Bring your favourite book and join us!

Reading is a fundamental skill that students must have to navigate their school experience and their later lives. Our public schools should be able to teach students to read (http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/right-read-terms-reference).  Yet, anecdotally, we know that a large number of student with Down syndrome are leaving the school system without the ability to read.  The Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton wants to change that.

As a part of a larger literacy programming plan, DSAH will begin to implement some immediate, informal  activities.  The first of these will be a volunteer run reading club.  The DSAH Reading Club is a drop-in, come-when-you-can, for as long as you can program to read with volunteer buddies.  The purpose is to engage readers to read with peers their age, top make the activity a fun one.

The drop-in reading program will take place EVERY Tuesday.  Two sessions will be run according to the schedule below:

Group 1: Grades JK to Grade 6 will run from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
Group 2: Grades 7 and up, including adults, will run from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Some requirements and notes:

• Parents must stay in the office while the program is on-going.
• Sign ups are not required.
• Siblings can volunteer to be reading buddies but to other kids preferably not with their sibling
• You can bring your own books -note that DSAH has some books as well
• Cancellations due to weather or volunteers shortage will be announced via email no later than 3pm -each Tuesday.

 For more details, questions or to volunteer as a Reading Buddy, please email Sarah Colantino, DSAH Office Coordinator, at contactus@dsah.ca.


Hope to see you there!

The DSAH Team

Self-Advocate Director, Gaby Urech has started a Food Drive here at the DSAH Office. She has decided she would like the donations to go to the Ronald McDonald House. See the list below for current items they are in need of:

– Individually wrapped snacks (ie – granola bars, goldfish crackers, fruit cups, apple sauce)
– Mini cereal boxes
– Maple syrup
– Honey
– Canned fish (tuna/salmon)
– Tomato sauce/canned tomatoes
– Vegetable and olive oil
– Individual packs of hot chocolate
– Disposable plates, bowls, cups
– Scrubbing Bubbles with Bleach
– Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner
– Lysol Disinfectant Spray
– Travel size toothpaste
– Tooth brushes (in packs of 1 or 2 only)
– Baby wipes
– Female deodorant
– Feminine hygiene products
– Hair brushes

Thank you for supporting Gaby and the Ronald McDonald House!

The 7th Annual GO21 Hamilton Walk for Down Syndrome is this coming Sunday September 29!   We are very excited and hope that you are as well. We would like to share a few things with you to prepare the exciting week ahead:

Thursday September 26, 2019 – tune into CHCH Morning Live at 7:50 am

DSAH members Laura Stremble and Owen Crowson, along with his mother Jennifer Crowson (DSAH Chair and Walk Committee member) will be on CHCH Morning Live to promote the WALK.  Tune in to watch your members advocate and talk about the WALK and our amazing Association!

Pre-Registration – FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 from 6 – 8 pm at the DSAH office (26 ½ Hatt Street, Dundas)

We have NEW shirts this year – same colour but a new design.    Don’t worry, if you did not pre-order one, we have some extras that will be available on a first come, first serve basis the morning of the WALK – but we also invite you to wear last year’s shirt if you aren’t able to get one our news ones.   

If you pre-ordered a shirt and would like to pick it up in advance of the day (which means when you arrive on Sunday you do not need to visit the registration table), you can attend the pre-registration on Friday September 27 from 6 – 8 pm at the DSAH office, which is located at 26 ½ Hatt Street in Dundas.  We will also be taking any donations and answering any questions before the big day!  Please don’t worry if you are not able to make it, pre-ordered shirts will be available for you to pick up at the registration desk on the Sunday.  

If you registered as a VOLUNTEER, we ask that you try to come to the pre-registration and connect with Paul Huffman – WALK Volunteer Co-ordinator who will be at the pre-registration.  He will have a RED t-shirt for you, be able to answer any questions and advise you where you will be stationed at the WALK.   If you can’t make the pre-registration, please email Paul at Phuff05@gmail.com 

Information about WALK DAY – Sunday September 29, 2019

The WALK takes place at the beautiful Bayfront Park located at 200 Harbour Front Drive in Hamilton.   There is a large parking lot and street parking in the area is also available for any overflow.  Parking is free of charge.

The morning begins 8:30 am and registration tables will be available to greet those who need a pickup t-shirt, register and/or wish to make a donation.   YOU CAN JOIN ANY LINE – a greeter will guide you to the shortest line and all our volunteers working at the registration tables will be able to help you.

If you already have your shirt, or once you are registered on site, we invite to you to explore our amazing raffle prizes and get your tickets, meet our community partners, enjoy warm drink, have fun on the bouncy castles and take in the amazing atmosphere our WALK creates.  

Extra shirts will be available “first come, first serve” at the registration tables.

