So you wanna Dash with Nash? 2009 DSI Buddy Walk® -Indy- October 10th!

The 2009 DSI Buddy Walk is Saturday, October 10th, 2009 Celebration Plaza, White River State Park - Downtown Indianapolis Join Team Dash with Nash! We are taking part in the Buddy Walk®, as an affliate of the National Down Syndrome Society, to raise money for Down Syndrome Indiana, an organization near and dear to our hearts. The Buddy Walk® has three primary goals: * To promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome* To raise funds locally and nationally for education, research and advocacy programs, and; * To enhance the position of the Down syndrome community, enabling us to positively influence local and national policy and practice. Please join our team and/or make a donation by visiting DASH WITH NASH You can donate online with a credit card or shoot me an email and send a check via snail mail, but it needs to be in by October 3rd to go to our team total. For more information about the Buddy Walk click here Thank you!

Its Buddy Walk Time!

* Down Syndrome Indiana 2008 Buddy Walk * Saturday, October 11, 2008 * Dear Friends and Family: It’s Buddy Walk Time! For those not aware, DSI (formerly the Indiana Down syndrome Foundation) is an organization that is committed to assisting and supporting individuals with Down syndrome, along with their families, and realizing the potential of all people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk is designed to promote awareness and inclusion for people with Down syndrome, as well as to raise money to support national education, research and advocacy initiatives. Needless to say, it promotes a cause that is close to our hearts. To Join the Dash with Nash Team and walk with us October 11th click here and click on “Join Dash with Nash”. You don’t have to donate to Walk, but you can donate! (Ignore the “personal goal” part, not sure why that is there) click on “personal donation” and go from there. If you can’t walk, click here to donate. Click on “Donate to Dash with Nash” If you choose to donate please make sure they it is in before SEPTEMBER 25TH so we can count it toward our team goal! We will be combining all teams from White River Elementary to Walk on Oct 11th- Hoping to see you all on October 11th and if we don’t, thank you for your support and generosity. With warmest regards, Jeff, Jan, Nash and Seger Huffman email: jehjms@yahoo.com Down Syndrome Indiana

Down Syndrome Indiana Statement on Inclusion and use of the “R” Word

In response to the friends and family of those at Down Syndrome Indiana, the Executive Committee of Down Syndrome Indiana has issued a statement on the organization’s stance on inclusion and the use of the “R” word: Down Syndrome Indiana Statement on Inclusion and use of the “R” Word (August 13, 2008) Down Syndrome Indiana is committed to supporting individuals with Down syndrome throughout their lifetime by promoting self advocacy, inclusion and participation in the community and increasing positive public awareness. Down Syndrome Indiana will use this unfortunate event, the premier of the movie, Tropic Thunder, to bring attention to the larger issues at hand. Those issues are inclusion of individuals with disabilities, especially those with Down syndrome and the eradication of hate speech or the use of the “R” word. As an organization, we support and encourage our families to write to their local papers and let them know that the “R” word is offensive, hurtful and considered hate speech. We encourage families to write to local school officials to let them know that with the release of the film, Tropical Thunder, students may come to school wearing merchandise that has the word, “retard” on it. We believe that this hurtful language is offensive and has no place in schools. We request that school officials do not allow this merchandise to be worn. The release of the movie shows how much real work needs to be done to make sure that individuals with Down syndrome are included in society. The resources of this organization will be put to use focusing on the major issues of inclusion and people first language and the support of our self advocates during this hurtful time. Down Syndrome Indiana supports the larger Down syndrome community as well as the larger disability rights community. We therefore strive to work with and support other organizations to promote inclusion and positive portrayal of individuals with disabilities. Following the issuance of this statement, Down Syndrome Indiana will provide talking points that can be used when writing to local school administrators or local editors. What we do not want to do at this time is promote the movie. We want to promote inclusion and the eradication of hate speech.

