TRANSITIONING YOUTH (AGES 14-21)
PROGRAMS
VIRTUAL TEEN HANGOUT (AGES 13-19)
Join Katie and Adrian every Thursday at 6:30 pm for our Teen Hangout on Zoom! Families are welcome to participate. Contact Katie Myers for more information.
DANCE CLASSES
In partnership with Metropolitan Ballet Theatre & Academy, DSNMC periodically offers dance classes in 6-week series. Metropolitan Ballet instructors introduce students to the fundamentals of dance technique while exploring different genres such as ballet, jazz, modern, and more. Students work on gaining strength and coordination all while exploring their artistry and creativity.
POSITIVELY SPEAKING
In partnership with ArtStream, Positively Speaking teaches, supports, and empowers our teens and adults with Down syndrome. Workshops focus on communication and social skills using innovative theater arts techniques. Workshop series are offered in the spring and fall. For a preview, check out this WJLA feature of a Positively Speaking workshop!
RESOURCES
We have attempted to create a comprehensive and inclusive list of resources to support caregivers in finding age specific programs and services. These resources may include but are not limited to educational programs, support groups, parenting guides, financial grants and assistance, community and recreational programs, and health and wellness services.
- MCPS Transition Checklist
- All About Me Booklet
- After All Program - after-school and summer program for pre-teens and adolescents.
- Respite Coordination for Primary Caregivers of Children & Youth
- Respite Coordination for Primary Caregivers of Adults ages 18-59
- Supporting People with Disabilities Coping with Grief and Loss
- Special Olympics Maryland Montgomery County - provides a year-round training and competitive sports program for Montgomery County children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or closely related developmental disabilities.
- Best Buddies Maryland - serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities
- Behavior Guide to Down Syndrome
- Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act
- ABLE National Resource Center - educates, promotes and supports the positive impact ABLE can make on the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and their families.
- MCPS Transition Services - provides stakeholders with the necessary resources, tools, supports and professional development needed to ensure students a successful transition into further education, employment, and full participation in their community
- Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) - delivers a variety of social services, employment supports, safety programs, and court-ordered behavioral health care.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income or resources.
- The Parents' Place of Maryland - offers a variety of programs and services that continue to support families of children with disabilities and special health care needs.
- Grief Support for Children with Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
- Parent Encouragement Program - helps parents and caregivers build strong and harmonious family relationships so that children grow up in a supportive environment fostering the critical values of respect, cooperation, responsibility, and competence.
- The Arc Montgomery County - supports over 600 children, youth, adults and families by providing child care, work skills training, employment opportunities, community living services, resources, advocacy and respite care.
- Aquatics at YMCA Silver Spring - provides opportunities in wellness, aquatics, youth sports, overnight camp, and more for over 250,000 people through our 16 branches and program centers.
- Special Education - provides information to families to include resources, answering questions, hosting virtual support sessions, and upcoming events.
- Child Find - provides free developmental screenings for children from three years of age until kindergarten.
- Sunflower Bakery - provides skilled job training and employment for adults 18+ with learning differences in pastry arts, production baking, barista service and front of house operations.
- Montgomery County Recreation Department - Therapeutic Recreation - provides accessible recreation, leisure skills and personal development activities for individuals with disabilities through adaptive programs and inclusion (mainstreaming).
- Jewish Community Center of Greater Balitmore - serves as the nexus for diverse communities that seek our recreational, wellness, educational and cultural programs.
- Children’s National Medical Center - Down Syndrome Clinic - a dedicated Down syndrome clinic in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
- Personal Finance for Disabled People - a finance calculator
- GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome - provides first in-kind, evidence-based medical recommendations to support clinicians in their care of adults with Down syndrome and was supported by generous donations from the Down syndrome community.
- Adult Down Syndrome Center - Resource Library - provides healthcare and services for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
- Worksource Montgomery - connects jobseekers to employers and employers to jobseekers.
- Graduate Transition Program - a custom-tailored and learning community program that offers students a unique postsecondary opportunity to further their formal education.
- Challenge Program - provides unique open enrollment enrichment courses for adults with developmental disabilities to help them function more independently in their homes, at work, and in the community.
- Employed Individuals with Disabilities - a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities who would be ineligible for Medicaid because of their earnings.
- Secondary Transition Assessment Toolkit - contains resources and assessment tools to use with students for transition planning.
- Maryland Transition Resource Guide - provides tips and resources to help plan for adulthood and life after high school.
- MAKOM - supports and empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve the quality of life to which they aspire.
- Adult Medical Guidelines from Global
