Upcoming Events

Feb
18
Sun
12th Annual Making a Difference Awards
Feb 18 @ 2:00 pm – Feb 29 @ 7:03 pm
12th Annual Making a Difference Awards
  • The Making a Difference Awards are an annual event sponsored by Delaware County’s Right to Education Local Task Force. The event recognizes outstanding individuals who meet one of the following criteria:
    • Students who have persevered and overcome challenges to be successful within an inclusive setting.
    • Students who have demonstrated exceptional support, friendship, acceptance, and understanding to ensure the inclusion of classmates of all abilities.
    • Adults who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts through their exceptional work to promote acceptance and understanding to ensure the inclusion of all children of all abilities.

     

    2024 Nomination & Awards Information

    Nominations

    Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024, Making a Difference Awards. Submit your nomination by February 29, 2024 at 4p.m. Written and video submissions will be accepted.

    Making a Difference Nomination Form

    Nominees may include students, administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, reading specialists, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, community members, etc.

    Winners will be notified by April 19, 2024.

    Award Ceremony

    April 30, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Springfield High School

FILL OUT THE NOMINATION FORM
Feb
24
Sat
Best Buddies Inclusive Concert @ Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall
Feb 24 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Best Buddies Inclusive Concert @ Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall

WCU Best Buddies is hosting our first ever inclusive and sensory friendly concert! Often, individuals with unique abilities and sensory needs are not able to attend/enjoy a concert, so we are hosting one that anyone and everyone can enjoy! The lights and sound will be sensory friendly, there will be a sensory area with fidgets and activities, dancing and singing along is not only allowed but encouraged, and we have several performers with disabilities. There will also be a raffle with some awesome prizes like gift cards and suite style Sixers tickets!

This event is open to anyone and is not limited to just Best Buddies! Tickets will be $15 ($5 if you come in a Best Buddies t-shirt) cash or Venmo at the door. Go to Facebook to learn more about this event.

Mar
16
Sat
Neurodiversity and Autism Resource Event @ Neumann University Bruder Gym
Mar 16 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Neurodiversity and Autism Resource Event @ Neumann University Bruder Gym

The Pennsylvania State Police in partnership with CHOP and Neuman University are hosting a NEURODIVERISTY & AUTISM RESOURCE EVENT

WHEN: March 16, 2024 / Open from 10:00-3:00
WHERE: Neumann University Bruder Gym, 1 Neumann Drive, Aston PA 19014

Please see click the button below to preview the flyer
Please Note: there is a space limitation with this event, please RSVP as soon as possible.

VIEW THE FLYER

Mar
21
Thu
World Down Syndrome Day Live Event with Sofia Sanchez
Mar 21 @ 2:00 pm
World Down Syndrome Day Live Event with Sofia Sanchez
DATE & TIME: March 21st at 2pm ET

Watch Sofia Sanchez’s Live Event on Scholastic StoryVoice on World Down Syndrome Day from anywhere! This event is a free, interactive, and SO much fun!!! Just log in and join Sofia as she reads from her new book YOU ARE BRAVE!!!! What better way to increase awareness about Down syndrome and how we tackle everyday with bravery!!!! 💙💛

Mar
24
Sun
THE EGG HUNT ON MARCH 24th IS CANCELLED @ Thornbury Park
Mar 24 @ 9:30 am
THE EGG HUNT ON MARCH 24th IS CANCELLED @ Thornbury Park

Sadly, we have to make the unfortunate decision to cancel the upcoming Egg Hunt that was scheduled for this weekend 3/24. The cancellation is due to a low turnout which we suspect is from it landing on a holiday weekend, and with individuals having Special Olympics swimming. Next year, we will make sure to plan it further in advance and pick a weekend that more people would be able to attend.