Remembering Annette and the 2007 Indiana Buddy Walk

Today is the 6 month Anniversary of our friend Annette's death. In honor of Annette, I submitted an article for our DSI Buddy Walk Newsletter, as the request was to provide an article about what the Buddy Walk meant to our families. While I could have written about how I brought Nash to our first Buddy Walk in 2001 when he was 6 months old, and I was just overpowered with anxiety, fear and joy and all of the aforementioned emotions, I chose to write about one magical Buddy Walk; last year in October of 2007. My draft: Buddy Walk 2007 and Memories of Annette Our family consists of three, plus a few hundred or so, since the birth of our son Nash in February 2001 thanks to the members of the IDSF, now DSI family, and those we have met via internet support boards. When Nash was born, and his diagnosis of Trisomy 21 official, we bought books, cried a bunch, loved on our son, and went on-line. My support was my loving husband Jeff, our families, a box of tissues and a group of gals originally on a parentsplace.com Down syndrome board, which later evolved into the tri21online.com discussion group. On this board, I was able to somewhat covertly discuss my fears, dreams and issue-of-the-day, share my love of internet research and my findings to all those that will listen, make some friendships that still, to this day, feel stronger than genetic family ties. The strength of the bond among those of us with children with Down syndrome is inexplicable to those not officially members of our exclusive club; those with a family member with Down syndrome. The strength of this bond was evident at the 2007 Buddy Walk. Annette Lammer and her husband Tom became friends with Jeff and me via the internet in early 2001 when Annette and I met on-line. Their son Ryan also has Down syndrome and is Nash’s age, born within a week of each other. Our friendship grew as we shared triumphs and disappointments, and finally met each other in person. These meetings are known as “IRL’s” in the online communities, or “In Real Life” meetings. The IRL’s were held in various locals, and the last one with Annette was at our home in Indiana for the 2007 Buddy Walk. We had over 80 people attend the IRL at our house in Noblesville after the Buddy Walk from all over the country, including Annette and family from Canada. But I knew this was much more than an IRL. It was a gathering of friends for Annette who all share that special bond of having a child with Down syndrome, as we didn’t know how long we would be blessed with her friendship and presence here on earth. Annette was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in February 2006, five years from when her son Ryan was born. She passed away on December 16, 2007, just two months after that wonderful gathering at the Buddy Walk. So you see, the Buddy Walk is a special event for many of us; a place to gather family, friends and those special in our lives. It’s for educators, therapists, friends and family to show their support for Down syndrome Awareness. It’s an event to celebrate, and for us that knew Annette, to remember. And we will be doing just that for the 2008 Buddy Walk in Indianapolis. Celebrating and remembering. We hope you all join us! Annette at the 2007 Buddy Walk- God Speed Annette, we miss you. Annette and family on the right at the end Please leave a link to your Buddy Walk or IRL experience in your response for us to enjoy, expecially if it pertains to our much loved, much missed Annette.

Noblesville principal awarded DSI STAR award

Nash's principal, Mr. Bob Harvey, was awarded the DSI STAR award and there is a write up in our paper. Its a great award to promote those in your community that promote inclusion! Oh, I got one too. hee ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Noblesville principal awarded DSI STAR Submitted by Lisa Tokarz-Gutierrez Posted: May 29, 2008 Bob Harvey and Lisa Tokarz-Gutierrez Noblesville's White River Elementary principal Bob Harvey was recognized by Down Syndrome Indiana (DSI) at the DSI (formerly the Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation) annual meeting May 7th. Harvey received a 2008 STAR award, which honors individuals, corporations, or groups whose long term achievements and/or contributions further the Down Syndrome Indiana mission. DSI is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and holds as it's stated mission " to serve as a conduit of information, support and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, to promote growth and inclusion in the community." Harvey is a shining example of a principal who works with parents, teachers, and support staff - all in the best interest of the child- in order to achieve a successful, inclusive educational environment, according to the DSI award nomination. His motto is "Every Child, Every Day --Challenge and Success! " Other recipients of the 2008 DSI STAR award include Dr. John Brown, Dr. Mark Turrentine ,Cynthia Cobb, Beth DeHoff, Bob Gatto & the Texas Roadhouse, The Ray Glowner Family, Mark Hublar, Jan Steck Huffman, Robbin Lyons, Midwest Orthotics, Dr. Kathleen Stanton-Nichols, and Dr. Brian Skotko. For more information about Down syndrome or DSI events go to www.indianadsf.org Lisa Tokarz-Gutierrez, Executive director of Down Syndrome Indiana. Contact Tokarz-Gutierrez at (317) 925-7617.

Annual Meeting with Brian Skotko as speaker.

Our Indiana Down syndrome Foundation now known as Down Syndrome Indiana, held its annual meeting last week. Our featured speaker was Brian Skotko. Nash was quite fond of him.