D.A.D.S.
Families Exploring Down Syndrome Chapter
One of our members is taking the lead to establish a D.A.D.S. (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome) chapter. At the request of the board, his plans are on hold until after the 2008 Buddy Walk, when the board will be able to give this effort the support it deserves. If you are the father of a child with Down syndrome, and have an interest in this group, please contact Dax Clarke at 586-932-6393, or daxclarke@yahoo.com.
What is D.A.D.S.?
The following information about Dads Appreciation Down Syndrome is reprinted with permission from the D.A.D.S. national website.
Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome, or D.A.D.S., is an organization 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. We prefer to think of D.A.D.S. as an “action group.” 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 kid’s sports teams, participating in our children’s IEPs, volunteering at local Down syndrome fundraising events, and even sponsoring fundraising events of our own.
We host regular meetings where our 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 many 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.
