Don’t worry, singing is NOT mandatory but it IS highly encouraged! This event is open to all moms and ma’ams in the Down syndrome community for an amazing night of food, fellowship, and of course… KARAOKE FUN! We will have our own private space upstairs at Naked River Brewing.

Small bites will be provided by DSCGC and beverages will be available for purchase at Naked River

DSC of Greater Chattanooga is excited to invite parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome back for another Puberty Workshop. This event will be an extension of our first session, however, you do NOT need to have attended the first in order to come. We will have a semi-formal presentation by Dr. April Nesin as well as breakout groups for parents/caregivers to share with one another.

Food and beverages will be available. Childcare will not be provided and you can park off Lyndon Avenue in the lot by the playground.

April Nesin PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in children and adolescents, although she also sees many parents of children with special healthcare or developmental needs. Dr. Nesin is in the unique position to have had not only the academic and clinical training related to specialized healthcare concerns in childhood, but also the first-hand knowledge of the joys and tribulations of parenting and advocating for a child with complex medical, developmental, emotional, social and behavioral needs.

Dr. Nesin’s passion is helping families navigate life’s challenges and advocating for their needs. She has extensive experience working with families impacted by medical issues, including communicating with and coordinating care with medical teams, as well as working with school systems to create plans to support a child’s unique needs. She is a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and Level 1 trainer and also a certified grief recovery specialist. Being the parent of a child with complex needs, she is also passionate about providing support to parents as they navigate life and help them find balance.

You are not going to want to miss this!

The Dash is back and the Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga can't wait to see everyone again! March 21st is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day and to celebrate as a community, we invite you to join us at the Tennessee Riverpark, Shelter #4, on March 23, 2024. This fundraising event is a perfect way to show your support for those in our community who are more alike than they are different as we help raise awareness for our loved ones with Down syndrome in the Greater Chattanooga area.

Race Day Schedule of Events
12:30 pm - Registration and Race Day Packet Pick Up
1:45 pm - Kiddie K
2:05 pm - 5K Run
2:20 pm - Fun Run/Walk
2:45 pm - Awards

Be sure to register before March 10 to get your 2024 Dash for DS t-shirt!

Register here

For our moms and female caregivers of an individual with DS… please join us on Thursday, March 7th for our first Moms & Ma'ams event of the year! We will have a delicious spread of charcuterie items and a non-alcoholic punch. Please feel free to bring a beverage of choice if you would like. We have missed being together and can't wait to see you all again!

Please note, the location is at the lovely home of one of our newest board members and parking is available all along MacCallie Ave and Fortwood Place. RSVP HERE

Join your fellow DSCGC Dads and Dudes for an unforgetable evening of axe throwing, community building and a downright good time. There may be some beverages, there may be some competition, there may even be some professional training. Come and find out what the night will have in store.

For any dads whose kiddos with DS are older than one, there is a $10 admission fee. If your kiddo is under one, please simply come and enjoy! Tickets are available in the DSCGC online store HERE

*DSCGC will not be providing/purchasing any alcoholic beverages during the event.

Join your fellow young adult Future 3.21 friends for an amazing evening of food, fun, and of course.... dancing! Please rsvp on Facebook or by emailing info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org so we can have enough food for everyone.

The event is open only to young adults in the Greater Chattanooga area who have Down syndrome. It will take place at First Centenary United Methodist Church. Free parking is available and someone will be outside to help guide you to the correct room.

The holidays are upon us and the DSCGC holiday party is back for another year of incredible fun! Join us at the Creative Discovery Museum for fun time of food, fellowship and lots of laughs with The Chattanooga Elf! Everyone with Down syndrome and their immediate family members are invited to attend.

This year, we are adding a "Down to Give Back" element and asking attendees to bring an item to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.

Come join us for an hour and 45 minutes of fun at Modern Play! Free to our families! The first hour is play time, the second is for networking and we will provide a light snack!

Lights, camera, action!! We are excited to invite our individuals with Down syndrome, ages 18 and older, to movie night with lots of food, fellowship, and fun.

Please rsvp so we know how many to prepare for. When you RSVP, we will send you the address to the event.

RSVP HERE

DSCGC is excited to invite our male caregivers to a DS Dads event at Top Golf on Thursday, September 21st at 7p!

Come and enjoy a couple rounds of golf, some food/beverage & a great time of connecting with fellow dads in the community. DSCGC is funding part of the cost but we are asking that each participant contribute $20 to the event as well. This does not include dads whose kiddos with Down syndrome are less than one year old... We would love for you to simply come & enjoy!

PLEASE be sure to rsvp so we know how many bays to reserve, and pay at the link below to ensure your spot. Hope to see you there!

If you are a mom/female caregiver to an individual with Down syndrome, you are invited to join your fellow mamas on August 19th at 11a for a time of food and fellowship at Foodworks on the North Shore. This is a great opportunity for connecting with some new moms in our community!

Please note, DSCGC will not be able to provide food or beverages. Meals are the responsibility of the attendees. Please be sure to rsvp so we can prepare the restaurant.

RSVP info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org

Ice cream, splash pad, and all of our friends, old and new! What more could you want at the FREE (for people with DS and their immediate families) DSCGC Pool Party!

