Letter from the Director
Hello Families and Friends,
Just a couple of weeks after last year’s holiday party (remember those?), the CRDSS board decided to survey the membership about how CRDSS might better serve individuals who have Down syndrome and their families. We hosted a listening session, which yielded many rich ideas, and we followed up with an online survey for those who couldn’t attend. The plan was to then use this data to guide the board when setting the budget and goals for the 2020/2021 fiscal year.
Enter COVID-19.
Nothing like a pandemic to highlight for us how we play a largely social role in the lives of the people we serve. Right away we had to cancel the 321 Dance, and we haven’t seen each other in person since!
After waiting a couple of months to see how things played out, the CRDSS board decided that something less like a strategic planning session and more like “tactical ideation” was in order. We used the aforementioned data to guide our conversation about the near-term future.
It emerged that the top priority for the CRDSS in this new paradigm is to create opportunities for the people we serve to continue to connect with each other. Virtually, for now. To that end, we recently launched parent meet-ups and an exercise class for those ages 14 and up.
We also continue to be a source of information and strength for new families first receiving their child’s diagnosis. We’ve welcomed several new families into our community this year. And while we weren’t able to pay personal visits to each of them due to the pandemic, we were able to connect and share resources with them.
And, with regards to the Buddy Walk, the show will go on! The board agreed that it was important to keep the tradition alive. We are going to do our best to meet our annual fundraising goal and fuel the sense of community we experience when we gather. Please join us on October 24 for a reimagined event that will bring us together in spirit.
As always, the CRDSS board welcomes your ideas for programming and outreach. Please be in touch! I would love to hear from you.
Yours Truly,
Heather House
Executive Director
Just a couple of weeks after last year’s holiday party (remember those?), the CRDSS board decided to survey the membership about how CRDSS might better serve individuals who have Down syndrome and their families. We hosted a listening session, which yielded many rich ideas, and we followed up with an online survey for those who couldn’t attend. The plan was to then use this data to guide the board when setting the budget and goals for the 2020/2021 fiscal year.
Enter COVID-19.
Nothing like a pandemic to highlight for us how we play a largely social role in the lives of the people we serve. Right away we had to cancel the 321 Dance, and we haven’t seen each other in person since!
After waiting a couple of months to see how things played out, the CRDSS board decided that something less like a strategic planning session and more like “tactical ideation” was in order. We used the aforementioned data to guide our conversation about the near-term future.
It emerged that the top priority for the CRDSS in this new paradigm is to create opportunities for the people we serve to continue to connect with each other. Virtually, for now. To that end, we recently launched parent meet-ups and an exercise class for those ages 14 and up.
We also continue to be a source of information and strength for new families first receiving their child’s diagnosis. We’ve welcomed several new families into our community this year. And while we weren’t able to pay personal visits to each of them due to the pandemic, we were able to connect and share resources with them.
And, with regards to the Buddy Walk, the show will go on! The board agreed that it was important to keep the tradition alive. We are going to do our best to meet our annual fundraising goal and fuel the sense of community we experience when we gather. Please join us on October 24 for a reimagined event that will bring us together in spirit.
As always, the CRDSS board welcomes your ideas for programming and outreach. Please be in touch! I would love to hear from you.
Yours Truly,
Heather House
Executive Director