Welcome to this edition of the Down Syndrome Support Newsletter!

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year and winding down from their busy holiday season! We have a great speaker and a hot topic choosen for our January meeting. Wendy has offered to educate us on IEPs and what we need know about them as our children transition to preschool. The meeting will take place at the Plainfield Library.

See you soon,
Jennifer
aka 'Brandon's Mom'

If you have a story, event, or happening email it to info@dssupport.net and we can include it in the next edition.

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NADS Bowl-A-Thon
Sunday, March 7, 2003
Stardust Bowl
Addison, IL
11 am
www.nads.org
Information and pledge sheets will be available at the January Meeting.

Calendar updates can be found at www.dssupport.net/local_happenings.html

Know of an event or other news? Email info@dssupport.net for inclusion in the next newsletter.

DS Support donates books to Plainfield Library
DS Support has purchased two books, Common Threads and Hi, I'm Ben, and donated them to the Plainfield Library. Common Threads is a wonderful collections of essays and inspiration stories about people with Down syndrome. It also contains wonderful photography of individuals who have Down syndrome. Hi, I'm Ben is written for children to help them understand their friend or sibling who has Down syndrome.

These and other great titles are available at the Plainfield Library. For more information, please call the Plainfield Public Library at 815.436.6639

If you know of any other books you think we should donate, please let us know at info@dssupport.net.

DVD for new parents
DS Support has purchased a copy of Down Syndrome the First 18 months If you would like to borrow the DVD please let me know at the next meeting. You will be expected to return the DVD within 2 weeks. This is a great resource for new parents.

Member News

We have two stars!

Jamie and her daughter, Mackenzie, were in the Herald News. Their photo appeared along with an article about Child and Family Connections. The article can be see here.

Brandon was recently on the Channel 7 News. The story is about the opening of GiGi's playhouse, and the clip can be viewed here. Also, Brandon gave his parents an early Christmas Present, he took his first couple of independent steps. Yeah Brandon!

Crockett riders fighting for a cause of their own
 
By Amy Dorsett
San Antonio Express-News
 
BASTROP — In November 1835, Davy Crockett set out from his home in Tennessee to fight for Texas freedom at the Alamo. (Kevin Geil/Express-News)

Phil Thomas and companions ride through Bastrop. Thomas is following Davy Crockett's path from Tennessee to Texas.

This November, Tennessee-based country songwriter Phil Thomas set out to loosely re-create Crockett's ride and fight for a different kind of freedom: for respect of those with Down syndrome, such as his grandson.

Thomas, 59, has long been a Crockett fan.

So when he decided to help his grandson Van Warden, a 14-year-old from Austin, it seemed natural to do something Crockett-related to raise awareness and respect for people with the chromosomal disorder, in hopes society might be less judgmental, more welcoming.

The trip doesn't exactly re-create Crockett's travels. The politician-turned-folk hero traveled on horseback through wilderness, and the journey lasted more than three months.

Thomas and two friends are traveling in a recreational vehicle, pulling their horses for trail rides along the way and subsisting on a diet of sardines and Slim Fast. And with the help of modern, paved roads and autos, their trip will take about half as long.

When Thomas asked his son-in-law, singer and songwriter Monte Warden, how he could help his grandson, Warden suggested he spread the word about Down syndrome and help defeat myths about those with the disorder.

Thomas took up the challenge.

On Nov. 1, Thomas, a hand-made coonskin cap atop his head, set off with two friends on a slow journey to the Alamo.

The trio is stopping in 31 counties or parishes along the way and leading trail rides in each community, encouraging riders to donate $1 per mile for the cause.

The ride is set to leave from the San Antonio intersection of Gembler Road and Kono Drive at 9 a.m. Sunday and arrive at the Alamo around noon. Riders are encouraged to join them in the morning, and supporters, especially those with Down syndrome, are urged to join in the celebration at the Alamo.
On Thursday morning, the group gathered on a ranch to ride, and attracted several people who took the day off to participate.

"Things have been going great," Thomas said. "We can smell the Alamo from here."
Between night shifts as a security coordinator for a Travis County jail, Ruth Sanchez came out Thursday morning to take part in the ride.

"It's a very, very good cause," she said. "My heart goes out to these kids. It's a great way to bring awareness."
Rusty Rodgers took a day off work so he could participate.

"It has something to do with horses and outdoors and awareness of Down syndrome," said Rodgers, outfitted in Wranglers, chaps and spurs. "I thought it was worth my time."

Thomas, Burt Leonard and William Daniel, who started at Davy Crockett State Park in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., set up camp between trial rides.

Leonard, 40, took unpaid leave from his government job so he could help Thomas.
"As a Texan, I thought it was important to help tie Tennessee and Texas together again," said Leonard, who used to live in Tarrant County and now lives in Tennessee. "It's a matter of leading by example."
Van Warden came from Austin to watch his grandfather set off on horseback. He had one word to describe what he thought of the two-month trip.

"Great," he said, a smile spreading across his face.

Van's father, Monte Warden, said he hopes the journey will enlighten others about those with Down syndrome.

"I'm so touched by it. Folks like Van are functioning, contributing members of society," he said. "He'll have a job and pay taxes and make his way in the world. That's important for people to know."
For more information about the ride, visit www.davycrockettcharityride.org.
adorsett@express-news.net