2015CDSS Conference Highlights

DSAH – AGM – May 21 2015 [Read-Only]

2015 DSAH Pickup Summer Soccer Games

During the months of July and August, your DSAH will run a series of WEEKLY, INFORMAL pickup soccer games to foster physical activities, team work and outdoor fun. This is an ALL AGES, ALL ABILITIES initiative and siblings and friends of members with Down syndrome are WELCOMED and ENCOURAGED to participate. No previous soccer experience is required.

TIMES & LOCATIONS

Session 1 JULY 2015 –Gage Park, Hamilton Ontario

We will meet every THURSDAY starting July 9^th at Gage Park, Hamilton at 10:00 am –meeting location: the central water fountain.  Look for the DSAH signs. We will head to a nearby green area to set up. The games will run for 1 hour. The park has a splash pad and a playground –lots of activities to carry on after the games.

Session 2 AUGUST 2015 – Dundas Driving Park, Dundas, Ontario

We will meet every THURSDAY starting August 6^th at the Dundas Driving Park, Dundas at 10:00 am –meeting location the green space immediately to the right as you drive into the park. Look for the DSAH signs. We will set up in this green space. The games will run for 1 hour. The park has a splash pad and a playground –lots of activities to carry on after the games.

Some rules to follow, please!

The sessions will be led by the Muschta family who are active members of their youth soccer league and are volunteering their time and energy -if you can spare an hour a week and want to help them with organizing the games, please email communications@dsah.ca. They will supply soccer balls but if you have your own, please bring it along! The DSAH will supply small soccer nets for the games.

Please note the following rules to ensure everyone enjoys these games:

• Parents are expected to participate and stay with their kids at all times. We do not have any outside volunteers running these sessions.
• No need to have soccer shoes. Running shoes will be OK.
• Bring a hat, sun screen, water and a snack.
• If you bring your ball, please PUT YOUR NAME ON IT. IN FACT, everything you bring should be LABELLED with your name. We cannot be responsible for lost balls or items.
• We are here to have FUN. This is not a competitive league. Suggestions and recommendations are welcome –criticism should be left out of the games. We expect RESPECT, SHARING and having LOTS OF FUN.

Hope to see many of you out there and enjoying the BEAUTIFUL GAME!

The end of school year is near and with summer just a few steps away, most parents & caregivers have began to evaluate the prospects for keeping their children and adults busy and meaningfully engaged over the summer.  There are many benefits to enrolling children in summer camps, particularly for those who deal with special needs, from keeping up with routines, further development of social skills, connecting with nature and other friends, and spending their time being physically active.  The challenge is in finding programs that are truly inclusive of all abilities and that can accommodate children with different abilities.

Below you will find two collections of Recreational Programs in the Hamilton Wentworth region (and nearby) that can help families in their search for opportunities to keep their loved ones engaged during the summer months.

1- Community Recreation Programs (provided by McMaster’s Children Hospital – http://www.mcmasterchildrenshospital.ca/workfiles/communityrecreationprograms.pdf)

2- MORE Community Recreation Programs in Hamilton  – Special Needs Summer camps

(An internet review done by the Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton, May 2015).

Please share with our membership your experiences in finding Recreational Programs, whether you would recommend a program or suggest that we take a program off the list provided.  Send us your feedback at contactus@dsah.ca or at communications@dsah.ca

Best of luck!

Your DSAH Communications Team.

We invite our entire membership and those interested in membership to attend our 2015 Annual General Meeting

Thursday May 21, 2015

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 2014 AGM minutes

3. Board President’s Report

4. Treasurer’s Report

5. Approval of the Auditor

6. Election of Board Members

7. Adjournment

Members in good standing (paid membership) can vote, nominate new board members and/or stand for election to any position in the Executive Board -currently two positions are vacant Self Advocate* and Secretary ** but note that you can nominate someone (or yourself) for ANY other positions during the meeting.

You can pay for your membership fee of $25 for April 2015 to March 2016 at the AGM (cash or cheques ONLY) or visit the on-line membership page.

