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Volunteer with the DSA-NCR

Volunteers always needed!

The Down Syndrome Association is always looking for volunteers! Although we sometimes encounter a few glitches in mathcing up offers of help with positions, we will try our best to identify a role that matches your interests and abilities.

If you are interested, please contact us through the email address at info@dsancr.com. Thanks !

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Welcome to the Web Community

Welcome to the Down Syndrome Association - National Capital Region's web community. Join us to learn about issues, activities and resources relevant to those with Down Syndrome in the Ottawa and surrounding area. Please visit our Forums page where you can ask questions or respond to others, link to other web sites, find out information you need and lots more. But best of all you can develop and strengthen friendships with other members of our association.

Come see the new Our Community page...

 Portals/0/fixes.doc

Announcements and Events

DSA-NCR Members Family Swimming Event

EVENT:            DSA-NCR Members Family Swimming Event

DATE:              Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 3:30– 5:30pm           

LOCATION:       Deborah Anne Kirwan Public Pool (Next to Clifford Bowie Public School)

                        1300 Kitchener Street, Ottawa, Ont. K1V 6W2

COST:              Free to DSA-NCR members

DSA-NCR Volunteers will be on hand to coordinate this event but will not be responsible to supervise any children in the pool.

RSVP: Required to confirm availability ALL family members welcome

Please provide ALL participant names (incl. parents/guardians) and their appropriate ages

Invitation is open to members of DSA-NCR Members and their family

Maximum is 60; RSVP required

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1.      Parents and/or Guardians are required to supervise their own family members.

2.      4 Lifeguards will be on hand to monitoring

3.      DSA-NCR Volunteers will be on hand to coordinate the event; not to supervise the swimmers

4.      Beverages will be provided on-site

5.      Members are permitted to bring their own drinks and snacks.  Glass containers are prohibited.  No peanut foods are permitted on the premises.

6.      Confirmation will be based on those who RSVP first, up to the limit of the class size.

No cost!!!  This event is made available free of charge through your DSA-NCR membership.

RSVP is required: Marie Klobucar at socialevents@dsancr.com  or call (613) 299-2027 to confirm space availability.

 


Winter 2010 Newsletter Released!

DSA_Express_Header.gif
Tired of the long winter and looking for something to cheer you up? Check out the latest edition of our DS Express for some wonderful articles and exciting pictures...

 English    French

 Note that we are always looking for contributed articles for our newsletters. Please contact us if you have an idea!

 


Upcoming H'ART Show

At the Preston Square Show, we have over 100 paintings on exhibition. 

We invite all of you to the opening/vernissage at The Bagel Shop.  Please come out

and support the artists and help them celebrate their 6th year at The Bagel Shop.

 

Click here for addition show information.

 


Seminar Series on Privacy

A series of seminars are being offered through Reach Canada, March 12th and March 19th, 2010.  These seminars will be of interest to people with disabilities and their family members, community social and health service providers, lawyers who wish to be updated on these areas of law pertaining to persons with disabilities: Students, Trustees, beneficiaries, guardians, caregivers, government officials, agencies, community and businesses.

Download extra information and the registration form here. (PDF)

 


Walking in My Shoes

WIMS - "Walking in My Shoes"

Are you the parent/guardian of a child with a developmental delay?  Has your child been diagnosed with a developmental/physical disability?  Would you like to meet other parents of children with special needs?


WIMS IS A GROUP FOR PARENTS WHO COME TOGETHER FOR SUPPORT AND INFORMATION SHARING.

You are invited to attend a group get together once a month to meet parents who have similar concerns, experiences and feelings related to their child’s special needs.  At the group you will have the opportunity to meet, share information and learn about resources and processes from each other. A facilitator will be present to guide discussions and provide links to resources. There will be opportunities for guest speakers and family activities of interest at group members’ request.


When: 3rd Tuesday of each month (starting October 2009 until June 2010)
(Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec.15, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, March 16, April 20,May 18, June 15.)


