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News:

• Friday, July 19th.  5th Annual DSAHV Golf Outing at The Links at Unionvale in Dutchess County.  Enjoy a fun filled day of golf while supporting a great cause.   **Sponsors are welcome.  Please contact DSAHV info@dsahv.org if you wish to discuss. Download the flyer here. Download the Brochure Here. Registration form is now online !! Click Here. You can even use PayPal to make your payment !!
   
• Fall applications currently accepted for Mansfield Hall, www.mansfieldhall.org. Mansfield Hall is in the heart of Burlington, Vermont and is an inclusive residential post-secondary program for students who have the potential for college study, but need additional adaptive support to be successful. We help students enroll and participate in one of the many local colleges in Burlington, such as the Community College of Vermont, University of Vermont, Champlain College, etc, and work toward attaining their desired degree.
   
• The Developmental Disabilities Lab at Queens College invites parents or caregivers of a school-age child with Down syndrome to participate in a study to evaluate whether a behavior analytic assessment and treatment package will help reduce or alleviate Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors and teach them more appropriate alternatives.  Please see the attached flyer for more details and contact information. Download the Flyer Here.
   
• Down Syndrome Test  - The pamphlet prepared by the National Down Syndrome Congress and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is for pregnant women who are considering, or who have had, prenatal testing for Down syndrome. It provides important information about prenatal testing and facts about Down syndrome.
   
• ClemsonLIFE: Learning Is For Everyone, a College Experience for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities is now accepting applications for fall 2013.  ClemsonLIFE is a post-secondary program for young adults with intellectual disabilities at Clemson University in Clemson, SC.  More information on applying to the program can be found on our website.
   
• Ablenetinc.com is a resource to find assistive technology products and curriculum solutions.  The website contains many valuable tools for those families utilizing technologies such as iPads.  There are also many online webinars which provide free instruction on a variety of apps for the iPad. 
   
• Bridgingapps.org was founded by a mother of an eight year old with Down syndrome.  The website provides great info regarding the use of iPads for those with developmental challenges and lists some specific apps such as iAdvocate.  iAdvocate can provide immediate and specific responses during a CSE meeting when officials try to deny access to services. For example during a district meeting when the school states "the academic gap is too large for your child to be educated in a general ed setting" the App gives a specific response such as " according to the IDEA, discrepancy in cognitive level cannot be the sole determining factor in placement”.  
   
• Now Open: Zylofone Performing Arts Center for the Special Needs Community. Ages 7-17 are welcome, locations throughout Orange County. Workshops include acting and improv, dance and movement, vocal and instruments. Registration open for November and December classes. See www.zylofone.org for more information and registration forms.
  ** Fee Sheet ** Registration Form ** Brochure ** Classes **
   
• National Institute of Health (NIH) To Launch Down Syndrome Registry. A national registry is in the works to help connect people with Down syndrome and researchers studying the chromosomal disorder. The database will offer individuals with Down syndrome and their families a secure website to enter their contact details and health information so that they can connect with researchers to participate in studies. The platform will also allow participants to confidentially compare their experience with that of others who have the developmental challenge. Follow the developments of the registry at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: www.nichd.nih.gov
   
• Healthy Kids Program. Website Here.
   
• UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation - The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is accepting applications for grants that provide funding to children who need critical medical treatment, services or equipment not covered or not fully covered by their parents’ health benefits plans. Types of services covered by the grants include (but are not limited to) speech therapy, physical therapy, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and prescriptions. Awards of up to $5,000 per applicant are available.
  • Eligibility: Children 16 years old and under. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States, and be covered by a commercial health benefit plan.
  • Funding: Up to $5,000 per grant.
  • Deadline: Applications accepted on a continual basis.
  • Contact: See application for details. Visit: http://www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html
     
• The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) are developing a new waiver application that will allow them to redesign their social service service system. The waiver, known as the People First Waiver, is an opportunity to develop community-based services for everyone, in which services are planned and delivered according to each individual¹s unique needs and abilities.  Visit the People First Waiver web page HERE.
  Parents are invited to submit comments at 1-866-946-9733 or via email to people.first@opwdd.ny.gov
   
• College Options Nationwide for People with Intellectual Disabilities - Think College

• Webinars:
  • Archived National Down Syndrome Society Webinars for Review