If you are interested in putting your name forward for either of these positions or if you wish to nominate yourself or others to ANY of the Executive positions, please contact Jennifer Crowson at jencrowson2(at)gmail.com or at (905) 531-6298 if you have any questions.

As was the case last year, the AGM will be for adults, ‘babes in arms’ and self advocates.   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 month before (Sunday April 19th – details here).

Please note the following:

*The responsibilities of the self-advocate include:

• Be a person of the age of majority in the Province of Ontario, who has been diagnosed with Down syndrome;

• Represent the perspective of people with Down syndrome in the deliberations and decision making of the Executive Committee; and

• Preform duties as may be assigned by the Executive Committee.

 **The responsibilities of the Secretary include:

• Prepare, distribute and maintain minutes of all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee;

• Collect membership forms and maintain a current and accurate list of members;

• Conduct and receive correspondence as necessary; and

• Preform other duties as decided by the Executive Committee

 SPEAKER DETAIL: To be announced

The DSAH Board is thrilled to announce the establishment of an enhanced bursary support program to our members. From April 1, 2015 until March 31, 2016, each member family (or self advocate member) will be eligible for up to $750 to support their loved one with Down syndrome (or to an individual self advocate). This program builds on the previous bursary program supported by DSAH, which allowed families to access up to $500 for speech and physiotherapy.   This new enhanced program has widened the range of eligible interventions to include more therapeutic interventions and other things, such as adaptive technology and bicycles for DSAH member children and adults with Down syndrome.

Please click DSAH Bursary Support Program for the fully policy and to be able to print a copy for your records.  To submit your expenses, you will need to fill in a DSAH 2015 Bursary Application.

We believe that families and self-advocates know best what will benefit their child or self and we want each member of our DSAH community with Down syndrome to benefit directly from this program.  There are only a few requirements attached to this program – the person benefiting from it must have Down syndrome and that his or her family must be paid members of DSAH (or a self advocate member).   And, we ask for your engagement and if you have some to give – your time.   There are many activities that DSAH hosts during the year and we are always looking for volunteers. If you are interested in being more involved, please be in touch at contactus@dsah.ca.

The DSAH Bursary Support Program has been made possible through the generosity of your friends, family and community in the funds raised by our two very successful walks (the Buddy Walk in 2013 and the Hamilton Walk for Down Syndrome in 2014).     This year, our walk is taking place on Sunday October 1st – once again at Bayfront Park.   Save the date and plan to attend!   If you would like to get more involved in the planning of the walk, please email us at contactus@dsah.ca.

The Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton presents a celebration to mark World Down Syndrome Day 2016.  Our Open House “BIG DREAMS-EDUCATION: Advocating Beyond Inclusion” will be held at the Art Gallery of Hamilton (AGH) located at 123 King Street West, Hamilton, ON L8P 4S8 (905) 527-6610 (bus route accessible, wheel chair accessible).

 This FREE event will take place on Saturday, March 19th, 2016 from 10:30 am (registration) to 1:00 pm and it is OPEN to the public.  Anyone who wants to come and celebrate Down syndrome in our community is welcome.

We will be presenting further information on our Program, Guest Speakers and Display Booths soon.  Keep your eyes on this space! Here is a copy of our Open House Invitation to share with family and friends.  Be sure to ask them to register

We hope to see many of you there!

Community Living Ontario is hosting a Conference in Toronto Feb. 11 & 12: “Commence 2015 – Shining Forth” From their website:

“Are you passionate about the prospect of people who have an intellectual disability discovering their own unique and exciting place in the world? Commence 2015 is for you. Whether you are an Educator, Service Worker, friend or family of a Student with an intellectual disability, we have an exciting mix of professional perspectives and lived experiences to draw inspiration from. Commence 2015 will focus on the social roles, employment, mentors, and communities that will help a student to shine forth into the future.”

For more details, visit their site at https://event-wizard.com/commence2015/0/welcome/