| President’s Message
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Hello. This has been an exciting month with our big Driller’s
outing. Thank you to everyone that participated in making this a
successful event. We are excited that our directories are almost
done and should soon be available. We are really working on our sponsorships
for the Buddy Walk!! We need everyone’s help! We are working
to increase activities for the young adults. Please plan on coming
to the dance on July 25th. We would love even the young children
to attend. It will be fun for the whole family. If you
have any other suggestions or activities for the older children and young
adults, please let us know. We are open to suggestions! Hope
everyone is having a great summer!
Erin & Adam
Driller’s Game
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We had a great turnout at the Driller’s game. It was super! We had
a great time of fun and fellowship with all the families. The fireman vs
policeman benefit game was a huge success! We want to send out a big thank
you to Ragtop for donating the t-shirts that the policemen were wearing.
They want to do it again next year and make this an annual event!
DSAT Dance
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Attention Teenagers, Young Adults and the Whole Family!!!
Dance and Pizza Party on Friday, July 25th from 6 to 9 PM at St. Joseph
School Gym
323 N Virginia, Muskogee, OK
For more information contact Jayne Smith 683-2204.
This is free to all DSAT families! This is for the whole family! Sponsored
by DSAT-Muskogee/Tahlequah. Music and lights will be provided by Mann and
Mann Sound Production Co.
Calendar Photos &
Almond Eyes
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Les Peterson will be selling the Almond Eyes photos at a very discounted
price for one night only and unveiling the calendar photos at the dance
scheduled for July. He will be there. You have to be there to get the discounted
price on the photos!
Sharing Our Joy 2004
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The photo shoots for the DSAT 2004 calendar are well underway. We hope
to unveil the pictures during the summer, but there is still much work
to be done and we need your help. Sponsorship packets are now available
for the 2004 calendar. If you know of a potential corporate or community
sponsor, please contact Lynette Lambert (glaaal@cox.net or 682-6634) or
Beth Soderfelt (soderfelt.ea@juno.com or 272-3926) to obtain a sponsorship
packet. We’d like to have sponsorship commitment by July 31st to ensure
early fall distribution of the 2004 calendar.
The Buddy Walk
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is a multi-city advocacy walk in which people with Down syndrome invite
“buddies” to walk with them. Buddies can be anyone from friends to teachers,
coworkers and politicians. The Buddy Walk will include live entertainment,
prize giveaways and fun activities for the whole family.
The goal of the Buddy Walk is to celebrate October, National Down Syndrome
Awareness Month, and promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down
syndrome. The Buddy Walk raises more than $500,000 nationally and locally
to support critical programs and services. The funds are raised through
corporate sponsorship, walk registration and donations in our local walks
and walks around the country.
More than 160 Buddy Walks occur in the United States and around the
world each fall. More than 100,000 people participate nationally each year,
including children, young adults and adults with Down syndrome family members,
friends, politicians, health care professionals, business leaders, and
other community members.
Our
Buddy Walk
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Our Buddy Walk is October 19th, from 2 to 5 PM at Whiteside Park. We
are in need of more sponsors! Please get some sponsor sheets at our website
or we can mail you some if you know someone that might be willing to sponsor
our first annual walk. Please return these sheets to the PO Box ASAP! More
than 500 people are expected to participate in the Tulsa Buddy Walk. We
are putting together door prize packages. If you can get any donations
that might fit into one of these please let us know. Also, we need donations
of food and bottled water.
golf package: golf equipment, free rounds, etc.
spa package: spa days, manicure, pedicures, facials
toy package: bikes, any type of big toys
restaurant package: at least 25 local restaurant dinners
hotel package: night stays and expensive restaurant
Lending Library
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We are going to be starting a lending library so we can share information
with all families. If you have books, videos, handouts, anything you feel
might be helpful to another family that you are not using anymore and would
like to donate to DSAT, please bring them to the meeting. We will keep
them in a big tub (until we have a nice bookcase) and have them available
for checkout at each meeting. This should be very helpful. Please start
bringing or sending materials!
DSAT Directory
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Special thanks to David Provence for putting together the DSAT Directory.
He did a fantastic job and it was a lot of work! We really appreciate it,
David! The directories will hopefully be done and printed by the July meeting.
Every DSAT family may pick theirs up then.
Dr. Leichtman
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Dr. Leichtman will be coming to do consultations again on August 23
and 24th. There is no lecture this time. He will just be doing consultations
at the clinic. If you are interested in setting up an appointment, please
contact his office at 757-425-1969.
Thank You!
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Thank you to the following contributors.
We couldn’t do it without you:
Donations
Platinum Sponsorship
Advanced Imaging Resources
Silver Sponsors
Wallace Engineering
Trigon General Contractors and Construction Managers, Inc.
Buddy Walk
AFS
Metris
Rick Chern
Chick-fil-A at Woodland Hills
Dues Paid
Rick Chern
Down Syndrome Congress
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The convention program features self-advocates, professionals, and
parents speaking on topics with broad appeal across the lifespan. Whatever
the age of your son, daughter, family member, or student with DS, you are
sure to find both information as well as inspiration at the general sessions,
the approximately 30 breakout sessions, and the many other features of
the weekend.
