Author: Jen Franklin Kearns, ds-connex team member

On Tuesday, March 21st, ds-connex will join the Down syndrome community in celebrating World Down Syndrome Day. In the last several weeks, we have seen many different announcements for upcoming events and opportunities to raise awareness on 3/21 from Down syndrome organizations across the country. My family will celebrate by launching Team Alex for the 2017 Columbus Buddy Walk®, wearing “lots of socks”, and sharing some random acts of kindness. The ds-connex team will raise awareness about Down syndrome with our colleagues who share our office building, by sharing sweet treats and an invitation for an upcoming fundraiser which will benefit our local Down syndrome organization. These are just a few of the ways that we will recognize the day, and we want to know how your family will celebrate!

CONTEST DETAILS:

Send us a brief description of your plans for World Down Syndrome Day 2017 (or share what you have done in the past) along with a photo to accompany your story, by March 19th to contests@ds-connex.org. On March 20th, we will compile the stories and photos into an online album, and five entries will be selected at random to receive one of the following items:

1. An Uncomplicated Life, by Paul Daugherty

2. Whole Child Reading, by Natalie Hale

3. Gifts: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives, 10th Anniversary Edition, by Kathryn Lynard

4. Universal Design Daily, by Dr Paula Kluth

5. My Friend Has Down Syndrome, by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos

6. I Can, Can You?, by Marjorie Pitzer

7. Where Hope Grows DVD, starring David DeSanctis

The book or dvd you choose could then be shared with your local school, library, or church to help raise Down syndrome awareness in your community.

Please note that by submitting your entry, you are granting ds-connex permission to share your story on our website and across multiple social media platforms in order to share ideas, past and present, for raising awareness about Down syndrome in communities on World Down Syndrome Day.

We look forward to hearing about your plans for this year’s #WDSD2017 celebrations!