Welcome to this edition of the DS Support Newsletter!

Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful spring weather!

Don't forget to stop by the seminar planned for Tuesday. Timothy Curley has planned an information packed seminar about planning your child's financial future.

Jennifer
AKA Brandon and Ella's Mom

Save the Date for our May Meeting
May 24
Sign Language Seminar

Thanks to all who came out for the Family Bulls Outing. Fun was had by all and we created some awareness too. We also had our group name displayed at half time on the score board, great awareness even though they spelled it wrong.

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. WIN A COPY! To celebrate the release of this DVD, DS Support will be doing a drawing for a copy. Please send your name and address to info@dssupport.net and we will draw one name on May 9. Good Luck!

STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ONE STEP CLOSER TO COLLEGE WORK STUDY JOBS
Amendment to Higher Education Act Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
WASHINGTON, DC - March 30, 2006 An amendment introduced by Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) to HR 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005, will allow students with intellectual disabilities to obtain valuable, paid work experience in college work study jobs while pursuing postsecondary studies. The amendment, which passed on a voice vote on March 29, is a real breakthrough for the growing number of students with intellectual disabilities who participate in postsecondary programs at two and four-year colleges and universities. HR 609 is the bill that will reauthorize the Higher Education Act.

In introducing the amendment, Rep. Sessions stated, "My goal is to help make it possible for these students to achieve their higher education goals and attain gainful employment," Sessions continued. "Greater productivity through employment will provide students with intellectual disabilities opportunities for greater self-sufficiency, more independence, and the ability to save for retirement and long term care." Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and Rep. George Miller (D-CA), ranking Democrat on the Committee, both spoke in favor of the amendment. The amendment passed with strong bipartisan support.

Students with intellectual disabilities (mental retardation) have made significant progress under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Today, over 100 postsecondary programs are available (http://www.thinkcollege.net/), offering students academic, independent living and vocational education and training, but lacking access to financial aid. This amendment will help these students pay for their postsecondary expenses, obtain valuable employment experience, and prepare them for gainful employment in the community. Federal work-study funds to these students would be dispersed from current work-study resources and implemented at the discretion of higher education institutions.

"As a result of IDEA, students with intellectual disabilities have made great strides. The outcome they want--the finish line, if you will--is employment and independent living. This amendment will help these students reach the finish line,” said Madeleine Will, Vice President of Public Policy for the National Down Syndrome Society. “We are deeply grateful to Congressman Pete Sessions for his leadership, and to Congressmen McKeon and Miller for their support."

Due to provisions in the Higher Education Act, students with intellectual disabilities and their families usually are not able to access federal student financial aid (loans, grants, or work study). While school districts sometimes provide financial support, the largest source of funds is the students’ parents, who are already stretched thin financially. The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) celebrates the success of Congressman Sessions’s amendment to the College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005. NDSS strongly believes that students with intellectual disabilities should have access to postsecondary education, and the resulting employment and independent living opportunities, just as their non-disabled peers do.

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


NADS Conference
Rosemont
November 4, 2006
www.nads.org

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

Father Survey
Terre Graham, an assistant professor at Wichita State University in the special education department and Vice President for the Down
syndrome support group in
Wichita, KS, is currently doing research on "Fathers" since they are not as highly researched as
opposed to mothers and children with disabilities. There is a 50-item survey that looks at fathers reactions to their child's diagnosis of Down syndrome. The survey is completely anonymous as there is no
identifying information on it at all.

Surveys can be downloaded here:
Cover Letter
Survey
Both are word documents.

When completed please email the survey to teresa.graham@wichita.edu

or mail to:
Dr. Terre Graham
Wichita State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
1845 Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0028

Surveys need to be completed by May 15th.