DSAWM

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DSAWM Kalamazoo Holiday Party

DSAWM Kalamazoo Holiday Party

Saturday, December 2
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Oshtemo Community Center
All Ages

Mark your calendars! Our DSAWM Kalamazoo Member Holiday Party will be hosted on Saturday, December 2 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm! This is a free gathering for all of our members to come and celebrate the holiday season!  This event will offer games, crafts, and opportunities for fellowship with other members. DSAWM will be providing lunch and refreshments!  We hope to see you there!

Register Here!

DSAWM Holiday Party

Red flannel background with photos of individuals with Down syndrome at a holiday party, text reads Member Holiday Party, DSAWM logo in lower right corner

DSAWM Holiday Party

Sunday, December 10
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
SOMI Main Gym
All Ages

*Please park in the West Parking Lot of the building and enter by the gym doors.

Mark your calendars! Our annual DSAWM Holiday Party will be hosted on Sunday, December 10 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm! This is a free gathering for all of our members to come and celebrate the holiday season!  Our event this year will be a holiday PJ party! We are asking everyone to bring their favorite dip (last names A-L) or dessert (last names M-Z) to share– bring food that is a party favorite! DSAWM will be providing cookies and drinks (including a hot chocolate bar!). There will be plenty of fun activities for all ages that will celebrate the holidays in a cozy environment! We will even have a visit from Santa Claus himself!

Register Here!

Potty Learning Workshop

Potty Learning Workshop

Wednesday, November 15th
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

SOMI Building

Our Potty Learning Workshop, hosted by Marjorie Hayward, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA, will help guide parents on potty readiness, skills to create success, and strategies to navigate pushback from their child.  This 2-hour long focused workshop will run in tandem with programming for our youngest members so that parents can enjoy the workshop while their young children enjoy art and dance with our programming staff.  We will also be providing dinner!

Register Here!

21 Shades – Endless Summer Party

21 Shades Endless Summer Party

Saturday, August 26
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Fellinlove Farm
All Ages

Join the 21 Shades support group for a day at Fellinlove Farm!  Come and interact with animals including llamas, horses, and goats at this fun farm!  DSAWM will cover the suggested donation and provide refreshments for this event.

REGISTER HERE!

21 Shades is a support group for families of color and multicultural/multiracial families who are part of the West Michigan Down syndrome community. Gatherings and opportunities to connect are offered frequently for families to share their experiences and discuss topics relevant to the intersection of Down syndrome and race.

Friends Just Like Me

Friday, October 6th
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Grand Rapids Children’s Museum in Grand Rapids

Friends Just Like Me is a free social gathering for children with Down syndrome and their families at the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. Join us for fun activities and to meet other families with children with Down syndrome at this private event!

If you plan to attend, please register here!

Chatting With Allie

Allie Cowden is a self-described busy lady. When she’s not studying for her college class or downhill skiing at Cannonsburg Ski Resort, she splits her time between her CLS program and three jobs. One of those positions is as an Intern here at the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan. Allie began interning with DSAWM over two years ago and has been a valuable part of the team ever since. DSAWM staff recently sat down with Allie to ask her about her daily routine and living life as a young adult with Down syndrome.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies are downhill skiing, staying busy, working at Cookie Chicks, Shape-Up class, swimming, reading, dancing, hanging out with my friends, being with my family, and working at the Down Syndrome Association and McDonald’s.

What do you like about working?

I like to work on office work and different tasks at the Down Syndrome Association on Tuesdays. I also work at Cookie Chicks. I make the cookies and I do the fruit bouquets and sell those to the customers there and sometimes we do the deliveries. And I have a business card that says I’m the Production Manager. I go there every Monday. I work at McDonald’s and I clean the lobby-dining area. My favorite job is at Cookie Chicks because we listen to music while we are working. And we also make cookies and fruit bouquets. And it is tons of fun being there. And I like communicating with my coworkers while we are doing something together. Sometimes we make messes and at the end we clean everything and put stuff away where it belongs.

What programs would you like to see offered at the Down Syndrome Association?
Buddy Up tennis, Cooking Capers, Dance class, Shape-Up class, Yoga and Meditation Classes.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

Every Monday I have Shape Up class. On Thursdays I have a college class at Noorthoek Academy and I have CLS. We do fun activities in the community like going to the library. We also work on my goals. My goals are cooking, money management, and socializing with friends. We talk about relationship building with others too. On Fridays I do exercises at home and strength-training. I also relax at home. On Sundays I take downhill skiing lessons at Cannonsburg Ski Resort. It’s called CCSA.  I‘ve also been selected to be in the 2018 Fashion Show this year. I’m a busy lady.

How has your disability impacted you?

My disability has impacted my life. My friends have disabilities that have impacted their lives too. I love my disability because I have amazing friends who are supporting me and caring for me. They’re kind, caring, loving, and awesome. And we all like being unique, being creative, getting to know each other, collaborating with peers, and doing fun things. I accept my disability and my friends accept their disabilities.

What do you like about being a self-advocate?

I would like to be a public speaker just like Megan Bomgaars because she is a self-advocate too. She talks about Down syndrome. Her motto is, “Don’t limit me just because I have Down syndrome.” Advocate for yourself and don’t let other people tell you what to do. Let your voice be heard and show the world. Don’t let other people take away your power. Do things by yourself. Figure it out yourself and problem solve it!

What are your dreams and goals?

My goal is to grow as a team at Cookie Chicks. I also like communicating with the owner at the shop, but I need to improve on talking slower and not so fast. We set goals for each other and we also work on our time management. All of us at Cookie Chicks work to achieve our goals. I have different goals like food prep, household chores, daily living skills, community skills, transportation, and health and safety. That’s what I have for goals and me and my CLS are working on those goals. My dream is to move out and get a house with some of my friends. My dream job is to be a veterinarian’s helper and help with the animals, take care of them, play with them, and nurture them.

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Address

160 68th St. SW, Ste. 110
Grand Rapids, MI 49548
Located inside the Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center

Phone

616-956-3488

Hours

Monday – Thursday | 9:00am – 5:00pm

DSAWM is a proud member of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, an organization dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through Research, Medical Care, Education, and Advocacy.
DSAWM is a proud member of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, an organization dedicated to significantly improving the lives of people with Down syndrome through Research, Medical Care, Education, and Advocacy.
DSAWM is a member of Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action, an association of local, state, and regional Down syndrome organizations who share experiences, exchange program materials, and find ways to learn from each other.
DSAWM is a member of Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action, an association of local, state, and regional Down syndrome organizations who share experiences, exchange program materials, and find ways to learn from each other.

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