Executive Director

Our mission is to promote the unique contributions of children and adults with Down

syndrome by providing direct services to them and their families, and to educate the general

public by fostering inclusive and integrated involvement with the Down syndrome community

and society at large.

The Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area, consisting of a group of caring individuals,

educators, therapists, and involved community members was started in 1998 by a group of parents

seeking to fill a void in services and support available to children and adults with Down syndrome

and their families. We remain unique in that we are the only organization in the Bay Area dedicated

to the special concerns and unique contributions of people with Down syndrome.

To date DSCBA has completed the following activities through the CCAF grant:

Consultation and set up with speech pathologist Augmentative Alternative Communication

(AAC) expert

Implemented three (3) community AAC workshops that included education on AAC and

options available, as well as hands-on time with AAC devices.

Obtained parent feedback on each workshop, which is helping to guide our next set of

workshops and program activities

Ordered equipment for lending library and for use in workshops (including 6 Go Talk Ones,

Dell computer with Touch Screen, 1 Super Talker, 1 Step by Step, Talking Photo Album, 4

iPads, 4 iPad covers, 1 iPad dock and dock connector, 2 iPod Touches, iTunes Touch Chat

application and multiple other learning and assistive communication applications, camera

connection kit, wireless keyboard, Board maker software with Speaking Dynamically Pro,

and Talking photo albums/Go Talk One/Step by Step)

Begun lending library and initial lending has begun as a pilot to obtain feedback from early

users (this will help guide future equipment purchasing, training, and lending)

Created AAC web page: (http://www.dsconnection.org/information/augmentative-

alternative-communication.php). Please visit our web-site to read and download our AAC

workshops and lending library information

Nancy LaBelle

Executive Director, Down Syndrome Connection Bay Area

************@*********.***

Kati Skulski, M.S. CCC, SLP

Augmentative Communication Specialist

*********@*****.***

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