The MDSC 12th Annual Buddy Walk was a record-breaking success with over 1,700 parents, children, self-advocates and their friends turning out to celebrate National Down Syndrome Awareness Month on Sunday, October 12th.  The beautiful sunny autumn day was the perfect backdrop for the walkers who turned out in full force to complete the 3-mile walk around Wakefield's Lake Quannapowitt. 125 teams raised more than $170,000 to support the work of the MDSC.

Charles Gadbois, MDSC Board President, kicked off the Buddy Walk expressing his appreciation to the walkers, sponsors, teams and volunteers for their outpouring of support for the MDSC. He recognized 13 year old Mary DeBlasio, one of the youngest Buddy Walk team captains, for her extraordinary efforts to start a team in honor of her sister Kate after the two of them faced the difficult loss of their father this past year. He also thanked Representative Katherine Clark and Wakefield Superintendent of Public Schools, Joan Landers, for joining us at the event.  

Founded by a mother of two children with disabilities, Signing Time, an Emmy-nominated video and musical CD series, teaches infants, toddlers, school-aged children (and adults) basic American Sign Language (ASL) skills. The newest additions to the Signing Time DVD series Baby Signing Time 3 & 4, both include MDSC member Abigail Agudelo.

Signing Time held open auditions of children interested in becoming the next Signing Time stars this past Spring. Agudelo, who was hand-selected by Signing Time founder Rachel Coleman, traveled to Salt Lake City in May with her mom Wendy for a four-day, on-site taping session. Baby Signing Time 3: A New Day teaches nature, weather and following directions. Baby Signing Time 4: Let's Be Friends teaches signs for friends, emotions, fruits, vegetables and opposites. Abigail appears evenly across both DVD-teaching signs including ‘star' and ‘day,' among others. Both DVDs and correlating CDs debuted on October 1^st and can be purchased at www.signingtime.com.

Parents unfamiliar with the concept of signing with babies will discover that infants can use signs to express their needs and wants long before they are old enough to speak, virtually eliminating tantrums and nurturing mutual understanding. "Babies who sign have access to language much earlier than those left waiting for speech to develop," said Rachel Coleman, co-creator and host of Baby Signing Time. "The truth is that using sign language with babies and children who can hear is revolutionizing parenting in America." 

Since its introduction by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan) in 2005, the Prentally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, (S. 1810)—also known as the Kennedy-Brownback bill—has become a rally cry from innumerable families of children with disabilities to provide support to parents and prospective parents who learn that an unborn child may have a genetic, chromosomal or physical disability. Presidential candidate John McCain, whose running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is a mother to an infant with Down syndrome, signed on as a co-sponsor to the bill earlier this month. On September 23, 2008, the Senate passed the bill, which was passed again by the US House of Representatives and on October 8, 2008 President Bush officially signed the bill into law marking one of the most historic moments in the lives of families of children with Down syndrome.

The measure, now passed, provides that families receiving a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome or other conditions will be offered accurate and up-to-date information about the nature of the condition and also connected with support services. In addition, a registry of parents willing to adopt children with disabilities will be compiled and maintained.

For the first time, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) was selected by the B.A.A. to participate in the Boston Marathon!   MDSC was selected as one of 24 charities to receive entries into the Boston Marathon this year.

The 113^th running of the Boston Marathon will take place on April 20, 2009. With the Boston Marathon being the only qualifying Marathon in the world, one of the only non-qualifying way to enter the race is through the Official Boston Marathon Charity Program. This year there will be a total of 1,275 runners, across twenty four charities that will run in the program.

The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) was chosen to receive entries that will help raise funds to support the critical work of the organization.  MDSC is now accepting applications from interested runners. The entries do not require a qualifying time but do require that runners acknowledge that they can complete a marathon within 6 hours and will abide by all other B.A.A. rules and regulations. Applicants must also agree to raise a minimum of $3,000 for the MDSC.

If you are a qualifying or non-qualifying runner interested in applying to be a member of the MDSC Marathon Team please contact the MDSC at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call 978-640-8829 for an application. Once a completed application is received there will be a phone interview with a member of the MDSC staff/board. The final team decision will be made by October 15^th. Once the team has been finalized the selected runners will start training and raising funds for a great cause!

After a very successful and fun Kick-Off event this past April, it's finally time to kick-off the first official year of Advocates in Motion!

AIM provides fun, inclusive, interactive events each month for teens and young adults ages 13-22. AIM's program goals include: fostering social relationships with each other and peers who do not have Down syndrome, while simultaneously providing exposure to: fitness/healthy lifestyles, community service experiences, job and career skill building, the arts, sports, etc.

AIM will meet once a month from October 2008 to May 2009. In order to achieve AIM's goal of fostering social relationships, we hope to have a strong attendance at each monthly session. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all Sunday afternoon events.  Events will run from 1:00-4:00pm and will be held at the Waltham YMCA unless otherwise noted.

Republican Vice Presidential candidate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, gave birth in April to her fifth child, Trig, who has Down syndrome.  Prenatal testing confirmed the Down syndrome diagnosis during Palin's pregnancy. 

There has been much media attention focused on Down syndrome since Palin was named as McCain's running mate.  MDSC has reached out to the media in Massachusetts to provide accurate information about Down syndrome. Please click here for our media advisory.

MDSC Board members Brian Skotko and Charlie Gadbois were recently interviewed by the Wall Street Journal and were quoted in an article entitled Palin's Pitch to Parents of Disabled Raises Some Doubts in the Monday, September 8 edition of the WSJ.  MDSC Executive Director, Maureen Gallagher, along with other MDSC members were interviewed by the Cape Cod Times in their August 30 article Selection Excites Parents of Down syndrome Children.

Brian Skotko was also quoted in an article on FOXNews.com on Tuesday, Sptember 9, entitled Palin's Candidacy Reignites Feminist Debate, and in a Washington Post blog on Down syndrome which you may read by clicking here and scrolling down the page to "Down Syndrome 101." 

Katie Couric of CBS Evening News ran a story on September 10^th  that you can view here.

View a formal statement issued by MDSC.

The Power of the Dream

1983 - 2008

 

Over 800 people crowded the Plaza Ballroom at the Seaport Hotel in Boston on Friday evening, July 11^th , for the celebration of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress' 25^th Anniversary and the Opening Reception of the NDSC National Convention. 

25 years is truly a milestone to be proud of and a perfect chance to show appreciation to so many dedicated people whose commitment to improving the lives of those with Down syndrome has been instrumental in the growth and achievements of the MDSC since its inception 25 years ago.

The momentous evening featured Dr. Timothy Johnson, Emmy-award-winning physician-journalist, of ABCNEWS' Good Morning America who emceed this special event; a  premier performance by the Boston Ballet's Adaptive Dance Program; and recognition awards to those who have made a lasting imprint on the Down syndrome community here in Massachusetts.

Congratulations to our award winners!

MDSC Board Member and friend Dr. Allen Crocker was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his infinite wisdom and compassion that has touched the lives of so many families of children with Down syndrome throughout the years.