MHDSA
Mile High Down Syndrome Association (MHDSA) is a non-profit organization serving the Mountain States Region. They are a group of individuals who not only serve the Down Syndrome (DS) community, they live in but experience it hands on. Many of the leadership have children or family members with Down Syndrome. Their Mission is to assure inclusion and enhance independence of people with Down syndrome. They achieve this by providing education, resources and support in partnership with individuals, families, professionals, and the community. Their vision is to have a society where all members are valued for their uniqueness, respected for their contribution and assured the opportunity and choice to create their own path to fulfillment and success.
DS and Autism
They do not only deal with the DS community, they are in partnership with the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic and the Autism Society of Colorado forming the DS-Autism Connection. In many cases individuals who have DS are also diagnosed with Autism. This connection helps the community by having resources for DS and Autism making them one of the leading organizations dealing with DS and Autism.
Education
Their many programs help to educate parents with their prenatal needs who are expecting a child with DS right down to all the family members helping them adjust to the different lifestyle they will be living. They include the Grandparents right down to Aunts and Uncles. Their programs even help DS individuals to move out into society and live on their own. To help support these programs they have an on-line gift shop featuring hats, shirts, outerwear, accessories and much more. .
In the Community
They not only help with educating families with DS children and adults they involve the community. The MDHSA is also known locally for their Step Up for Down Walk, which occurs in September. They open up their organization to the community by having individual, team and corporate sponsors obtain pledges to help their cause. This walk is held at Denver's City Park. They have a host of information tents and enlist local organizations for volunteers and restaurants to provide food for the many participants and visitors. It usually starts out with a pancake breakfast and ends with awards, prizes and entertainment. They are working with the Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity ReStore by helping keep the landfills clean of useable items and employing people with DS 18 or older.. These employment opportunities are helping with their self-advocacy programs by showing individuals with DS skills to help them succeed in today's society.
Research
They are helping locally with research involving The Denver Children's Hospital and the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center. They are continuously looking for new research and studies to further the knowledge of and hopefully a cure for DS.
This is only a small portion of what they have to offer so be sure to visit their website for some inspiring stories and virtual visits.
For further information on MHDSA and it's many resources for Down Syndrome go to their website at : www.mhdsa.org phone:303-797-1699 Fax: 303-756-6144 or contact this writer.
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