Have You Heard the Exciting News?

We are rebranding and expanding! 

We are thrilled that we are not only expanding our services (to ALL ages!), but we are also expanding our campus (with our new building next door!) so that we may support people with Down syndrome—every step of their journey, from birth through late adulthood!

Because of this organizational transformation, we spent that last year defining what it means to embark upon this exciting new chapter. With your feedback to help guide us through this process, we clarified our mission because we want our life-changing support and services to enable people with Down syndrome to live to their fullest potential. Thus, Down Syndrome Innovations was born!

Over the next several weeks, we will share the story of our transformation! All of this will be leading up to our Grand Opening (and 37th Birthday Bash!) of our Lifelong Learning Campus on Saturday, June 19th! So, be sure to Save the Date!

Watch our video below about our transition to
Down Syndrome Innovations:

Staying Hydrated this Spring!

Here are some tips from Scott Quaife—our Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Program Skills Specialist who specializes in Health & Wellness—that will not only benefit your loved one with Down syndrome, but also your whole family!

Everyone knows that it’s important to stay hydrated, but it's especially important for people with Down syndrome due to lower muscle tone. That paired with dehydration could lead to digestion issues, which is why I want to focus on hydration this month!

So, how much water should we be drinking? A good general rule is to drink 2/3 of your body weight (in fluid ounces). For example, someone who weighs 100 pounds should be drinking approximately 66 ounces of water daily. Most people don’t drink that much, but this gives you a better idea of how to calculate your goal! Here are some quick tips to help you remain hydrated as you spend more time outdoors: 

• Use water flavoring to make drinking water more appealing, but don’t overdo it. Most of your water intake should be “original flavor” aka unflavored!
• Eat fruits high in water content—such as watermelon and oranges—not only helps with getting more fluids, but the extra fiber helps with digestion
• Use timers or water drinking apps to remind you to keep drinking throughout the day, while also preventing the need to drink large amounts at once.

Looking for that PERFECT Mother’s Day gift or something special for that lady in your life? Kendra Scott is hosting a “Shop for Good” event on April 20th and 21st, with 20% of sales benefiting DSG and our mission! Shop online using web code GIVEBACK-1HRV or in store at Kendra Scott Country Club Plaza & Leawood Town Center Crossing! If shopping in store, be sure to mention the event! (Please be advised Kendra Scott is at limited capacity.) 

Earlier this week, ACE participants Madison and Heather were treated like queens when visiting the awesome Team at Kendra Scott on the Plaza. Thank you to the Kendra Scott Team for making both ladies feel so special! They loved making their own unique piece of jewelry and were all smiles when leaving the store!

Madison and Heather enjoyed their preview of the new spring collection! Check it out here and be sure to shop, April 20 – 21! 

"My husband and I weren’t sure how to process our baby girls’ prenatal diagnosis at 14 weeks. We started googling ‘Down syndrome support group in Kansas City’ and one of the first things that came up was the DSG of KC. I immediately called and talked with Amy, her calm and reassuring tone helped me feel like it might actually be alright. Now at 29 weeks, we’ve attended a new parents breakfast and met a handful of parents just like us. Amy came to our home and brought a beautiful basket full of gifts for our baby girl, along with resources for my husband and I. Best of all, we’ve made friendships with other parents who check in on us as we continue to walk this path. We are so thankful for the support that DSG has provided to us these past months and to be a part of this community."