Matthew Ready for Football Season

September 13th may have been a normal Sunday for most people in the country, but for Liberty resident Matthew Vittoria, it was the beginning of long awaited Chiefs season. Anyone who knows Matthew also knows he’s a sports nut. Ever since he was a kid, he’s been a diehard Kansas City Chiefs and Royals fan. To him, nothing is better than rooting for his home teams.

In that regard, Matthew is a typical 24 year old guy: he loves sports, food, and family. Like every good son, he loves his mom’s cooking, watching ball games with his dad, and riling up his brother and sister. The fact that he has an extra chromosome has never once slowed him down. He’s a proud former participant of the Special Olympics, an accomplished high school graduate, and a social butterfly who can’t go anywhere in his town without seeing an old friend or making a new one.

Throughout the summer, he can be seen walking around his neighborhood with a Royals jersey on and smile on his face, socializing with neighbors and keeping up with his family on his trusty flip phone. His knack for dates and numbers means he doesn’t have to check his address book to call his second cousin whose wedding anniversary he remembered today. But that’s just Matt; always there for his family.

Now that the MLB playoffs are here, he’ll be rooting for his favorite home team in the World Series. Anybody who ever has the privilege of being at a Royals game viewing party with him will feel more excited than if they were actually at the game with all the enthusiasm and jubilance he brings to the room.

With football season happening at the same time, sports are the number one thing on his mind besides what’s for dinner. Every Sunday is going to see Matthew in a Chiefs jersey either watching the game at home or at Arrowhead Stadium. He and his dad Louie build their fantasy football teams together each year as they follow drafts, games, and who the best players of the season are.

With football season in full swing, all Matthew will talk about are his three fantasy football teams. Within about an hour of meeting him, he’ll probably tell you that his team the Northenders are going to beat his older brother Michael’s fantasy team by the end of the season. And you know what? In the past, he has.

It’s exciting to know another Kansas City resident as excited for first downs as First Downs for Down Syndrome is! Good luck with your season Matthew!

13th Annual Golf Classic and Huddle Time Highlights

The 13^th Annual Golf Classic and Huddle Time at the Shadow Glen Golf Club for First Downs for Down Syndrome was another huge success thanks to you! We raised over 200 thousand dollars between both events that will help us immeasurably. Watch the video below to see all the highlights of the event!

          

We had a blast hanging out with everyone on the green who played or watched the tournament, as well as those who participated in the live and silent auctions and came out to support the cause. Amazing items like the Mike Moustakas autographed bat, an autographed Escobar jersey, and so much more went to good homes.

On the behalf of everyone at FDFDS, we would like to say thank you for the continually tremendous support of the Down Syndrome community in Kansas City. Our organization’s events and successes wouldn’t be possible without the support of an amazing community. You help us move forward in our goal to raise positive awareness for all the incredible people in our lives and around the world with Down syndrome.

Check out the rest of the photos from both the Golf Classic and Huddle time on our Facebook! We look forward to seeing you again next year!

Ryan's Summer Adventures

Now that summer has come to a close, and school has started for the year, Ryan and his family took some time to reflect on the awesome summer they had, and share it with us!

When it comes to summer, Ryan and his family look forward to getting to spend more time together, and going on their family vacations. This summer they took a trip to South Dakota to visit Ryan’s grandpa and celebrate his 80th birthday. Ryan also got to do fun things during vacation, like go camping in a cabin for the first time, swimming, make campfire cones, and lots of other cool things.

Out of all of the activities the family experienced this summer, the most fun was meeting Ryan’s runner from the I Run 4 program that he participates in. This program pairs people who want to dedicate their workouts to someone who might not be able to run, bike, walk, or do exercise in general. Ryan’s family was paired with a mom from Michigan, and this summer they met halfway in Springfield, Illinois, to get to know each other. It was a great experience and a neat trip to a city they had never been to before.

If Ryan and his family aren’t traveling, you can find the Toews family either at the pool, or the bowling alley during the summer – bowling is their favorite summer activity!

