DADS Golf Outing

Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome

or D.A.D.S., is a committee or community group (within Families Exploring Down Syndrome) of fathers of children who happen to have Down syndrome. We hesitate to call our self a “support group”, even though we do, in many ways, support each other.

The 3 foundational pillars of D.A.D.S. are Support, Action and Fellowship. You won’t find us in a church basement drinking warm coffee and whining about having children with Down syndrome. Instead, you’ll find us out in the community coaching our kids’ sports teams, participating in our children’s IEPs, volunteering at local Down syndrome fund-raising events, and even sponsoring fund-raising events of our own.

The cornerstone of D.A.D.S. groups is the monthly meeting where members come together to share insights and experiences. Face it: there are certain responsibilities that generally fall on the shoulders of the father. Having a child with special needs often affects how we approach those responsibilities.

We invite expert speakers to discuss medical, educational, financial, social, and any other issues that affect our children’s lives. And of course, we share stories and experiences that are unique to fathers of children with Down syndrome. Your colleagues at the office may not understand your excitement when your 5 yr old makes “poopie” on the toilet for the first time, but other D.A.D.S. will, because we’ve all been there.

Upcoming Events

The 2nd annual DADS Golf Outing is on August 4th. We need golfers, Hole sponsors and workers. Space is limited so gather your team NOW. Contact Jim Spencer for more information: Jspencer50@msn.com

D.A.D.S. Night Out Downtown at Comerica Park (date to be determined)

D.A.D.S. Night Out at Red Ox Tavern in Utica, MI. The last Wednesday of every month. The food is great and the servers are friendly. First time attendees can enjoy dinner on DADS. Why not come out and see what they are all about? For more information contact Jim Spencer cell (586)436-7900, (586)977-3757 or Jspencer50@msn.com

Past Events

We have hosted IEP classes, Special Needs Trust Classes, Golf Outings, Family Bowling Outings as well as volunteering at FEDS picnics, and the Down Syndrome Awareness Walk