We know how to have a good time!

Wordless Wednesday

Thank you to Utah’s Hogle Zoo, Chick-fil-A for the great dinner (the brownies were yummy), Wild Republic for the Adventure Packs, Elite for the disposable cameras and Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Jet Blue Airways, Heber Valley Railroad, Splore and Arc of Utah! WE HAD A GREAT TIME!!!

2008 Down the Fairway Golf Tournament

Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation.
Jack Nicklaus

Wordless Wednesday

Dear Down’s Advocate:

Hello, my name is Maria Dellapina and I am writing to inform you about an opportunity to enhance the lives of the children we spend our lives advocating for.

I am a mother of an nine-year-old daughter with Down Syndrome and have struggled through out her life to fit her properly in eyewear. Being an optician for over 25 years, I was constantly searching for frames that fit her unique needs. After realizing early on that I was fighting a losing battle, I took it upon myself and my experience as an optician, to design and create a special line of frames that dramatically enhances her abilities to function in eyeglasses.

I am proud to say that recently I was able to partner with a manufacturer who has developed my design into a workable frame for children with DS and other special needs. SPECS4US Inc., Superior Precision Eyewear for Children who are Special, is my vision to bring specially formated frames to enhance the life of not only my daughter, but the lives of all the special children struggling with this problem every day.

I have fitted a dozen children in the sample frames I received, and have seen tremendous improvement in the lives of all of them. Parents are e-mailing and calling me to express their gratitude for enhancing the quality of their children’s vision and ultimately their day-to-day lives.

As I am only one mother attempting to advocate for such a large community, I would appreciate your help in spreading the word to those I might not be able to reach. If your organization produces a newsletter or maintains a website, I would like to ask your support in publishing the following information below to reach your community.

If you would like to speak with me directly, have any further questions or would like a sample article ready for print, please feel free to call me at 440.829.9888 or email me at info@specs4us.com. Please check out my webpage, www.specs4us.com, which is nearing completion to learn more about my cause. Thank you in advance for your time and support.

Sincerely,

Maria Dellapina
Founder SPECS4US Inc.

SPECS4US Inc.
FACTS
-Frames will be available June 1, 2008
-Order online at SPECS4US.com or email info@specs4us.com
-Available in a variety of sizes and colors

Fits your child… custom designed to fit the unique facial features of DS children with shortened temples (arms), extra wide frame fronts, and a lowered bridge are ideal for our children.

Fits your lifestyle… made from titanium and memory flex that creates a flexible bridge and temples that spring out 180 degrees to keep up with our children’s lifestyles.

Fits your budget… priced less than traditional frames.

Please feel free to pass this information along to your local optomitrists or opthamologists or provide me with their contact information as I can provide additional information for kit purchases available for their optical offices.

Legislative advocacy training in an election year. Open discussion on the services you need or receive.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Logan Justice Building Main Conference Room

290 North 100 West

Logan, Utah

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

OR

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

St. George Library Community Room A

88 West 100 South

St. George, Utah

11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

No need to RSVP, just show up! contact Joyce Dolcourt at 801-364-5060 ext 12 with questions.

KASA wants YOU! Kids as Self Advocates (KASA) has positions open on our Advisory Baord and Task Force. We are looking for disabled youth, between ages of 12 and 24, to serve on the KASA Advisory Board or Task Force.

APPLICATION DUE DATE: MAY 30, 2008

Download application at www.fvkasa.org

If you are interested in applying contact Naomi Ortiz, KASA Project Director at ortizn@fvkasa.org or for questions please call: 785-273-3398.

Founded in 1975, Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality relationships.  Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) provides four types of assistance dogs: Service Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Facility Dogs, and Skilled Companion Dogs.  Skilled Companions enhance independence for children and adults with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. A Skilled Companion Team includes a person with a physical, developmental or emotional disability, a family member/caregiver, and a Skilled Companion assistance dog.  There is no charge for a Canine Companions for Independence assistance dog.  Utah is in CCI’s Southwest Region which is headquartered in Oceanside, California. For more information, visit cci.org.

On Thursday, July 17, a presentation by CCI’s Utah Chapter, the Wasatch Champions, will be given at REI (3285 East 3300 South, Salt Lake City) at 7:00 PM.  Everyone is invited to come and learn more about CCI assistance dogs.  Utah graduates and puppy raisers will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate their dogs’ capabilities.  Melanie Dutcher, President, Wasatch Champions, can be contacted at 801-484-3605.

Do you have a family member with a developmental disability who needs a job or is graduating soon from school or who is on the waiting list for day or employment services?

The Utah Developmental Disabilities Council is sponoring a new training by Jared Schultz, Ph.D., of Family Solutions to Disability, LLC that will help your family learn about ways you can put together a circle of support to get and keep your family member with a disability working.

REGISTRATION FEE DUE FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2008

Contact Kristin Rencher at 801-533-3965 or 1-800-333-8824 for registration details.  

It is with great sadness that we inform you Out of the Box Reading has closed its doors forever. Some of you may have heard this news already, or simply gone to the former site and discovered that it was no longer there. Fortunately, Denise MacDonald, co-founder of Out of the Box Reading has moved forward with a new business called ’eReadingPro‘. Now, with eReadingPro, you can still enjoy all of the benefits of Out of the Box Reading products and more!