THE 37th NDSC NATIONAL CONVENTION
July 31-August 2, 2009 • Sacramento, California

After our 2008 trip to Boston, we’re heading West! Next year’s annual “family reunion” will be in the heart of gold rush country, Sacramento, California. Hotel information should be posted soon, so check back often.

Ever wonder what an NDSC Convention looks like? Susan Dunbar has shared a link to nearly 600 photos she took at the 2008 event. You may view them, and if desired purchase copies, at the Kodak Gallery site.

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Growing Seeds of Change – Family Fun Day
Denver, Colorado

August 3, 2008

The Denver Botanic Gardens announced today that the inaugural Growing Seeds of Change – Down Syndrome Family Fun Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, 2008. This action-packed event is sponsored by The Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund and all activities are included with general admission.

Families won't want to miss this fun day that includes thematic areas featuring characters from popular books for young people including Alice in Wonderland, Cat in the Hat and Harry Potter.

Each area includes a celebrity book reading, including one by Former Colorado First Lady Frances Owen, hands-on activities and an opportunity for families to have their photograph taken with costumed characters. In addition, families can enjoy savory desserts, botanical treasure hunts, flower pot painting, planting stations, and live performances of Milkshake at Mitchell Hall. All activities are included with general admission.

"The Family Fun Day will provide a meaningful and fun way to help change attitudes and educate people about diversity and differences, especially when it comes to Down syndrome," said Brian Vogt, CEO of Denver Botanic Gardens." Growing those seeds of change in young minds is an important step and we are pleased that we can take that step on the grounds of the Gardens"

"Denver Botanic Gardens is a dream space for an event like this," Michelle Sie Whitten, Chair of the Advisory Board of The Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund and Executive Director of Anna and John J. Sie Foundation said. "Through our families we are able to bring a lot of new families to one of Denver's greatest cultural facilities and it gives us an opportunity to raise awareness for some wonderfully worthy causes." For more information about Growing Seeds of Change - Family Fun Day, contact Will Jones/Denver Botanic Gardens, jonesw@botanicgardens.org at 720-865-3552 or Michelle Root/Anna and John J. Sie Foundation, mroot@ajsfoundation.com at 303-468-6663.

ABOUT THE SPONSORS...

Denver Botanic Gardens

Rooted a mile high, Denver Botanic Gardens has been a favorite Denver destination for over 55 years, and is considered to be one of the top botanic gardens in the American West. Art and science unite in the Gardens' spectacular urban oasis, offering an unforgettable artistic garden experience for the whole family, as well as a living laboratory for education and plant conservation programs. Additional sites at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, a 750-acre wildlife and native plant refuge in Littleton; MountGoliath, a high altitude trail and interpretive site on the Mount Evans Scenic Byway; and CentennialGardens, a five-acre formal garden with a Colorado native plant palette in downtown Denver, extend this experience throughout the Front Range. Denver Botanic Gardens is located at 1005 York Street in Denver, Colorado. Visit us at www.botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3500 for more information. Denver Botanic Gardens thanks the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District.

The Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund

The Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund is a donor advised fund at The Denver Foundation. The Fund's mission is to significantly improve the lives of people with Down syndrome through targeted education of caregivers, professionals, philanthropists, government and community leaders and the general public. The Fund's vision is to change the paradigm of how people with Down syndrome are perceived by society so that they are valued and integral in their schools, jobs and communities. The Fund supports many local organizations providing services to people with Down Syndrome including: Colorado State University, Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic, Down Syndrome Educational Trust (UK), Mile High Down Syndrome Association and University of Denver.

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NADD/Ohio State 6th Annual MH/MR Conference

September 3-4, 2008

This event, “Mental Health Aspects: Treatment and Support” will be held at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North Hotel in Columbus, OH. See www.thenadd.org for more information.

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New York Association on Independent Living 2008 Conference

Albany, New York
September 8-10, 2008

A variety of workshops pertaining to independent living will be offered at this event. Early registration ends August 11th, but you can still register afterwards. For more information call 518/465-4650 or contact info@ilny.org. For periodic program updates visit www.ilny.org.

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BE BEAUTIFUL BE YOURSELF JET SET FASHION SHOW
(Broomfield, Colorado)

September 27, 2008

The Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Educational Fund and the ARC Thrift Stores of Colorado are joining efforts for this exciting inaugural event. Seating is limited, so act quickly to ensure your participation. To learn more about this event, Call Michelle Root at 303/468-6663 or visit www.coloradojetset.org.

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Buddy Cruise

October 17-20, 2008

NDSC affiliate FRIENDS-Support, Inc. hosts a 3 night “Buddy Cruise” to the Bahamas aboard the Sovereign of the Seas. The trip, which leaves from Port Canaveral, FL, features 2008 NDSC keynoters Jason and Emily Perl Kingsley, as well as Sujeet Desai, Nikole Whitehead, and NDSC Professional Advisory Council member Dr. Sindoor Desai. Click here for more information.

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NADD 25th Annual Conference

November 12-14, 2008

“A Quarter Century of Awareness: Assessment, Treatment and Policy Advances (ID/MH)” will be held at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, ON, Canada. Visit www.thenadd.org for more details.

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TASH 2008: Social Justice in the 21st Century

December 3-6, 2008

The annual TASH convention will be held at the Nashville Convention Center and Renaissance Hotel. For more information visit www.tash.org/2008tash.

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