The Children's Center Presents...

The Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan Presents...

Where in the World is Warner?

Where in the world is Warner?

May 8th Advocacy Day - We Went, We Met, We Advocated

Bright and early on May 8th sixty of us representing The Children's Center boarded the bus headed to Lansing.  Upon arrival, we divided into teams according to the issue for which we were advocating.  Our Blue Team, led by George Winn, TCC COO and Deborah Mathews, TCC CEO,  shared with legislators the importance of supporting the Governor's recommendation to expand early childhood education funding by 2% on the state level to partially off set the decrease of over 5% in funding on the federal level.

TCC Advocates Arriving at the Capitol Building

The day was busy and intense as we met with Senator Pavlov's, Representative Lund's, Representative Roger's, and Representative Franz's respective staffs as well as Senator Coleman Young II.  We were received warmly by all and left each office with a great sense of having made a difference!

TCC Advocates in the Rotunda

Some of TCC's advocates brought their children to see advocacy and government first hand.  Planting the seeds of advocacy in the next generation - yes, You Can Do It!

Young Advocates in front of the Governor's Office

We also participated in the Walk a Mile in My Shoes Rally on the Capitol lawn.  The rally's purpose was to celebrate May as Mental Health Awareness Month; educate legislators about mental health issues; strive to end the stigma of mental illness; promote parity between mental health and physical health insurance coverage; and, promote mental health wellness.

On the Capitol lawn for the Rally

At the end of the day, sixty tired but satisfied TCC advocates boarded the bus for home already planning for next time.

The Children’s Center presents

Advocacy Day

May 8, 2013

Child & Family Issues, Children’s Mental Health, Foster Care Awareness

Help erase stigma and give voice to the issues facing children & families living with mental illness; emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders; trauma, and within the foster care system.

Child & Family Advocates will meet with State legislators in Lansing to engage in advocacy related dialogue and raise awareness about the issues

•        HealthCare Reform & Behavioral Health Parity
•         Medicaid Expansion
•         Expanding Funding for Early Childhood Education
•         Mental Health Services and K-12 Partnerships
•         Funding Equity for Foster Care Services

Who Should Attend?  Child & Family Advocates, Foster Care Families, Social Workers, Children’s Mental Health Consumers, Community Partners, Schools and Educators.

Advocacy Day Sample Itinerary:

Morning:		Afternoon:
7:15 AM	Departure (Detroit)	11:45 AM	Lunch &  Keynote Speaker
9:00 AM	Legislative Meetings & Committee Hearings	1:30 PM	House Session
10:00 AM	Senate Session & Committee Hearings	2:30 PM	Legislative Meetings
11:00 AM	Legislative Meetings & Committee Hearings	3:15 PM	Departure (Lansing)

Registration:  Click here to RSVP by April 22, 2013.

Send questions to Clarence Gayles: Cgayles@childrensctr.net or 313.969.5696.

The Children’s Center’s Guiding Principles

• Behavioral health is an important part of a child’s total physical health diagnosis.
• Behavioral health treatment should be treated equally within the law.
• All children reserve the right to be treated fairly; to have all of their health care, educational, recreational, and basic personal needs met; and, to have the ability to shape their own futures.

Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan and Belightful Yoga Present...

The Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan Cordially Invites You...

Light It Up Blue for Autism on April 2, 2013

Autism Speaks invites you to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd.   Participate in their Light It Up Blue day to shine a light on autism.  Light It Up Blue is a global initiative to raise awareness about the growing prevalence of autism.  Iconic world landmarks will Light It Up Blue to show their support.  Follow this link for pictures of past events and to register.

Whether it's your front porch, a neighborhood business, or a local landmark, join the world in going blue to increase awareness about autism!  This one is from the Phoenix, AZ Zoo.  Send me your picture and I'll post it!!

Vision & Literacy Resources for Down Syndrome

Warner would like to welcome Joan Brennan to our club house.  Joan is a mom, educator, entrepreneur, inventor, and special needs advocate.  Brennan Innovators, LLC, her company, focuses on reading and learning tools for special needs individuals.  She created Reading Focus Cards (US Patent 7,565,759) to help struggling readers, especially those children and adults challenged with AD/HD, dyslexia, autism, low vision, stroke recovery, traumatic brain injuries, and other reading issues.

Today, Joan shares advice and resources for our friends in the Down syndrome community.  read more...

Let's Go Shopping!

Celebrating Black History Month with Special Needs Kids

What better time to teach special needs kids about diversity, tolerance, and overcoming stereotypes than Black History Month?  Black History Month is a time to honor African American authors, inventors, playwrights,  civil rights activists and all those who sacrificed much for the successes that were eventually achieved and the impact that they have had on the world.  Inspiring?  I think so!!  Read more...

Six Reasons Special Needs Kids Gotta Have Art

A picture is worth a thousand words.  To a non-verbal, special needs child, the benefits of pictures and art go far beyond words:  
Art provides special needs kids the chance to creatively communicate thoughts and feelings when they don't have the words to express them.  For example, Valentine's Day is a great time for special needs children and their families to use art for loving self expression.  Read More...

Welcome, Down Sydrome Affiliates in Action

We connect Down syndrome
organizations to each other.

Warner's Corner Toys is proud to announce that we have teamed up with Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action (DSAIA) to offer members and their families a VIP discount on our toys, therapy tools and resources!

Save 10% on purchases of $150 or less! 

Save 20% on purchases greater than $150!

Save on special offers throughout the year!

We strongly endorse and support DSAIA's mission:

"To support and advance the growth and service capabilities of the local and regional Down syndrome organizations that we serve and to be the conduit of value-driven training, programs, best practices and support for our members.
DSAIA's purpose continues to be to serve our affiliates through collaboration, resource sharing, and networking. "

We look forward to supporting DSAIA's members, mission and purpose!

Warner excitedly welcomes the National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) to our club house! Founded in Chicago in 1961, NADS is the oldest organization in the United States serving individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Their mission is to ensure that all persons with Down syndrome have the opportunity to achieve their potential in all aspects of community life by providing information, support, and advocacy.

NADS directly supports Chicago metropolitan area families through their Parent Support Program, Mentoring Program, the Work Experience Program, and other individualized services. However, they welcome everyone to their conferences, products and publications, website including online Discussion Forum, and their information about Down syndrome. In this way, their members can be found throughout the United States—and across the globe.

For more information on NADS programs, please contact them at (630) 325-9112 or info@nads.org.