Help make technology more accessible for people with Down syndrome! Please note this webinar has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 16th!
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*
The MDSC Grandparent Zooms are an opportunity to share and connect with other grandparents, learn about MDSC resources and feel supported and inspired!
To register, please reach out to MDSC Family Support Director, Sarah Cullen at scullen@mdsc.org.
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.
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!
Playgroup for families whose child with Ds is ages 8 – 12. Lunch will be served!
**NOTE: Due to space limitations, max of 4 people per family and every person must wear socks
The Down Syndrome-Autism Connection, an affiliate of MDSC, invites all families affected by Down syndrome and autism, including families who recently got an autism diagnosis, to join them for their regular Zoom chat the last Wednesday of every month at 8pm.
Now, to be able to serve families best, the DSAC is breaking out these monthly chats by age group — Up to 10, 11-17, and Over 18. With monthly meeting cycling through these three age groups, each cohort will now meet quarterly, from September to May. Mark your calendars!
Last month, MDSC was proud to recognize National Family Caregivers Month and the incredible dedication, fortitude and compassion of all those who provide critical support for their family members with disabilities. (It is estimated that 53 million people in the U.S. support a loved one with disabilities.)
Now, we are pleased to launch next month a new MDSC Caregiver Support Group. This virtual support group is specifically for parents and caregivers of aging loved ones with Down syndrome who are experiencing cognitive changes, including dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. This group provides information, resources, emotional support, and a space for connection with others navigating similar challenges.
We understand just how much caregivers give to ensure that their loved one can be safe, happy and thriving at home and in their communities. Being a caregiver can be a 24-hour job, and while nothing can be more rewarding, we know that caregiving can be challenging — physically, emotionally and financially.
The group will be held virtually on the first Tuesday of the month at 6pm, starting January 7th. For more information, see our flier here or contact Brooke Harvey at bharvey@mdsc.org or 781-221-0024 x207.
Does your teen or adult loved one with Down syndrome also have a mental health diagnosis such as Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder? Often these illnesses bring on a change in daily living skills, mood, or interest in activities once enjoyed. Seeing these changes and regression in your loved one can be very difficult.
Please note that individualized psychiatric treatment will not be provided at this meeting. This meeting is meant to serve as a venue for families with loved ones with Down syndrome and mental health concerns so that they may obtain mutual support with professional supervision.
Please email mentalhealth@mdsc.org to register or for more information.
The Down Syndrome-Autism Connection, an affiliate of MDSC, invites all families affected by Down syndrome and autism, including families who recently got an autism diagnosis, to join them for their regular Zoom chat the last Wednesday of every month at 8pm.
Now, to be able to serve families best, the DSAC is breaking out these monthly chats by age group — Up to 10, 11-17, and Over 18. With monthly meeting cycling through these three age groups, each cohort will now meet quarterly, from September to May. Mark your calendars!
The Down Syndrome-Autism Connection, an affiliate of MDSC, invites all families affected by Down syndrome and autism, including families who recently got an autism diagnosis, to join them for their regular Zoom chat the last Wednesday of every month at 8pm.
Now, to be able to serve families best, the DSAC is breaking out these monthly chats by age group — Up to 10, 11-17, and Over 18. With monthly meeting cycling through these three age groups, each cohort will now meet quarterly, from September to May. Mark your calendars!
