Congratulations to our

2023 DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS BILLBOARD Ambassadors!

These teams will be on the

POTENTIAL + OPPORTUNITY = SUCCESS billboard:

AJ & The Genetics

Ella's Fellas

Friends by Design

Kora's Krew

Krazy Klan

Nathan’s Ninjas Strike Again!

Team Jameson

Our Tour of Champions billboard winner:

The Ultimate Team

Our Ambassador of Inclusion billboard goes to our

2023 Corporate Cup Winner :



TEAM MARRIOTT

Are you ready for a GOOD TIME?

Let's put on our dancing shoes and celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month! PLUS we are also kicking off our 2024 Tour of Champions Bowl-A-Thon!

Join The FOUNDATION for a night of great food, awesome music, and dancing. We will be sharing exciting news and incentives for our 2024 Tour of Champions Bowl-A-Thon - don't miss out!



Click on the image below for more information and to register.

Say "HELLO!" to The FOUNDATION's newest program!

Join us and the latest sport CRAZE- Pickleball! This is the fastest growing sport EVER and a great activity for Floridians of any age to play year round! 

Pickleball players (who are called picklers) use light paddles and low-bouncing plastic balls on smaller courts. It is easy to play regardless of athletic ability. A smaller court and shorter net create a more sociable, leisurely, and affordable game. Pickleball is beloved because it is such a versatile and accessible game. This is a sport that those who want to give it a try can easily pick up.

Click on the image below for more information and to register.

We are excited to once again offer this great opportunity to our members: 

Our post-secondary scholarship

for individuals with Down syndrome is NOW OPEN!

The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida is providing 2 lucky college students with Down syndrome a $500 scholarship to help offset the costs of books, housing, or tuition. Florida residents with Down syndrome who are enrolled in post-secondary programs are eligible to apply

Check out this amazing video as an example of when POTENTIAL is given OPPORTUNITY the outcome is SUCCESS!

Don't miss your chance - apply TODAY!

Calling all moms!

This month we are THROWING IT BACK IN TIME so we can experience the old with the new! The recently renovated Primrose Lanes has been the talk of the town as the place to be! This is the home of the former Colonial Lanes - where we held our first Tour of Champions in 2011 with less than 20 teams! Let’s celebrate how far we have come and enjoy their new gourmet menu and VIP bowling experience as we look ahead to what the future holds for FOUNDATION FAMILIES.



Click on the image below for more information and to register.

Join the team that helps OVER A MILLION dreams come true!!

The FOUNDATION has awarded more than $1.2 MILLION in scholarships to give our members the opportunities and resources they need to succeed in life. We need YOUR HELP to continue to run these EXTRAordinary opportunities.

Join us on Wednesday, October 18 from 7-9 p.m. for our next Tour of Champions Bowl-A-Thon Committee Meeting. You can participate in person or virtually! Come out and be part of the team that helps to make the magic happen all year long! ***Dinner will be provided***

The Tour of Champions Bowl-A-Thon & Silent Auction is our PREMIERE fundraising event of the year, and we need your help to make it a success! The money we raise from this incredible event keeps all of our scholarships AND programs running.

Come join our DREAM TEAM and help us continue to make dreams come true! If you would like to be part of this essential team, please email Camille.Gardiner@dsfflorida.org.

Invite your teacher for our upcoming BREAKFAST OF CHAMPION and you will be entered for a chance to win $100!l

Join the salt life with our amazing crew of surfers!

Learn the fundamentals of surfing -

all ages and swimming abilities are welcome!

Come hang with us in the water or on the shore!

Scholarships are available - please contact Robin at robin.longley@dsfflorida.org for more information.

Click on the image below for more information and to register!

Mental Health & Wellness - let’s talk about how mental health, the impact of unprocessed trauma and how taking care of YOU equates to taking care of your family/loved one with DS. Join us and a panel of wellness professionals to discuss how to live your best life and how The FOUNDATION can help. 

Click on the image below for more information and to register!

Join us for a SPOOK-TACULAR Club 321 Halloween party! You don't want to miss this... it's going to be absolutely fang-tastic!

Click on the image below for more information and to register!

Join us for a morning of FUN on the FARM!

Click on the image below for more information and to register!

This weekend is one of the most anticipated events of the year!

Come join us for a weekend of SUN and FUN! The FOUNDATION started camping with our members 12 years ago, not only because we enjoy camping and spending time with our members, but also because it is a GREAT way to spend time with friends and family.