We will have a short opening ceremony at 9:30 am and the WALK itself will be begin about 9:50 am. We walk about 1.2 km (length of the loop around the park). The walk is child friendly, dog friendly, wheelchair, bike and scooter friendly. But we ask that everyone be respectful of all abilities and all participants.

Please note that we do NOT have access to ATM machines or other forms for payment – if you are looking to participate in the RAFFLE (which is AMAZING!) you need to bring cash, please! 10 tickets for $10.

Raffle tickets will be sold from 8:30 am until 11:30 am.  During this time, you can purchase tickets and place them in the boxes of the items you want to want to WIN!  We have amazing items – a large screen TV, children’s bikes, a lady’s handbag, Blue Jays tickets, Buffalo Sabres tickets, a beautiful wooden bench, spa vouchers and many other amazing things. 

We will give a 10-minute warning at 11:20 and the raffle will close at 11:30 am.  Our top 5 prizes will be announced at 11:40 am followed by a short closing ceremony – including the lucky winner of the 2 WESTJET tickets to anywhere in the world they fly!   All other prizes will be posted on boards in the raffle tent and if you are lucky enough to be holding winning ticket, you can take your item home with you when you leave the park.

The park has large restrooms which are located in the parking.   We will be providing portable accessible restrooms close our tents – please see the map below for the location.

Light refreshments will be available throughout the morning (free of charge). The event ends at 12 noon and we are not providing lunch. Pack a picnic if you want to stay and enjoy the park after!

The walk goes on RAIN or SHINE.  Dress for the weather, it can be a bit cool by the water (layers would be wise!).  

Pack your patience, please 🙂 We have an incredible team of volunteers that have worked very hard to make this event truly a community gathering that celebrates proudly Down syndrome.  We are all looking forward to welcoming you on Sunday, September 29th!!!

Thank You for your support!

The 7th Annual GO21 Hamilton Walk for Down Syndrome Committee

Correction for information supplied around Pathways To Transition 2019

Pathways to Transition – HWDSB 05Apr19 pg2

World Down Syndrome Day 2019 Celebrations

Today a large number of our members gathered outside Hamilton City Hall – where we were joined by Mayor Fred Eisenberger to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day and see our flag flying high and proudly above City Hall. #seetheability #WDSD2019 #LeaveNoOneBehind #inclusion #humanrights #advocate #DSAH

Click on the photos below to view an original copy and feel free to download them.

Your DSAH Team

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About the Co-Sponsor Organizations:

For more than 80 years, the Hamilton Jewish Federation has nurtured a strong, supportive and vibrant community for generations of Jewish Hamiltonians. Their role is to bring together the financial and human resources that enable a network of non-profit agencies and programs to care for the vulnerable, invest in our youth and deepen Jewish life efficiently and effectively.

SNAP (Special Needs Action Project) is an initiative by the Hamilton Jewish Federation that supports families and their children with special needs to be fully included in the community.

Beth Jacob Synagogue is dedicated to providing a welcoming and caring community for their members. They come together to nourish spirituality through worship, to increase understanding through study, to educate the young, and to better the world through acts of loving kindness.

The Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton was formed in 1982 by a small group of committed parents of children with Down syndrome. These parents came together to share their experiences, feelings, hopes, and expectations for their children and their future. These parents wanted to exchange information of medical and educational nature as it related to Down syndrome. They shared one set of common needs: to support, learn from, and rejuvenate one another.

Canadian Down Syndrome Week is a week to show the world that Canada is where ALL people are valued, fully participating citizens. It is a week to celebrate people with Down syndrome and teach others to “See the Ability.”

Created by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, Canadian Down Syndrome Week (CDSW) is celebrated every November 1 to 7

The 31st Canadian Down Syndrome Conference – Speakers’ Spotlight

PATHWAYS TO TRANSITION

Thursday, April 19, 2018

6:30pm – 8:30pm

Nicholas Mancini Centre

44 Hunt Street, Hamilton

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This event is presented by The Community Transition Network

The Community Transition Network- a community of partners invested in transition planning, a process which includes families and service providers with the common goal of addressing transition needs for youth/young adults with disabilities. The Community Transition Network is a community task-driven committee which provides the opportunity for community partners to work collaboratively and network effectively. Our focus is to promote healthy living and quality of life for youth/young adults with disabilities who are in the transition to adult services and adult living.

Our committee acknowledges the transition to adult services is a challenging process for young people with disabilities and their families. Families, community members, and service providers alike, have identified many gaps in services available for young people and the need for shared resources and information between community organizations. The Community Transition Network believes that successful transition involves collaboration between the individuals, family and supportive others, and their community as a whole.

See the enclosed flyer for more information on this event

Pathways to Transition

Bursary Guidelines for Conferences

Conference bursaries are designed to encourage Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton (DSAH) members to attend Down syndrome related conferences with the goal of developing relationships, learning and sharing, and celebrating accomplishments.

Bursary Policy 2018