The pre-conferences are a great opportunity for in-depth learning. If
you have ever been frustrated at a conference because you didn’t have enough
time with a speaker to explore a topic as fully as you wanted, the Friday
pre-conferences may be just what you are looking for. They offer an opportunity
to delve into one topic for three to six hours with a nationally recognized
speaker. Cost is only an additional $30 to 60 and includes materials.
Complete conference information, fees, hotel, and registration information
is available by calling 1-800-232-ndsc or visit: www.ndsccenter.org
Calendar
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July 17th
DSAT Meeting
Waivered Services & EPSDT
What are they? Who needs them? How do you qualify?
Come get your questions answered!
August 21st
DSAT Meeting
Frank Baxter
Frank Baxter will speak about how he started a school in Russia
for children with Down Syndrome. This should be a very inspirational meeting!
August 22nd to 24th
National Down Syndrome Congress Conference
Philadelphia
September 18th
DSAT Meeting
“The Way They Learn”
Cynthia Tobias
We will watch a video entitled “They Way They Learn”. This video is
about how kids have different styles of learning and how to meet their
individual needs. This is for all ages and for the whole family! Cynthia
Tobias spoke at the Governor’s Conference and this is a video of her excellent
presentation. She has many books out and so many ideas that are so simple.
We will have the books available for checkout.
October 19th
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DSAT Buddy Walk
Whiteside Park
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
November 20th
DSAT Meeting
Helping Hooves
Helping Hooves will do a presentation on what horse therapy is and
how it is done!
Newsletter Deadlines
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Share with us your stories, good news and interesting facts. Have your
announcements, stories and information to Kendra Pennington 889-2954 or
KendraOT@hotmail.com by June 26th for the July newsletter. It is our hope
to provide the most current information.
Resources
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The National Arts and Disability Center offers a Web site calendar
as a free public service for any arts event, class, workshop or conference
that is available to any individual with a disability and/or that features
an artist or performers work with a disability.
nadc.ucla.edu/database/searchnadc.cfm
Love and Learning is a technique to teach language and reading
to children with special needs using video and audio tapes, large print
books and computer programs. Seven kits are now available along with crossword
puzzle computer programs. Joe and Susan Kotlinski, are the founders of
this program, and are the parents of a young woman with Down syndrome.
The video features children with Down syndrome. For more information,
check out www.loveandlearning.com
Ambucs has an application that you can fill out if you are interested
in obtaining a free computer for your child. These are old computers that
they redo and put games to help your child with special needs. Anyone is
eligible. If you would like to receive more info or get an application,
call 405-360-1521, Fax 405-360-2248 or write to Sooner AMBUCS, PO Box 118,
Norman, OK 73070
Partners in Policymaking is an organization that educates participants
to be active partners with those who make policy. There are eight two-day
sessions and a one-day orientation that you would go through. If you would
like to become a Partner you need to complete an application. Orientation
begins in August. If you are interested getting an application, contact
Troy Honeman at pip@okddc.org or call 1-800-836-4470.
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The Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council
(ODDC) has a resource library. The library features specialized information
related to developmental disabilities, sources of funding, and many other
topics. The publications and videos are available to be checked out at
no charge. It is also possible to access the internet at their library
and print copies of information from websites. ODDC is located in Oklahoma
City. For information about other services and programs available through
the ODDC, call 405-521-4984 or 1800-836-4470 or e-mail OPCDD@aol.com
Free Financial Planning Information from National Down Syndrome Congress
Possibilities: A Financial Resource Book for Parents of Children with
Disabilities is a 60-page booklet produced by the National Endowment for
Financial Education and PACER Center. This booklet provides suggestions
on organizing financial records, making a spending spends, saving programs
and estate plans. The National Down Syndrome Congress office has a limited
number of free copies of the booklet available to members while the supply
last. E-mail info@ndsccenter.org or call
1-800-232-6372 to request a copy.
Now Available Online:
Coping Tools for Parents of Children with Special Needs
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Coping.org is an online source of help for parents that covers a variety
of issues related to parenting, including raising a child with special
needs. The site makes available the book, “Tools for Parents of Children
with Special Needs”, written by James. J. Messina, Ph.D. Coping.org provides
this material free to as a public service. (Info provided by TARC)
“Juggling Down Syndrome .A Health Journal.”
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Accurately record Down Syndrome medical history!
Journal Sections include a variety a topics: doctor’s visits, insurance
info, therapy sessions, hearing tests, dental and vision exams, etc. Journals
are 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 and spiral bound. For more information or to place
an order call 210-256-2177 or thelittleacorn1@yahoo.com
She also has a book entitled “The Courage Book” that is available that
you fill out for your child that shows all about how special they are to
you.
DISCLAIMER:
The Down Syndrome Association Of Tulsa does not promote, recommend or endorse
any service, professional or organization. Decisions regarding the
use of any service, professional or organization are the sole responsibility
of the family or guardian. Top
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