Volume 1 Issue 6 | June 2020
2020 Covid-19 Crisis Appeal
NCDSA is close to our Matching Donor $30,000 goal!
We have a generous anonymous benefactor who will match all donations received by June 30th. NCDSA is finding creative and innovative ways to support our families during COVID-19, but we cannot do it without your continued financial support. Please join us as we endeavor to provide the support that children and families deserve during this historical time in our organization and our nation.
NCDSA and COVID-19
NCDSA continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and will relay pertinent information that directly impacts the Down syndrome community. NCDSA has limited office hours by appointment only and staff continue to work remotely. NCDSA can be contacted by leaving a voicemail message at 984-200-1193 or sending an email to info@ncdsalliance.org. For current information, please follow NCDSA on Facebook.

Resources for people with Down syndrome and their families: NCDSA COVID-19.

Current and accurate information about COVID-19: CDC and NC DHHS.
SAVE THE DATE - October 4th
What has NCDSA been up to?
NCDSA keeping busy in May:

  • 3 Welcome Baby Bags sent to new families in 3 counties
  • 1 Prenatal packet and 2 new to the community packets sent to families
  • 2 New families were connected with trained Parent Mentors
  • 15 Moms participated in 3 virtual Moms' Night In
  • 31 Teens and adults played BINGO on Zoom on 3 nights
  • 8 Youth participated in Sight Word Bingo
  • 12 Parents attended the Transitions Webinar
  • Many more NCDSA signs were delivered to families across the state
Just in time for Father's Day
or any shopping day!
Turn your shopping into a force for good. Shop at  smile.amazon.com/ch/31-1630412  and Amazon donates to North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance.  
NCDSA Families, are you up to date?
NCDSA staff continues to update our constituent database. There is a great deal of outdated information cluttering our records. Please take a few minutes to assist us in this necessary task by updating your family's information. Thank you!
NCCDD está lanzando nuestro proceso de planificación para el Plan Estatal de cinco años 2022-2026.

El Consejo de Carolina del Norte para Discapacidades del Desarrollo (NCCDD, por sus siglas en inglés) organizará una sesión de escucha virtual para escuchar a la comunidad LatinX de Carolina del Norte el 22 de junio de las 12:30 p.m. a las 2:00 p.m. y conocer lo que más le importa a las personas con discapacidad intelectual y otras discapacidades del desarrollo (I/DD), a familiares, cuidadores y a la comunidad en general.
Moms' Night In / Noche de Mamas
BINGO
What are they saying about BINGO?
"Thanks for the fun evening! W. had a great time playing!!"
Volunteer Spotlight
Paige Barefoot has been volunteering behind the scenes with the NCDSA for several years creating marketing materials and graphic designs for NCDSA events. She uses her expertise as a Product Designer for McClatchy, the parent company of the Raleigh News and Observer. If you get a subscription offer email from The N&O, Herald Sun, or Charlotte Observer, Paige was the one who likely designed it, in addition to the ads you may see in print or on their websites.  Paige is mom to three year old Lucas and big brother Zackery and has been involved with NCDSA since Lucas's birth. Thank you Paige!!!
Let's Celebrate!!!
NCDSA would like to celebrate your loved ones milestones. Graduation, dress up for prom, win an award, finish program, accomplish something new? We want to hear about it and share your good news with our community.

Email details and pictures to: info@ncdsalliance.org
Abby is going to Kindergarten
Thank you for the NCDSA Transition to Kindergarten series and for the 1:1 assistance preparing us for Abby’s Kindergarten IEP meeting - it went smoothly. Abby will be fully included in a general education kindergarten classroom with a 1:1 aide. We are thrilled! Your guidance and support prepared us to ask the right questions, insist on the right people at her IEP meeting, and we ultimately ended up with the placement we wanted without having to fight for it.
Today, we have a Pre-K graduate who had a meet-n-greet online with her new Kindergarten teacher. We are just over the moon excited for Abby!
Thank you again for your support and guidance. We are not sure we would have gotten the result we did without it! Meg and Jason Tucker
Girl Scout Bronze Award
The Bronze Award is the third highest award a Girl Scout can achieve. The Bronze Award was recently presented to Jaden Ng, Eleanor Flora, and the rest of the Juniors of Girl Scout Troop 765 for their project "Inclusion in Girl Scouts."  The young women worked almost a year on this project. NCDSA is proud of the entire group! Congratulations!
Quick Links for Families
Parents should keep track of the services their student is receiving while schools are closed. Compensatory services may be awarded based on this information.

COVID 19 has brought attention to the violation of the rights of people with Down syndrome if hospitalized.


The Adult Down Syndrome Center of the Advocate Medical Group has a resource library and video gallery for and about people with Down syndrome.

Updated Down syndrome and COVID 19 Question and Answer document provided by national Down syndrome organizations.



Monthly Research Focus
SURVEY: DISSEMINATING EDUCATIONAL DISABILITY-RELATED INFORMATION - Survey ends July 1st

UNC School of Information and Library Science and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences is recruiting participants for a study on the ways people learn about disability rights in education and health.

  • Complete 10-15 minute web survey
  • Complete 10-15 minute media activity
  • Opportunity to discuss your experiences looking for information in education and in healthcare situations (these interviews can be done as web conferences)

Because we are interested in a variety of experiences, we would like responses from young adults and parents of young adults who have disabilities as well as those who do not have disabilities , so please feel free to share this request with your friends or family who might be interested in supporting this work. We hope that you will be interested in sharing your thoughts and reflections about your experiences.
Sleep related issues in children (under age 6) with Down syndrome

NCDSA is happy to assist Dr. Marcia VanRiper at the UNC School of Nursing gather data for her ongoing research studies.  There is a special need for families of children with Down syndrome under the age of 24 months.



Healthcare & Direct Service Provider Training
Professional education webinars on a wide variety of important topics that address the needs and interests of professionals in the field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Webinars are continually added, check back often.
July 14 – August 18  FREE 
Live streaming & on-demand webinars
The Summer Leadership Institute is the leading event for executives, senior leaders, and staff across the disability and public service sectors.
Keep up to date - connect with NCDSA
NCDSA Board of Directors Meetings
Third Monday of the month | 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
By supporting NCDSA you help us embrace new families with welcome baby bags and provide expectant mothers with up-to-date resources.  You help to educate healthcare professionals on how to deliver a diagnosis of Down syndrome and provide healthcare guidelines for people with Down syndrome. Thank you!