Down Syndrome Ireland - Louth / Meath Branch
Down Syndrome Ireland – Louth / Meath Branch
The Branch AGM will take place in Dundalk on 29th April 2019 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Dundalk at 8pm.
Gary Owens DSI’s Chief Executive Officer will address the meeting where he will outline what is going on in DSI and you will get a chance to meet Gary and ask any questions that you have.
Mike Egan our Regional Resource Officer will also address our meeting to update our members about his role.
Triona Cussen, who teaches at Tons of Fun Tots group in Ardee which is supported by Down Syndrome Ireland LouthMeath has produced the following lip sync video, featuring her three groups, Triona’s Tots (in Ardee), Team 21 Tots (Radisson Dublin Airport) and her group in the Down Syndrome Centre Dublin. The beautiful video features some of our members.
The hope is this video will raise positive awareness around Down Syndrome and change perceptions of children with special needs . We want to show the world how valued and cherished our kids are by their families and the words of the song echo that. We believe this video really does have the potential to go viral but we need your help in sharing it as far and wide as you can . So we urge you on March 6th to share share share !
#ICanAndIWill #howlongwillIloveyou #WDSD2019video #Team21tots #Triona’stots
Lots of Socks
Down Syndrome Louth Meath invites everyone to wear LOTS OF SOCKS on Thursday 21st March 2019 to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) to raise awareness on World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD).
We want to get people talking about WDSD on 21st March.
We can do this if we all wear socks…BUT NOT JUST ANY SOCKS…brightly coloured socks, long socks, printed socks, and 1 sock…maybe even 3 socks for 3 chromosomes. If you don’t normally wear socks then wear them.
The meaning behind wearing Odd socks is that
We are all different, We are all human, We are all the same.
On 21st March 2019, wear LOTS OF SOCKS and invite all your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
We have organised 2 Family Lámh courses for our members starting on Monday 4th March and Monday 11th March.
The Family Lámh Course can be attended by parents, siblings, grandparents, Teachers, SNA’s and others close to the family.
Each course will have a maximum of 12 attendees per course.
The time of the course will be 7-9.00 pm each evening.
The courses will take place in the Conyngham Arms Hotel Slane Co Meath.
Please reply back to me on the email secretarydslm@gmail.com or phone/Text Brendan on 083 8972044 ASAP if you wish to book a place on the course stating which course would suit best.
Places will be awarded on a first come first served basis.
Places are limited to 2 participants per member family as we wish to make it available to as many members as possible.
| Course 1 Dates | Course 2 Dates |
| 4th March Monday | 11th March Monday |
| 25th March Monday | 1st April Monday |
| 8th April Monday | 29th April Monday |
| 7th May Tuesday | 13th May Monday |
| 20th May Monday | 27th May Monday |
Valentines Party 2019 in the Conyngham Arms Hotel Slane.
We had a wonderful Valentines Part on Valentines night in the always fabulous Conyngham Arms Hotel Slane.
A big Thank you to our Member Conor O’Dowd and Liz Murray for the Photos.
A big Thank you also Liz Murray and her team for organising the party.
Register here https://eventmaster.ie/event/M71cbdiBz
Sunday, March 24, 2019 from 11:00 (Eire)
Furze Road
Phoenix Park, Dublin
Contact person: Athletics Ireland phone: + 353 (0)1 8869933
email: roadraces@athleticsireland.ie
http://www.downsyndrome.ie
The event is all inclusive and open to people of all age groups and abilities who can choose to run, walk or push a buggy over the 5km and 1km routes. It’s going to be a fantastic fun event for all the family – we look forward to seeing you there!
Please contact Down Syndrome Ireland on 01 426 6500 or info@downsyndrome.ie if you have any questions about this year’s Purple Run.
#ShareTheJourney #DSIPurpleRun #WDSD2019 #PersonFirst#RunWithUsNotForUs
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT FOR ADULT EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME
Down Syndrome Ireland’s Ability programme was launched in September 2018 and is aimed at providing further education and preparation for employment for our over 18s. The programme has been developed in conjunction with Accenture, a global management consultancy firm and with the support of funding from Pobal.
In its complete format, the programme runs for 4 days per week from September to June for 2 years with modules in Practical Literacy and Technology; Decision Making, Rights and Responsibilities; Work Skills and preparation for employment.
Louth/Meath branch will run and subsidise the programme from September 2019 if there is sufficient interest. Location will depend on the level of interest. It is an option to run just parts of the programme and this may suit members who have already completed Latch on and Mote programmes who would prefer to do the only Work Skills module. Again, it will depend on demand.
Planning for a class in September 2019 must begin NOW. If you are interested in any way or would like more details, please contact;
Geraldine Regan, 087 8157542, foleyregan246@gmail.com or
Audrey O’Dowd, 086 0537177, audrey.odowd@gmail.com
Expression of interest is not a commitment to enrolling in the programme.
Further details in the attached flyer and also in the current Down Syndrome Ireland magazine.
https://downsyndrome.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Ability-Programme.pdf
Children with Down syndrome being ‘actively discriminated against’
Students with Down syndrome are being denied their right to an effective education due to a lack of resources and training for teachers.
Down Syndrome Ireland is calling on the Government to adequately resource and roll out a national training programme for teachers in mainstream schools.
Parents and children with Down syndrome spoke at a briefing in Leinster House in front of TDs and Senators hosted by Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth and Spokesperson on Disability Margaret Murphy O’Mahony asking ‘Please don’t leave us behind’ in the charity’s campaign to ensure full inclusion in our nation’s classrooms.
The call came after Teachers’ Unions the ASTI and TUI advised their members to stop implementing individualised education plans for students with additional needs, such as those with Down syndrome, due to a lack of funding and adequate training provided to their members.
https://downsyndrome.ie/please-dont-leave-us-behind/
**Exciting Job Opportunities**
As part of the DSI Employment Support programme, we are looking for TWO adults with Down syndrome for upcoming work in Carlingford Adventure Centre.
The work will begin in March, but full training will be provided before beginning work.
Possible Duties/Job Roles available include:
-Catering Assistant
-Hospitality & housekeeping
-Admin assistant (working in reception)
-Assisting Instructors on centre activities e.g Laser Tag/pay & play
The team at Carlingford Adventure Centre are really excited to welcome 2 adults with Down syndrome onto their team.
Days & hours are fully flexible to suit the individual (Adventure Centre opens 7 days per week).
Please click on the link to see more about Carlingford Adventure Centre:
https://carlingfordadventure.com/
If you are interested, please email your CV to Aoife Gaffney, National Employment Officer, DSI on aoife@downsyndrome.ie & cc Mike Egan, Regional Resource Officer, DSI Louth/Meath Branch, on mike@downsyndrome.ie . Please contact Aoife(089.7036209) or Mike(085.8618866) if you have any questions.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Aoife
Representatives from Down Syndrome Ireland will be attending Leinster House on January 30th to make a presentation to TD’s and Senators in relation to both:
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We are eager to hear from as many parents as possible on both of these issues to ensure that your voices and concerns are heard by our elected representatives.
As such, can you please email us at info@downsyndrome.ie outlining:
Please include your name, your location, your child’s name and age.
We will only use you and your child’s forenames and county in the document presented to TDs and Senators attending.
To enable us to draft a document with your responses, we would need to have your thoughts and comments by next Thursday, January 24th at the latest.
We will keep you updated on our progress.
https://downsyndrome.ie/dsi-to-present-in-leinster-house-on-education-resources-for-children-with-down-syndrome-we-want-to-hear-from-you/