The Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana is a non-profit organization of families and interested persons working to improve the quality of life for those individuals having Down syndrome.
ABOUT US
The Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana, which was founded over 25 years ago, serves families of both children and adults with Down syndrome. Our volunteers provide support, information and services to children with Down syndrome and their families. Thanks to the generosity of those in the community, we have been able to distribute, free of charge, accurate and encouraging information to families experiencing the birth of a child with Down syndrome including personal contact with another parent who has been trained to offer support.
Group meetings and seminars featuring local and national speakers on topics such as education, speech therapy, medical challenges and social development provide families with the information they need to make educated choices affecting their child’s well-being and development. In addition, we purchase the latest up-to-date information in book, audio tape, video tape, and DVD format to share with members through our lending library. We have developed a DVD that is available to all new parents at no cost to them. This DVD assists new parents in seeing the various stages of development their babies will go through. We hope this DVD will be a source of encouragement as it also shows parents the challenges that can be overcome and the triumphs that can be achieved by children with Down syndrome.
VISION
Our vision is to foster understanding, acceptance and inclusion of persons with Down syndrome which will give them the greatest opportunities to realize their aspirations and enjoy independent and productive lives.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Packets providing helpful information, resources, up-to-date facts, and encouragement are available for families of newborns with Down syndrome. Information packets are also available for students researching the most commonly occurring disability.
We provide a monthly newsletter to our members keeping them up-to-date on our activities, the latest information on Down syndrome and educational opportunities such as conferences and seminars from other geographical areas that may be of benefit to them.
We host family-based activities for all members, such as our annual Christmas party, Family Picnic, Moms’ Night Out, Awards Banquet, Halloween Party and Father-Child bowling help foster family fellowship and provide parents and siblings the opportunity to share concerns, difficulties, and triumphs in an informal non-threatening setting.
We provide the most current educational and medical resource materials to members, educators, service providers and medical professionals through a lending library conveniently located in our office.
As part of our efforts to improve life for those individuals with Down syndrome, we provide information to local schools, libraries and community organizations to promote the understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities.
We support national research efforts seeking the cause of, and answers to, many of the medical, genetic, behavioral and learning problems associated with Down syndrome.
Our website provides local and national information and links to other helpful organizations.
We have Community Awareness Activities such as the Buddy Walk and the distribution of materials both during March as Disabilities Awareness Month and October as National Down Syndrome Month.
We distribute books and other media to Public Libraries, Elementary, Middle and High School media centers, which help the community better understand the similarities, between themselves and those with special needs.
We offer educational meetings featuring speakers from the medical, legal, and educational professions as well as other service providers.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Executive Directors
Susan Wojnarowicz, CPA, President
Michael Kelley, Vice-President
Frank Bizon, Treasurer
Jennie Burgess, Secretary
Directors
Marilyn Ellrich
Christine Gill
Tom Gill
Ofelia Jiménez
Maria Maldonado
Tondelia McVea
Sue Price
Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana
2927 Jewett Street, Highland, IN 46322
219.838.3656 phone
219.838.6959 fax
dsa@dsaofnwi.org
© Down Syndrome Association or Northwest Indiana. All rights reserved.