ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

1. New Parent Services:  Listed at area hospitals as a Down syndrome resource in Northeast Ohio so that we may provide information packets,  direction to National Down Syndrome Society assistance, and emotional support to new and expectant parents

2. Play Dates:  To expose kids with Ds to art, music, sports, theater, and education while enabling them to have fun and interact with typical children.

3. Trumbull Art Gallery:  Place teens with Ds into the Summerfest art program to learn, socialize, and explore the world of art with typical children.

4. Kent State Trumbull Theater:  Encourage appreciation of theater by attending Summer Stock Children’s productions, meeting and interacting with the performers, and exploring behind-the-scenes operations.

5. Focus Hippotherapy:  Familiarize folks with Down syndrome to horse therapy and provide funds to offset the cost for those who want to participate.

6. Lana Eisenbraun Scholarship Fund:  To provide financial means for those we serve to take enrichment classes from programs offered by outside sources.

7. Mom’s Night Out:  A monthly dinner gathering just for moms to relax and enjoy a little down time.

AWARENESS PROJECTS

 

1. Vacation Buddies:  A pilot project where children with Down syndrome visit  an elementary school classroom, discuss with them some Down syndrome facts, provide trade books to the school, and participate in a fun and exciting “pretend vacation”.  The activities, intended to leave a positive, lasting impression of acceptance and inclusion, will conclude with a brief report on what they learn about Down syndrome.

2. Essay Contest:  We are in the formative stages of establishing an annual essay contest aimed at promoting acceptance and raising Down syndrome awareness among high school students.

3. Special Needs Awareness With The NEO Disciples:  Along with Deryk Toles, the owner of Warren’s NEO football team The Disciples, we hold a Special Needs Awareness Fair at Mollenkopf Stadium during a Disciples football game.  We invite other local organizations that assist those with Special Needs in our community to distribute information about their services.

4. Advocacy Events:  Attend area functions like Noon In The Park, Concert On The Lawn, Special Needs Fair, etc. to offer information and raise awareness of our services.