Listen up all you male caregivers… it’s time for an event just for you! If you are a Dad, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, or any other male who cares for a loved one with Down syndrome, please join us!

Don't worry, it's not a requirement that you actually enjoy bourbon. This event is completely BYOB so you can bring whichever beverage most suits your fancy. The Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga will provide some food and waters.

Please RSVP so we know how many to prepare for!

There is metered parking in the front and back of the building along market street and cowart street. There is also the Republic Parking lot beside Urban Stack if the street parking fills up. The main entrance is off of Market Street… Just come on in, head up the stairs and go straight back to the rooftop patio

DSC of Greater Chattanooga is excited to invite parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome to our first ever Puberty Workshop. We will have opening remarks from Shonda Caines, a presentation by Dr. April Nesin, and some breakout groups for parents/caregivers to share with one another.

April Nesin PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in children and adolescents, although she also sees many parents of children with special healthcare or developmental needs. Dr. Nesin is in the unique position to have had not only the academic and clinical training related to specialized healthcare concerns in childhood, but also the first-hand knowledge of the joys and tribulations of parenting and advocating for a child with complex medical, developmental, emotional, social and behavioral needs.

Dr. Nesin’s passion is helping families navigate life’s challenges and advocating for their needs. She has extensive experience working with families impacted by medical issues, including communicating with and coordinating care with medical teams, as well as working with school systems to create plans to support a child’s unique needs. She is a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and Level 1 trainer and also a certified grief recovery specialist. Being the parent of a child with complex needs, she is also passionate about providing support to parents as they navigate life and help them find balance.

Childcare will not be provided and you can park off Lyndon avenue in the lot by the playground.

You are not going to want to miss this!

“Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd….” That’s right folks, it’s time for another Down syndrome night at the Chattanooga Lookouts and we want this to be our BEST YEAR EVER! Gates open at 6p and you are invited to join us for a parade on the field before the game at 6:15p. Purchase tickets in the store.

If you have a loved one with DS between the ages of 7 and 18, we invite them to come participate in our first ever cooking class! Attendees will have a hands-on experience of making delicious Fruit Sushi! What is Fruit Sushi, you ask? Well, come find out!

Please RSVP specifically by emailing info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org… There are ONLY 10 spots available so be sure to email ASAP!

Parents are welcome to stay during the class, but are encouraged to hang back and only step in if assistance is needed. The instructor is incredibly excited to work with everyone!

Employment and Community First CHOICES is a TennCare program that is available to support people of all ages who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. The aim of the program is to help members to gain as much independence as possible through a wide variety of supports and services tailored to each individual’s needs. This presentation will provide a high-level overview of the program including eligibility criteria, information on how to apply, benefits, and related resources.

Gary Smith, Director of Employment and Community First CHOICES, will lead the discussion as well as allow time for as many questions as possible at the end of the webinar.

A Microsoft Teams virtual link will be provided prior to the event.

Email for link info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org

DSC of Greater Chattanooga invites you to an informative STEP training for families with special needs. The STEP mission is to empower parents through information, training, and support to become effective partners with professionals in planning appropriate educational programs for their children.

Please join us for this training held by Lisa Mattheiss, the Executive Director of LifeLine and the Special Needs Ministry Coordinator at Christ first Church. Lisa has years of experience work with families, teachers, staff and administrators.

Join us for a night of making new friends, hanging with older ones you may not have seen in a while, and enjoying a relaxing evening!

If you are a brand new Mom to a loved one with Down syndrome (if your child is 1 or under), then this event is free for you! CDSS will pick up half the tab for other mamas of children with DS, so the only cost to you is $20.

CDSS will provide snacks, desserts and waters, but please feel free to bring a beverage of choice to share.

There will be chair neck massages, facials, and a full product from the “make it yourself” station. The last time we were able to host this event was in 2020 and it was an incredibly fun night with great friendships established. We hope you will join us!!

Looking to gain some knowledge on potty training your loved one with Down syndrome? CDSS invites you to join us at Chattanooga Christian School on Feb. 13th where Shonda Caines, an educator and parent of a son with DS, will be teaching us all about the "Rapid" Potty Training method. Many families in our community have experienced great success with kids of all ages and abilities thanks to Shonda's incredible teaching and experience.

There is no childcare for this event. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.

This is not available as a virtual option but a PowerPoint of the seminar presenation will be available upon request.

The Holidays are Rolling!

Our holiday party is back! Join us in the VIP room for an afternoon of food, bowling, fellowship, and holiday fun! Everyone with Down syndrome and their immediate family members are invited to attend.

Please RSVP below

The Katie Beckett program can be a wonderful benefit to our families. Many are already taking advantage of its benefits but we understand that there are aspects of the program that can be a bit complicated. We know that many people have questions and would like more assistance sorting through the details so we would like to help.

CDSS would like to invite you to an evening dedicated to learning more about the program and hopefully shine some light on any confusion there may be. The topics will be Tennessee specific and unfortunately we will not be able to provide childcare. If you would like to join via Zoom please let us know and we will send you a link to join virtually!

We hope you will join us and learn more about how Katie Beckett could benefit your loved one with Down syndrome!