Last chance to purchase tickets for the Butterfly Ball on Saturday 25th May - only a few tables left!

Call Vanessa in the office NOW and book your table, or if you want to be placed on another table we can do that for you (phone: 9368 4002 or email: admin@dsawa.asn.au)

Down Syndrome WA is both honored and delighted that His Excellency the Governor of Western Australia will be attending our 'Crystal Ball' themed event this year. Our host is the entertaining Peter Rowsthorn (of Kath & Kim fame) and Jessica Mauboy will be performing live. It's sure to be a sensational night.

Sponsors and donations of auction items are still welcome, right up to the last week. The ball is our main fundraiser for the year and funds raised literally keep our Helpline and Support Services going from year to year. Down Syndrome WA does not receive any ongoing Government funding and, after more than 27 years of supporting people with Down syndrome, families and the community, we still rely on fundraising to keep our doors open. If you know of someone who might be a potential sponsor or donor (could be an individual or a business or company), please either approach them on our behalf (personal connections can work wonders) or let us know about them. A small effort from you might mean a significant gain for West Australians with Down syndrome.

Volunteers are always needed on the night as well. So if you prefer to be helping out, contact Adriana to offer your services via the Butterfly Ball website: www.butterflyball.com.au or call Adriana on: 0412 449 411

May 2013 E-News now available for download

The May 2013 edition of the E-News Newsletter and it's attachments are available for download, please click here to access the E-News webpage.

DSWA Annual Report 2011 - 2012 now available on the DSWA website

You can click here to download the DSWA Annual Report 2011 - 2012 in pdf format.  You can Contact Us for a hard copy or an alternative version including MS Word (where available), Braille, Audio or Large Print.

All past DSWA Annual Reports can be found via the main website menu by clicking About Us > Financial & Legal > Annual Reports.

The 2012 - 2013 DSWA Board Members are;

Bill Marchbank (Chair)

Julie Jalawadi (Deputy Chair & Treasurer)

Cathy Donovan (Secretary)

Mike McKevitt (Board Member)

Pam Toster (Minute Secretary)

Jackie Softly (Down Syndrome Australia Board)

Nick Gray (DSWA Ball Liaison)

Rob Tilli (Board Member)

Darren Newnes (Finance Sub-committee).

A Who's Who of DSWA Staff can be found via the main website menu by clicking About Us > What We Do > Who's Who.

Recommended iPad Apps now available on the DSWA website

Apps are very useful for visual learners. They are fun, motivating and can be repeated as many times as you like.  You can find lists of iPad Apps that have been recommended by parents and teachers on the new iPad Apps page - click here. 

DSWA Calender 2013 Now Available

The DSWA 2013 Calender is a beautiful, contemporary calender with a mixture of colour and black & white photos, featuring people with Down syndrome of all ages leading full and interesting lives. Superb photographs by award-winning photographer Bob Litchfield, who has generously donated his time and expertise to Down Syndrome WA. A wonderful gift for family, friends, teachers, work colleagues, anyone!  The DSWA 2013 Calender dimensions are 245mm x 340mm.

You can purchase your DSWA 2013 Calender through the DSWA Online Store.  

Motherhood and genetic screening: a personal perspective

An article by Fiona Place published on www.down-syndrome.org

According to the medical profession the direction and scope of reproductive services such as IVF and pre-natal screening are based on solid evidence; the evidence indicates these are effective and safe services. Moreover, women want them. As a consequence these services are usually presented to the wider community in a positive light with images of ‘successful’ birth outcomes showcasing the importance of their work.

Unsurprisingly this has lead to women being expected to take control - from timing a pregnancy to choosing one particular pregnancy over another – they are to improve their lives and the health of their offspring. But are these developments all ‘good’ news?

Is it safe to assume the push to achieve better birth outcomes and the concomitant use of prenatal testing automatically improves lives? Could it be the issues raised are causing some lives to become harder? How meaningful, for example, are tests such as amniocentesis and CVS?

As the mother of a child with Down syndrome I believe it is important for myself and other women in similar situations to share their lived experience. Perhaps we can illuminate some of the more complex and troubling issues these technological advances have the capacity to create – not only for ourselves – but for all women.

To read more of this article on www.down-syndrome.org please click here.

Downs Designs Online Clothing Store

At Downs Designs, we understand finding clothes for people with Down syndrome and having them fit is a daunting task. That is why we have set out to create a full clothing line that is specifically tailored to fit the body shape of someone with Down syndrome.

Click here for the Downs Designs Online Clothing Store website or find Downs Desings on Facebook.

Teen with Down Syndrome graduates with standard diploma in the USA

An article by Beth Shelburne published on www.downsyndromedaily.com

Allison Gabriel is a young woman who has dreamed big since she was little. This girl with a big smile is a lot of things--daughter, sister, friend to many.  Allison's strengths have always been the focus in the Gabriel house, because even though Allison has Down syndrome her parents say it's no big deal.

"Not everyone in this world is perfect. In fact I don't know anyone who's perfect other than Jesus and so... She is who she is," Allison's mom, Susan, said.

Allison had to work extra hard to pass her exit exams to achieve her goal of graduating with a standard diploma. But despite that achievement, when you talk to Allison, it's never about her.  When asked how she feels about graduation, she said, "It feels great... And I like to be with my sister."

To read more of this article and see the related video on www.downsyndromedaily.com please click here.

Healthy Shelf Online Store

You can choose to donate part of the proceeds to DSWA when purchasing select products from the Healthy Shelf Online Store.  See the Charity & Community Infomation Page on www.healthyshelf.com.au for more details.