The Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton is once again providing financial support for our members to attend the Canadian Down Syndrome Conference.  This year, the event is taking place in Edmonton, Alberta.  DSAH is reserving a pool of funds to a maximum of $10,000 for this conference.  Each family that applies will be awarded a maximum of $1,200 to assist them in covering most of the expenses associated with attending the conference.

If you are interested in attending please email us at contactus@dsah.ca by APRIL 1, 2015.  

NOTE: Members that reach out and are approved for this Conference Fund will be asked to do a presentation, written or oral, at one of our Family Information Nights or other informational event such as the World Down Syndrome Day Open House.

Details of the conference can be found by visiting: Canadian Down Syndrome Society

Kindermusik: Sing & Play- For ages 0 to 4yrs and their caregivers -Offered by Blossom Yoga

“Get ready to sing, play, and move with your little one in this high-energy music class designed to be just right for children under two years of age. This new Kindermusik curriculum focuses on your child’s beginning movement, helping to build the muscles your baby needs to walk, and vocal development, helping to nurture your child’s speaking and singing voice. With a mix of both parent-child joint activities and child-focused activities, you’ll be able to join right in on all the singing and dancing while also getting the chance to observe how your older baby or toddler learns on her own. Embark on Kindermusik’s fun new exploration of singing, swaying, laughing, and playing through Sing & Play, a just-right mix of early-childhood vocal play and language development, together time, and music and movement activities! ”

Kindermusik: Family Time -For ages 0 – 10 years, siblings and their caregiver(s)-Offered by Blossom Yoga

When you bring children of all ages together you get a dynamic and integrated learning experience for everyone. Take favourite Kindermusik songs like “Shake, Shake the Apple Tree” and “hammocking” and roll them into a fun, energetic family class where every child is welcome and a family’s “together time” is celebrated and cherished. Special home materials fit varying ages and learning abilities while reinforcing the learning concepts, stories, and songs from class.

 SwimAbilities-Children -Offered by the City of Hamilton. Locations: Bennetto CC and Sir Winston Churchill RC

A Learn to Swim program for children (3-18) with special needs. The program is based on Hamilton’s Splash, Lifesaving Swimmer Program and Lifesaving Swim to Survive Program. Participants in this class must provide their own volunteer to be in the water with the participant. There are 3 levels: Beginner – Parent and Tot / Splash ABC; Intermediate – Splash A+B+C+ / Swimmer 1, 2; and Advanced – Swimmer 3 and higher. Participants in this class MUST provide their own volunteer to be present in the water with the swimmer.

SwimAbilities-ADULTS – Offered by the City of Hamilton. Location: Bennetto CC

A Learn to Swim program for adults (18+) with special needs. The program is based on Hamilton’s Splash, Lifesaving Swimmer Program and Lifesaving Swim to Survive Program. Participants in this class must provide their own volunteer to be in the water with the participant.  Participants in this class MUST provide their own volunteer to be present in the water with the swimmer.

Friday Framers. Offered by the City of Hamilton. Location: Huntington Park RC

This recreational program is designed for teens and adults with special needs. Participants meet weekly at Sherwood Bowling Lanes and must provide own support worker.

 Teen Connections. Offered by the City of Hamilton. Locations: Ryerson RC and Westmount RC

This recreational program is designed for teens age 16-21 who have special needs and can participate semi-independently with a ratio of one staff to 5 participants. Participants can recreate and form connections with other teens and engage in activities including cooking, active games, crafts, swimming, fitness, group team building and much more.

  Offered by DSAH.  Dates & locations to be confirmed.

These recreational craft workshop will be run by DSAH volunteers for children aged 10 and up.  Some of the craft projects that we would like to bring to the workshop include: create your own quilt (no sewing required!); make chewlery for you and a DSAH buddy; create a work of art from buttons.  Other ideas may be incorporated depending on participant numbers and materials available.

DSAH Cooking Workshop – Offered by DSAH.  Dates & Locations to be confirmed.

A recreational workshop run by DSAH volunteers for teens and adults to teach the basics of preparing a meal from gathering ingredients, preparing tools and following a recipe to putting it all together and enjoying a well balanced & nutritional meal.

DSAH Singing & Music.  Offered by DSAH. Dates & Locations to be confirmed.

Design for teens and adults, this 8 week workshop will be run by a choir director who is generously volunteering his time, this 8 week workshop will teach the basics of signing.  A performance at the end of the workshop is possible if participants are interested.

Take me back to the Feedback Programs Planning Fall & Winter 2014

Need to know more about each potential program? Click here for a general description.

[contact-form-7 id=”1288″ title=”Feedback for DSAH Programs Fall-Winter 2014″]

Thursday May 22, 2014

Community Living – Dinning Room

171 York Blvd Hamilton

Light snacks and greetings – 6:30-7:00 pm

AGM – 7:00 – 7:30 pm

Speaker – 7:30-8:30 pm

Questions and conversation – 8:30-9:00 pm

AGM Agenda

1. Call to order
2. Approval of the 2013 AGM minutes
3. Board President’s Report
4. Treasurer’s report
5. Approval of the Auditor for 2014
6. Approval of the special resolution – amendments to by-laws
7. Election of Board Members
8. Adjournment

NOTES:

• We currently have three vacancies on our Board.  The following positions are vacant:  Self Advocate, Member at Large and New Parent Co-ordinator. If you are interested in putting your name forward for any of these positions or any other positions on the Board, please contact Jennifer Crowson at jencrowson2@gmail.com or at (905) 531-6298.

•  A copy of the proposed amendments to the by-laws will be sent out separately in advance of the meeting.

•  This year the Board has decided to make the meeting for adults only and ‘babes in arms’.   In the past, we have provided entertainment for the whole family – but in doing so one parent always missed out on the speaker and it was challenging to conduct the AGM.   We are having a DSAH family bowling a few weeks before (Sunday April 27 th – for details click here).   Young adults and adults with Down syndrome are welcome and may be interested in the speaker.

Please join us for our 1st Monthly Membership Information Night.

• TOPIC: Developing a Plan for Programs & Services for 2014
• DATE: Thursday, January 23rd.
• TIME: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
• LOCATION: Community Living Hamilton – 191 York Boulevard, Hamilton & Services for 2014

Please RSVP by January 20th at contactus@dsah.ca

We invite ALL our members to participate in the planning and developing stages for programs and services for the upcoming 2014 year.

Families will be divided into age groups and provided with an opportunity to discuss needs for services and programs that would benefit their children at that stage. Their ideas will go for discussion at the Board level to develop, support & run programs in the coming months.

Please participate! We hope to see many of you there!