We camp at Jetty Park (where the cruise ships go out to sea), provide tents (or you can bring your own), breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner on Saturday night. We rent beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, and kayaks and have a BLAST. Plus we are all there to help support each other!

Our Camping Jamboree is the best way to really get to know other families. Not only will your son/daughter make new friends, but so will you!

This is a great way for us to spend the day together at the beach while teaching your loved one (or maybe YOU) to enjoy the outdoors.

Reserve your campsite and RV TODAY!

Registration deadline for RV spaces:

Friday, October 6

Kay Ness will return to Orlando on November 6 -14.

For over 60 years, the neurodevelopmental approach to working with learning, mobility, speech, language, processing, and attention problems, has been offering hope to parents of children who have received a variety of labels. This program has helped many children with various learning abilities make advancements in academic gains, sensory issues, behavior modification, and other areas through the innovative and personalized programs by Kay Ness.   

 People trained in the neurodevelopmental approach look at the causes, train the parents to work with their child at home to address the problems, and also accelerate academics to help the child catch up. By addressing the root causes of learning and developmental challenges, Kay has guided many families to help their loved ones reach levels of achievement that were thought impossible.

Contact Kay at kyness@mindspring.com to schedule an evaluation.



*Neurodevelopmental scholarship available*

Click here for more information and to apply for a scholarship.

Oral Placement Therapy (OPT) uses a hierarchical-based approach to improve speech clarity and feeding skills in individuals of all ages and across diagnoses. These innovative techniques focus on motor movement activities used to improve phonation, resonation, and speech clarity. Combined with a tactile-sensory approach, OPT provides a comprehensive solution to a variety of speech and feeding issues. OPT involves the use of therapy tools to train and transition muscle movements for speech production. Our techniques, applied in combination with the tools, make a difference in client’s lives.

Click here for more information.

To learn more about Oral Placement Therapy please visit: https://talktools.com/pages/parent-video-library

Parents are required to view the second video on the page - "Parents' Guide to Talk Tools" to be eligible for an Oral Motor Therapy Scholarship.

The Down Syndrome Clinic for Adults is jointly hosted by the Down Syndrome Foundation and Orlando Health. The clinic is designed for adults ages 17 - 39 years old. Providers available for consultation include an endocrinologist, dietician, dentist, gynecologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, and neuropsychologist. Information on community resources will also be available. All participants will have a hearing evaluation by an audiologist.

Clinic is FREE. Space is limited.

Click on the image below for more information and to register!

The Orlando Magic are getting ready to kick-off their 35th season. Come be part of the excitement!

Are you 18 years or older with Down syndrome?

Did you know that you can work at the Orlando Magic games and get paid

When: October 2023-April 2024

Time: Various times

Location: Amway Center

(Click on the link below to see the Orlando Magic's upcoming dates and times)

You must attend a minimum of 16 games. You will be helping prep snacks and deliver food to the Club and VIP level. If you are interested in working at the Amway Center and earning a paycheck please reach out to Caroline today at caroline.sanchez@dsfflorida.org.

You can also volunteer! Anyone 18 years old or older can volunteer and help our iCan! Work program at the Amway Center (this includes members with T21 who are 18+ and cannot commit to 16 games - you can volunteer with a family member). This is a great way to keep your membership with The FOUNDATION active.

Have you checked out our new resources on our Partner's in Education resource page? 

October is a perfect time to invite your child's teacher to take a look at our updated website.

We have resources for all learners, resources for teachers, hands-on activities, and recommended books to read about Down syndrome.  

Click on the image below for more information!

Did you know we can come to you? Would you like to have a short presentation on Down syndrome for your class?

October is a GREAT month to learn more about Down syndrome - why? Because it is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

Join us as we raise AWARENESS and CELEBRATE people with Down syndrome.

Click HERE to schedule.

It's the most wonderful time of the year as we snuggle up with our loved ones to share stories, meals, and memories. We are so thankful for our FOUNDATION family and would like to make sure every member has a magical holiday season.

The FOUNDATION continues our tradition, providing food and gift items for our families who need assistance.

If your family would like to receive assistance with purchasing holiday gifts, please click on the request button below, fill out the form and we will be in touch with you. 



Please submit requests for holiday assistance by

Friday, November 3

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Mark your calendars and register TODAY for our It's a Wonderful Life - Winter Wonderland Party.

Click on the image below for more information and to register!