DOWNS SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF GREATER RICHMOND INC
PO BOX 70789, RICHMOND, VA 23255 www.dsagr.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD PROGRAMS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES ARE LISTED IN DETAIL BELOW THESE PROGRAMS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES HELPED TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AS WELL AS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS, THERAPISTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. VOLUNTEERS ARE AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ORGANIZATION. GENERALLY, VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE PROGRAM SERVICES, FUNDRAISING AND BOARD SERVICE. THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 WAS 2,274.

THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF GREATER RICHMOND IS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BENEFITS THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY SUPPORT, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY. WE ADVOCATE FOR AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING BY EDUCATING OUR MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY ABOUT DS, AND OFFERING EDUCATION PRACTICES TO HELP OUR MEMBERS NAVIGATE THE SCHOOL YEARS - FROM IEPS TO BEHAVIOR AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. WE BELIEVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME ARE VALUABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND IN WHOM ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH FULL OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT, INDIVIDUALS WITH DS WILL ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS. WE BOAST A MEMBERSHIP OF HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES, A COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES AND EMBRACES RAISING CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME WE LISTEN, WE LEARN, AND WE HAVE FUN TOGETHER, WE HELP OUR MEMBERS EVERY STEP OF THE JOURNEY.

