MDSC & United Dance – The Extraordinary Nutcracker! ❄ for teens & adults (13+)

Saturday, December 7th | 1:30 PM
Calderwood Pavilion 527 Tremont St Boston, MA 02116

The MDSC is thrilled to partner with United Dance Company for the third year in a row for their classic production of The Extraordinary Nutcracker!

United Dance Company features professional dancers with Down syndrome alongside other classical ballet artists, bringing inclusion to the forefront of this beloved holiday tradition.

The MDSC is excited to offer significantly discounted tickets for individuals with Down syndrome ages 13+ and their families. Each ticket includes a voucher for a snack and non alcoholic beverage from the theater’s concession stand. Teens, adults, and their families are invited to join us before the show to mingle and make new friends, do a festive craft, and enjoy a treat on us!

Pre-performance Mixer: 1:30 – 2:00pm
Performance: 2:00pm
Ticket Price – $15.00

*This is a special offer for MDSC families (almost 75% discount) and includes a voucher for a snack and drink!

*Limited discounted tickets are available*

Webinar: Learn About the Speech Accessibility Project

Wednesday, December 18th | 12:00 PM
Zoom

Help make technology more accessible for people with Down syndrome!

The MDSC is proud to partner with The Speech Accessibility Project at the University of Illinois Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology to help recruit participants for an important research initiative. The Speech Accessibility Project’s goal is to improve speech recognition technology for people whose disabilities affect their voices. The project is funded by Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. The research team is currently recruiting adults with Down syndrome (18+) to participate!
The research team is excited to host a webinar for the MDSC community to learn more this project, how to participate, and the impact it will have on the disability community!

*this will be recorded and all registrants will receive the recording following the live webinar*

January AIM Meetup: Cozy Winter Crafts! For ages 13-22, parents & caregivers

Saturday, January 4th | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Brookline Teen Center 40 Aspinwall Ave Brookline, MA 02446

Teens and young adults are invited to join us for a cozy morning to make winter-themed crafts while sipping hot chocolate! For those who prefer to just come and hang with friends, there are plenty of board games to be played along with pool, foosball, and air hockey!A gluten free snack and drink will be served.

When: Saturday, January 4th

10:00am – 12:00pm

Where: Brookline Teen Center

40 Aspinwall Ave

Brookline, MA 02446

Cost: $20 per Meetup

See registration below for details. Scholarships available.

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Parents & Caregivers – Stay and Connect During AIM!

Parents and caregivers are invited to stay for the Parent & Caregiver Session which will take place in a conference room at the Brookline Teen Center. We will continue to discuss transition-related topics, share resources, and learn from one another’s experiences. Snacks and drinks will be served.

AIM Meetups ARE drop off events. Parents and caregivers are not obligated to stay for the Parent & Caregiver Session.

January SAAC Social: Frosty Festivities! For ages 20+

Friday, January 24th | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Walnut Street Center 291 Mystic Avenue Medford, MA 02155

The MDSC is thrilled to be partnering with Walnut Street Center to host “Frosty Festivities,” an evening filled with ice cream and sorbet sundaes, winter crafts, music and dancing, for adults ages 20+! Come to CHILL with old friends and new and celebrate the wonders of winter!

When: Friday, January 24th

6:00 -8:00pm

Where: Walnut Street Center

291 Mystic Avenue

Medford, MA 02155

Cost: Free to attend!

Registration required. See below.

*Please note, this is a drop off event. Parents and caregivers are welcome to stay if preferred.

Special Health Care Needs and Behavioral Needs Support Group – Autism as co-occurring diagnosis & behavior concerns

Saturday, January 25th | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Zoom

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) and the Boston Children’s Hospital Down Syndrome Program are co-hosting a quarterly support group for families of children with Down syndrome and special health care and/or behavioral needs.

Parents, please join us for a Zoom to connect with others and feel supported on Saturday, October 26 from 9 – 10:30 AM with Angela Lombardo, LICSW and Sarah Cullen. The topic of this meeting will be Autism as co-occurring diagnosis & behavior concerns.

GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Yamini Jagannath Howe

Dr. Yamini Jagannath Howe is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and Site Medical Director for Cortica Burlington site in Massachusetts. Dr. Howe has dedicated her career to the diagnosis and ongoing care of young children with learning, behavioral, or communication challenges that co-occur with autism or neurogenetic conditions. Her patient care is informed by lived experience as a mother of two, one of whom has an intellectual disability due to Down syndrome. She works with families to develop holistic treatment plans that may include medication and other therapies to support their child’s wellness and ongoing development. With training from top institutions around New England (MIT, Tufts, Brown) and work experience at MGH and Harvard Medical school, Dr. Howe brings empathy and excellence to her clinical care. She is the recipient of Best of Boston 2022, 2023, and 2024 awards and has been actively involved in research, education, and advocacy work.

PLEASE pre-register so we can follow-up with friendly reminders closer to the meeting. Email Sarah Cullen at scullen@mdsc.org or Angela Lombardo at angela.lombardo@childrens.harvard.edu for more information!

We are here for you!

Team MDSC runs the 129th Boston Marathon

Monday, April 21st |

On April 21st, Team MDSC will take on the 26.2 trek from Hopkinton to Copley Square.

MDSC is a proud official charity of the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. Through this program, dozens of dedicated individuals have had the opportunity to fulfill their personal dream and run the Boston marathon in honor of people with Down syndrome.