Welcome
to this edition of the DS Support Newsletter!
See everyone
at the Bulls outing. There are still a few tickets left if you are interested
in this fun outing! See below for details.
Jennifer
Get
Ready to Rumble! -- Bulls Bus Trip
 |
DS
Support Bulls Family Outing
Grab the family for a bus trip to see the Bulls. Kids are on
spring break so come on out and have some fun.
March
28
Bus leaves at 5:30pm from GiGi's Playhouse Too, game starts at 7:30pm
Bulls vs. Orlando Magic
Tickets are $20 each. Kids under 2 are free (if they are
sitting on your lap)
The
bus is limited to the first 55 individuals.
You can purchase tickets only, you don't have
to ride the bus.
info@dssupport.net
or 815-439-8693 |
April
Meeting
Planning for
Lifetime Care of Your Special Needs Child
Meet a Special Needs Team for Information
on Financial, Legal and Social Issues
A team of experts who have assisted many families of loved ones with special
needs will provide you with important information to help you with the
financial, legal and social issues in caring for a special loved one.
WHEN: April 18, 2006
TIME: 7:00 PM
WHERE: GiGi’s Playhouse Too, 10052 S. Bode Rd,
Unit D, Plainfield, IL 60544
PANELISTS:
Timothy
Curley, Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch
Stephen M. Parlier,CFM, Vice President Sr. Financial Advisor Merrill
Lynch
Thomas A. O’Donnell, Jr., O’Donnell & Julian, Ltd,
Attorneys At Law
Click
here for a PDF flyer
Please RSVP to info@dssupport.net
The
following books have been added to the DS Support Library and can be checked
out...
- Changed
by a Child, by Barbara Gill
- Where's
Chimpy? by Berniece Rabe
- Count
Us in. Growing Up with Down Syndrome by Jason Kingsley and
Mitchell Levitz
- DVD
- DISCOVERY Pathways to Better Speech for Children with Down
Syndrome
Articles
seen on the Web...
The
Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles Applauds FOX’s Decision
on the “R” Word
March 10, 2006
Los Angeles, CA – Peter Ligouri, President of FOX Broadcasting Network
will lock out the word “retarded” from Fox Productions according
to Lawrence Jacobs, General Counsel of Fox Entertainment Group and News
Corp in New York in a response to the Down Syndrome Association of Los
Angeles (DSALA).
Public demand has brought FOX to this decision. The National Down Syndrome
Society in New York received phone calls from concerned parents about
a promo airing during FOX’s top grossing show “American Idol”
for the upcoming comedy series “The Loop.” The promo
included the statement “you have a retarded squirrel look on your
face.” NDSS alerted Gail Williamson, Executive Director of
the DSALA and long time media advocate for people with disabilities. Williamson
contacted Lawrence Jacobs who had come to her aid on a previous media
issue. Jacobs’ concern got the studio to pull the promo, but
was told it was too late to re-edit the first episode of “The Loop”
due to premiere on Wednesday, March 15th following “American Idol.”
The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), the National Down Syndrome
Congress (NDSC) and the Arc of the U.S. have fought this fight before
but never has a studio heard and responded to their concerns with such
a definitive response. Jacobs reported that Ligouri felt if the
use of the word offended a group of people this much it should be left
out of any program they produce. Williamson and the DSALA have been
campaigning to keep the word “retarded” from being used in
the media to slam someone or something for many years. She reports
“the word exists on the medical charts of over 2 million people
word wide trying to fit into their communities participating in education,
employment, living, worship and recreation opportunities; it is extremely
dangerous to use it as derogatory term. This casual use of the word meant
to offend can escalate to isolation, segregation and even abuse of people
with intellectual disabilities.”
Jon Colman, NDSS Acting Director, applauds Ligouri for this groundbreaking
decision. “NDSS is pleased with Fox’s response and hopes
that other studios and networks will review how their Standards and Practices
Departments govern the use of the word as well” said Colman.
From
NDSS:
POLICY CENTER
UPDATE
Together we are capable of great things. This past week 9,963 email messages
were sent to the Department of Education, senators, and representatives
in support of the NDSS/NDSC recommendations for the upcoming IDEA Paperwork
Waiver and Multi-Year IEP Demonstration Programs (pilots). Credit goes
to the thousands of dedicated parents who took the time to show policymakers
that they are paying attention and remind them that they vote. This success
would not have been possible without the many affiliates who forwarded
the NDSS and NDSC alerts to their members and allies. We were also reminded
of the tremendous value of our collaborative relationship with NDSC and
with the other disability organizations and list serves that sent out
our alert, including Wrightslaw. Thank you to all who contributed to this
campaign we are impressed, and no doubt the Department of Education is
impressed as well.
LIFE GOES
ON-THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON DVD RELEASE
Life Goes On-The Complete First Season will be released on DVD on May
9, 2006. Pre-order your copy at major retailers today and stay tuned for
more Life Goes On news from NDSS in the coming weeks.
|
2006
Chicago Area Calendar
GiGi's
Playhouse 3rd Annual 5K Fun Run/1 mile Walk
Sunday June 11, 2006
9am
Busse Woods
www.gigisplayhouse.com
DS Support 4th Annual
Buddy Walk
Sunday Oct 8, 2006
1 pm
Walker Park • Burr Ridge
www.dssupport.net/buddywalk
National
Events
34th
NDSC National Convention
July
21-23, 2006
Atlanta
www.ndsccenter.org/
9th
World Down Syndrome Congress
August
22-26,
2006
Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre
www.wdsc2006.com/
SAVE
THE DATE
The date
and place has been announced for the 2006 DS Support Buddy Walk!
We've moved to a new place
with great amenities and a playground for the kids. Our committee is busy
planning the best Buddy Walk yet! Stay tuned for more details in upcoming
newsletters and start getting your teams organized! Online
registration will start in June.
DS
Support Buddy Walk
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Walker Park, Burr Ridge, IL
www.dssupport.net/buddywalk |