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD. PROGRAMS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES ARE LISTED IN DETAIL BELOW. THESE PROGRAMS AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES HELPED TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS, THERAPISTS AND OTHER HEALTH RELATED PROFESSIONALS.IN ADDITION TO VOLUNTEER SERVICES, THE ORGANIZATION IS THE GRATEFUL RECIPIENT OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY 100% OF ITS BOARD AND STAFF. DURING 2020, THE ORGANIZATION MANAGED TO CHANGE DIRECTION AND HELD MANY SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS VIRTUALLY. WE PROVIDED 147 SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS TO 931 INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. OUR SOCIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: DSAGR PROVIDES SOCIAL PROGRAMMING AND MEMBER ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL FAMILIES, AS WELL AS TARGETED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME BY A VARIETY OF AGE GROUPS. OUR SOCIAL GROUPS BY AGE FOSTERS FRIENDSHIPS, PEER SOCIALIZATION, NETWORKING AND RESOURCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND PARENTS. MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY GROUP THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.HANDS UP! - AGE 0-5 YEARS OLDADVENTURERS - AGE 6-12 YEARS OLDFUNQUEST - AGE 13-21 YEARS OLDFUN4LIFE - AGE 21 AND UPDURING 2020, DSAGR LAUNCHED ITS FIRST EVER 8-WEEK VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP THAT WAS ATTENDED BY 43 CAMPERS. ADDITIONALLY, IN THE FALL DSAGR HELD BI-WEEKLY AFTER SCHOOL SOCIAL CLUB VIRTUAL MEETINGS WHERE MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO PLAY GAMES AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES AND SOCIALIZE. THIS INCLUDED MONTHLY GAME BOARD ACTIVITIES MEMBERS COULD DO ON THEIR OWN AND SHARE DURING THE SOCIAL CLUB MEETING. OUR ADULTS IN FUN4LIVE MET EVERY OTHER WEDNESDAY VIA ZOOM FOR LUNCH BUNCH. THE MEMBERS RECEIVE THE RECIPE AND INSTRUCTIONS AHEAD OF TIME, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO SHOP FOR INGREDIENTS AND THEN ON THE MEETING THEY PREPARE AND EAT LUNCH TOGETHER. OUR HANDS UP GROUP HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR VIRTUAL MUSIC AND ART CLASSES.DSAGR HAS OTHER TARGETED GROUPS TO HELP PROVIDE MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. THESE GROUPS INCLUDE:DSPLUS - DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONE HAS DOWN SYNDROME, BUT MAY ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL "SOMETHING EXTRA" THAT CAN BRING DIFFERENT NEEDS. THIS GROUP PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS TO COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER, NO MATTER WHAT THAT EXTRA SOMETHING MAY BE.MOMS AND DADS- DESIGNED TO GIVE EACH PARENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN UNIQUE NETWORK OF SUPPORT. THESE GROUPS HELP PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP, RESOURCE SHARING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.GRANDPARENT TO GRANDPARENT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE EACH GRANDPARENT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN UNIQUE NETWORK OF SUPPORT. THIS GROUP PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP, RESOURCE SHARING AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.DURING 2020, OUR DADS AND MOMS CONTINUED TO MEET MONTHLY FOR VIRTUAL ZOOM MEETINGS TO RESOURCE AND NETWORK. IN FALL 2020, BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARENT CHATS WERE HOSTED WEEKLY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, RESOURCES AND NETWORKING FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL VIRTUALLY OR IN-PERSON. IN ADDITION, OUR DSPLUS CAME TOGETHER FOR SENSORY NEEDS PROGRAMMING WITH SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS. FINALLY, DSAGR WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE 59 FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAFE, SOCIALLY DISTANCED VISIT WITH SANTA.EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN OVER 70 DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES HAVE HELPED PARENTS LEARN HOW TO RECEIVE THE BEST SERVICES, PROVIDE THE BEST SCHOOL AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, GATHER AND SHARE RESOURCES ABOUT HOW TO BEST INCLUDE THEIR CHILD IN THE COMMUNITY.DURING 2020, DSAGR WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND HELD MANY MEETINGS VIRTUALLY. THIS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:ANNUAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE - HELD IN-PERSON IN FEB 2020 AND HAD 330 ATTENDEES, 45 SPONSORS AND 34 EXHIBITORSLEARNING PROGRAM 2020-2021- 12 FAMILIES ATTENDING VIRTUAL CLASSES EACH SATURDAY ONCE A MONTHPARENT VIRTUAL CLASSES FOR PRE K-ELEMENTARYMULTIPLE WEEK VIRTUAL CLASS FOR PRESCHOOL-ELEMENTARY INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME FOCUSING ON OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT) SKILLS IN PARTNER WITH VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY (VCU) OT DEPARTMENTADULT 7-WEEK EMPLOYMENT 101 VIRTUAL CLASS WITH 71 PARTICIPANTS COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS: CAREERS, EMOTIONS, GOAL SETTING, CHORES, AND INTERVIEWS. A TWO-CLASS VIRTUAL SERIES OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES FOCUSED ON EMPLOYMENT PARENT VIRTUAL CLASSES FOR PARENTS OF ADULTS PARTNERING WITH VCU REHABILITATION & RESEARCH TRAINING CENTER (RRTC)VIRTUAL CLASSES FOR ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME PARTNERING WITH VCU RRTCIEP REVIEWS AND PARENT EDUCATION SUPPORTADVOCACY/AWARENESS:SPREADING AWARENESS, ADVOCACY AND INCLUSION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARC OF VIRGINIA, THE NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY AND THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA ON WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY. ALSO, DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THEIR ABILITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SOME EXAMPLES ARE:STATE BUDGET HEARINGS ADVOCACY DAY ON CAPITOL HILL IN RVAWORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAYVISIT TO CAPITOL HILL IN DCSTATE SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGSFUNDRAISING: MONTHLY RESTAURANT FUNDRAISERS OTHER COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS ANNUAL RAFFLEANNUAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT - 2 WEEKENDSONLINE AUCTIONANNUAL STEP UP FOR DOWN SYNDROME VIRTUAL 3.21K & LIVE CAR PARADEDADS GOLF TOURNAMENTANNUAL APPEALFAMILY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH:ENGAGING FAMILIES AT EVERY STATE OF LIFE BY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, BRINGING THEM TOGETHER WITH PURPOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPANDING DSAGR'S GEOGRAPHIC REACH IS A MAJOR PRIORITY AND THE MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH BEGINS AT BIRTH AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE LIFESPAN.COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS BY THE FOLLOWING GROUPS: VCU DENTAL, VCU MEDICAL STUDENTS, HANOVER SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND VCU EDUCATION DEPARTMENTFIRST CALL VISITS - 24, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 24 NEW FAMILIES REACHING OUT TO DSAGR, FOR A TOTAL OF 48 NEW FAMILIES.ANNUAL SELF-ADVOCATE DINNER WITH CONFERENCE LUNCH SPEAKERFACEBOOK FOLLOWERS ON OUR MULTIPLE PAGES - 420 ON FOUR PARENT PAGES AND 2,734 ON MAIN DSAGR PAGETWITTER FOLLOWERS, 176. INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS, 329

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