Thank you for understanding, and we hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Mar
27
Wed
Mini-Retreat for Caregivers of Children Birth-5 with ID/DD, March
Mar 27 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Mini-Retreat for Caregivers of Children Birth-5 with ID/DD, March

DATE: March 27, 2024
TIME: 10:00am – 2:00pm
LOCATION: Rivers Casino – 1001 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

If you are a caregiver to someone with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, including autism, we invite you to our mini retreat! If you are a caregiver to someone with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, including autism, we invite you to join us for a mini-retreat . This is your time to connect with other caregivers and learn about simple, yet effective ways to decompress while connecting with other caregivers. Lunch and snacks will be served.

Activities include:

  • Gratitude wall
  • Reflexology
  • Chair Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Journaling
  • Group Discussion, and more.

Childcare is not provided, but you are welcome to have your family join you for this event.

GET TICKETS

Mar
30
Sat
Sensory Friendly & Adaptive Easter Egg Hunt @ St. John Chrysostom Parish
Mar 30 @ 2:00 pm
Apr
9
Tue
DCIU Secondary Transition Fair
Apr 9 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
DCIU Secondary Transition Fair
Apr
20
Sat
Down Syndrome Awareness Night with The Philadelphia Phillies💙💛 @ Citizens Bank Park
Apr 20 @ 6:05 pm
Down Syndrome Awareness Night with The Philadelphia Phillies💙💛 @ Citizens Bank Park

Down Syndrome Awareness Night with The Philadelphia Phillies💙💛

Please use our specific code “DSAN” for this year’s Down Syndrome Awareness Day with the Philadelphia Phillies! The game will be against the Chicago White Sox at 6:05 pm on April 20, 2024 (tickets are limited so do not delay!)

THIS IS A REGIONAL EVENT AND EVERYONE OF ALL AGES is welcome and encouraged to attend as we rally together for our Down Syndrome Community in the Delaware Valley! If you have never attended, we cannot wait to meet you in person! Please know, this is an event you do not want to miss! Besides the fact that it will most likely be a high scoring game, it is an opportunity to meet your social media friends from the Delaware Valley in person at one general location, providing you get tickets with our code.

For those who have attended, I know you enjoyed yourself in the past and we can not wait to see you again. Hopefully the weather will be perfect for us!

As a token of thanks and to continue raising AWARENESS for DOWN SYNDROME and INCLUSION in our community we give out a limited amount of T-SHIRTS to those WHO USE THE LINK OR CALL IN WITH OUR CODE “DSAN” TO PURCHASE TICKETS, on a first come basis at our table (exact location for t-shirt pick-up will be sent the day of the event)-By all means, use this meeting place to mingle! Use this time to meet up with OUR T21 FAMILIES who live in PA, NJ and DE! Additionally, this is a great time to take pictures for social media!

Depending on our ticket sales number, we could be given more perks. For example, one of our loved ones with T21 could throw out the first pitch and a pre-game video! Can you help to make this happen? If so, don’t delay purchasing your tickets!

How this works:

  • Rally your friends and family to celebrate Down Syndrome in the Delaware Valley while watching the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
  • Clink on the link below for seating charts and prices.
  • We have seats reserved in sections for different pricing and locations. (The past few years the lower level seats have sold out first, so we were given the Saturday game so we could add more lower level seats, however please plan accordingly.) Tickets are subject to availability, there have been years we sold out, this is our 15 year!

Overall we average about 650 tickets each season; for those who support our DS community, please don’t delay placing your order! Additional, the more tickets we sell the more likely we are able to receive additional perks and funds which enable us to do other community outings throughout the year.

NEW THIS SEASON:
As a reminder, this event is part of the Phillies Phunraising Program, so we as a nonprofit for T21 receive funds for each ticket sold. This season the Phillies have changed their billing format so it will show how much of the funds will be donated back to our groups, so you can write off easily on your taxes. Here is the link to purchase our discounted tickets with our code “DSAN” and the seating chart.

Learn More at phillies.com/downsyndrome

Hope to see you there!!!
If you have any questions, or need further details for large groups just text me at 215-990-8730 or email me @ [email protected]

Thank you for your time and consideration and for supporting those with Down Syndrome in the Delaware Valley on a regional level!