Jill’s House Weekend Adventures (JHWA) is an overnight respite camp for children with intellectual disabilities in the form of a three-day camp experience. At Weekend Adventures, children (ages 6-17) create memories and friendships through activities like hayrides, hikes, crafts, games, talent shows, ropes courses, swimming and more.
Improving the emotional and Physical health of extra needs caregivers through proactive, restorative, respite opportunities.
Buddy Break is a free Parents’ Day Out/respite program where kids with all types of special needs (VIP kids) have fun while their parents get a break.
A community group for adults with special needs that provides a time for our friends with special needs to engage in community with one another and read a bible story together! Join Chris as she leads a fun time of community for our friends!
Provides resources and be responsive to the needs of caregivers by providing relief and support services. Formerly known as TN Respite Coalition.
In April of 2018 my daughter, Sharmane and I experienced the privilege of attending the National Down Syndrome Society’s inspirational and educational First Annual Down Syndrome Adult Summit.
With Sharmane getting older, forty-four at the time of the conference and dementia prevalent in people with Down syndrome, we mainly attended lectures related to dementia and Alzheimer’s. A few speakers provided insight into the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s, which are different for people with Down syndrome as explained below. Others described best practices for dealing with those experiencing dementia, and one lecture offered suggestions for preserving memories.
This essay is intended to help the parents, family, friends, and caregivers of people with Down syndrome to recognize and navigate the turbulent world of dementia if you must enter that realm.
I wanted to write a blog post and share a little about myself and my family with everyone. You may be wondering….what brought me to DSAMT given that I don’t have a child with Down syndrome? Well, the answer is a little long...
The consequences of making assumptions about our kids can be real and negatively impactful. This post explores the need to shift the paradigm from one of what our kids can't do to what they CAN do.