offering an opportunity for persons with Down syndrome to participate in musical theater and performance activities while offering the broader community the opportunity to attend the performances and celebrate with us. It's always a great show! Join us for this free event and no pre-registration is required.

Spring Performance Program >

Calling All Volunteers!

BEAVER STADIUM RUN

Penn State University

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Complete Details >

Harmony's

10th Anniversary

Performance

Schwab Auditorium, PSU

April 23, 2023

4PM. Free event.

Harmony is a performing arts group for individuals with and without disabilities that promotes inclusion through theater and foster prosocial relationships.

Join CRDSS for this Dynamic Online Fundraiser!

May 10 & 11, 2023

Invest in the work to help people with Down syndrome pursue their dreams. This important event funds our work year-round!

Stay Tuned For Details!

It's Back!

2nd Annual

Summer Carnival!

SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, July 9, 2023

We're scheming and planning to bring our community together for summer fun!

Seeking Volunteers >

Sponsor Spotlight

ABC-DS Project

The Alzheimer Biomarkers Consortium-Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) is a longitudinal study to follow a cohort of adults with Down syndrome over time to identify early biomarkers that may herald the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The investigators hope that these biomarkers can be useful to inform clinical trials and improve the quality of life in people with Down syndrome and for the general population. The project is funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigation of Co-occurring Conditions Across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome.

Program Details >

CRDSS is proud to announce a Knowledge Forum upcoming presentation from the ABC-DS study. Stay tuned for details.

Thank You CRDSS Sponsors

Your Annual Support Makes an Impact!

Welcome to our

Newest Sponsor!

Boyles Insurance ~ Christine Bouley, Coldwell Banker Town & Country ~ Collegiate Pride

Dave's Mask Making ~ Geisinger ~ Ian Smith Painting ~ Jersey Mike's ~ Keystone Payroll ~ Lotsa Laffs

Dr. Marla Moon & Heimer, Fiore, Turco Eye Care ~ Northwest Bank ~ Pediatric Dental Care

Reliance Bank ~ RE/MAX Centre Realty ~ Restek ~ SAS Geospatial LLC ~ The Sign Factory

Skills of Central Pennsylvania ~ Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak ~ Strawberry Fields ~ Truist Bank

Details on how to join these supporters >

Support CRDSS Now!

Centre Region Down Syndrome Society is a vibrant, hands-on organization

that provides individuals who have Down syndrome and their families

the tools, resources, and support necessary to participate in, contribute to,

and achieve personal health and fulfillment.

Centre Region Down Syndrome Society

Lauren Smith, Executive Director

lauren@centreregiondownsyndrome.org

www.centreregiondownsyndrome.org