Where: Centretown Community Health Centre,
420 Cooper Street (between Kent and Bank St.), Ottawa

Time: 6:30-8:30

For more information please call Janet Robinson at 613-841-1194 or email at wims_parents@hotmail.com

Please check website for speakers/ events www.wimsparents.ca

 


New Membership Application - 2010

Here are the latest versions of the membership forms. Please mail them into the address provided to help us keep our information current, even if you have already paid your membership fees for this year.

English Version    Version français

 

 


Adult Down Syndrome Medical Clinic

Notice:  The Adult Down Syndrome Medical Clinic in now located at:

333 Preston St.

Suite 601

Ottawa, ON  K1S 5N4

Telephone: 613-235-8079

Dr. Suzanne Rydzik sees individuals with Down syndrome over the age of 18 years.

* A referral is not necessary to schedule an appointment, although it is helpful.

 


Ontario makes Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) fully exempt!

On Nov 30th, the Goverment of Ontario agreed to make RDSP assets and withdrawls fully exempt such that they do not affect a person's disability pension. This is great news for the disabled community.

See Ontario's press release here.

See a description of the RDSP here.

Lifetime Networks hosts workshops on the Registered Disability Savings Plan. See their RDSPAdvisor site for details.

 

 


Gloucester Association for Children with Special Needs (GACSN) Opening
The Gloucester Association for Children with Special Needs (GACSN) is a group dedicated to providing Special Needs children with a fun Saturday afternoon of swimming, crafts, and meeting friends.

The group meets each Saturday afternoon from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Orleans Recreation Centre. From 1:00 to 2:30 the group goes swimming and then return to Hall D for crafts, games and music. The group also goes on various outings (movies, bowling, museums, etc) throughout the year.

A full group is 20 children with various special needs ranging in age from 8 years old to 25 years old. The program is staffed with a mixture of program staff and volunteers from local high schools and colleges and runs from mid September to June.

We are happy to let you know we have an opening right now and would love to have you join us.  For more info contact:  hannahirving at gmail.com.
 


DSA-NCR Environmental Scan and Strategic Planning Project
The DSA-NCR, with the help of Deloitte, has recently conducted an Environmental Scan and Strategic Planning Project. This major endeavour involved the participation of several board members and volunteers, and included a survey of past and present DSA-NCR members. This project has resulted in the following documents: Some of these files are very large (i.e. > 1M) 


Canadian Association for Community Living's Survey on Inclusion & Education
The Canadian Association for Community Living is conducting an online survey on inclusion and education. It would be great to include our experiences here in Ottawa in the survey. Please... fill it out. 


Genetic Screening and Information for Parents

GeneticScreening.jpg There is a growing debate over genetic screening for Down syndrome and the lack of information and councelling provided to parents who receive positive test results. See the following:

  • An article about a recent Panel Discussion on Genetic Screening and the lack of information given to parents.
  • The Campaign for Down syndrome blog has several commentaries and links to valuable information.
  • Consider signing the online petition stating that "Canada needs a Prenatal Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act". There are nearly 750 signatures already.
 


Past Events & Announcements

Disclaimer
The information provided on this site is current as of the date it was posted. The content is provided for information purposes only and is in no way intended to be a substitute for consultation with a qualified professional regarding your specific needs. Although we carefully review our content, we cannot guarantee nor take responsibility for its accuracy. We cannot assume any risk, liability or obligations for reliance on our site content or reliance on the content of any site linked to our site. There may be mistakes in the information presented. As the website is only updated on a periodic basis, the site may not contain the most recent information. Information and available support is in a constant state of change. We reserve the right to update or change information at any time. We do not endorse any other site or organization.We endeavor to maintain a strict policy of neutrality in regard to those organizations we include. In consideration for your use of this site, you agree that in no event will we or any other party or person involved in creating, producing or delivering this website (including any and/or all of its contents) or any site linked to this website, be liable to you in any manner whatsoever for any decision made or action or non-action taken by you in reliance upon the information provided. Please send notice of any mistakes, other corrections, additions, suggestions, and/or information to info@dsancr.com.