Specific Activities and Goals
Events and Intentions Current and Proposed
The Down Syndrome Society of Mobile County has been and strives to continue to be a force in our community positively impacting our world on behalf of those with Down syndrome and their families. The following will further expound on this organizations intentions and current/proposed activities.
As an organization, we strive to assist in meeting the needs for support to families of infants & small children with Down syndrome by providing educational materials and training, emotional support and networking opportunities. This has been done by distributing packets of related educational materials to hospitals and medical offices as well as through educational and support group meetings. We also have members who have made themselves available to answer questions and lend support to those seeking answers and support regarding issues pertaining to Down syndrome and those directly affected by the birth defect. As an extension of the afore-mentioned goal, we intend to continue facilitating and hosting educational & awareness meetings by accessing community programs and educated professionals.
We have held special events that serve to both enhance and /or educate our community while serving our members & their families. In the past few years there have been three Buddy Walk events and Awareness Fairs and/or Spring Events. We have held back-to-school celebration events, in which members had opportunity to discuss concerns for the upcoming school year and the issues related to their particular school while allowing the children to get some exercise swimming, playing and building friendships with other Down syndrome children and their siblings.
We have slated within the next eighteen to twenty-four (18-24) months of this application to move forward in better educating healthcare professionals on the nuances of caring for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, by implementing the “Changing Lives” Program designed by the NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society), as well as helping to insure that the most current medical research, techniques and equipment is available. Through the opportunity of The Changing Lives program we will also gain better knowledge of the medical community’s needs and be able to focus our fundraising efforts to help meet such needs. This program will require funding for materials, promotion and other forms of support for implementation. We currently have volunteers to do the training. The “Changing Lives” Program is currently on our agenda for implementation, pending funding.
We desire as long term goals, to see more community wide services available and to work with organizations that are also tax exempt to help build resources in our community. Some of the goals under the careful administration of duly authorized tax-exempt organization for this area will include help for the public schools and other government programs where Down syndrome children are currently overlooked due to lack of staff or appropriate tools as well as offering continued support and enhancement to programs currently in place for children & adults with Down syndrome.