Now that summer has ended, the Toews family is looking forward to football season. Ryan will once again be helping manage his middle school football team at Pioneer Ridge Middle School in Gardner, KS.  To see some more pictures from Ryan’s amazing summer, check out our photo album on Facebook.

Grandparents Day Appreciation

Grandparents can play a key role in a child’s life. In honor of Grandparents Day, we sat down with Dick and Diane Murray to see just what it’s like to be a grandparent to their grandkids, Hannah, Luke, Nolan, Abby, Gracie and Wilson.

When Luke was first born almost 9 years ago, Diane recalls thinking he was the most beautiful baby she had ever seen. To this day, you can still see the joy that he radiates; immediately when he walks in the door Diane is given a hug and a kiss!

When we asked what activities Diane and Dick like to do with their grandson, they explained that most of the things they do are things you would do with any grandchild. Luke loves to swim and play ball, sometimes the pace just needs to be slowed down a little bit. In addition to these outdoor activities, Luke loves to play on the iPad. Dick explained how playing with the iPad is not just all games, Luke is able to use it to help his reading skills through apps developed just for children with Down syndrome.

Although last year was Dick’s last year participating in the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk, he and his team made major impacts in the years they participated. They raised up to $125,000 from only small individual donations, not from large companies. He wanted to spread the word and gain more participation. The average team size for the Step Up Walk is about 24, but in certain years Dick’s team got to be up to around 300 people! So many of their team members got to know and love Luke, and he is very thankful for all of his participants. He even thanks them with hugs!

When it comes to being a grandparent, we asked Dick and Diane how to have such great grandchildren – and their answer really stuck with us. If you want to have great grandkids, raise good kids! You will get to see what you did as a parent, and be proud of your own children for how they are raising their children. It is great to see everything that you’ve given your children come to the test with their own kids. 

Becoming a grandparent can be one of the most joyous things that happens in life, and Dick and Diane are enjoying every moment they spend with their six grandchildren. 

Ted's Summer Adventures

Summer is coming to a close and it’s time to head back to school. One Shawnee Mission West Student, Ted Clayton, shared the details about his summer, his activities, and what he loves the most about summer with us.

Like most high school students, Ted loves to sleep in during the summer. During the school year, he has to be ready to go when the school bus comes to pick him up at 6:45am, which means getting dressed, eating breakfast, having his backpack ready, and finding his signature smile in time to make it to the bus stop! That’s a lot to do so early in the morning, so the extra time asleep is appreciated. Instead of having to listen to an alarm clock, Ted gets to be woken up by doggie kisses from his dog Bear, which is a much better alternative!

Although this sleeping in is nice, Ted still manages to get up early on Saturdays to meet up with his friends at Master Shim’s dojo for Korean Tae Kwon Do. This summer, he advanced to a yellow belt with stripes! The group he is in likes to focus on self-respect, power, concentration, learning self-defense, as well as strikes, kicks, and more. They even get to break boards.

During the week, Ted stayed active with Inclusion Connections, an afternoon summer camp. Through Inclusion Connections, Ted got to meet with special guests, go on field trips, attend park outings, watch movies, eat special meals, do art projects, attend theater classes, Zumba, and be involved in interactive fellowship with his peers and high school volunteers. The large amount of volunteers that show up at Inclusions Connections has been paramount to Ted’s love of the camp. There are so many peer mentors that allow him to be part of their gang. Ted has also enjoyed going to the movies this summer. Although he loved how exciting Jurassic World was, his favorite was the Minions movie! Probably because he can relate to the fact that the Minions communicate so much without using a lot of words. Something Ted manages to finagle daily.

Ted also got to spend some time out of town this summer. His vacation adventures included visiting Camp Barnabas in Purdy, Missouri, as well as another fun week at Barnabas at the lake, spending time at Table Rock Lake, enjoying the water at Lake of the Ozarks, and visiting his brothers in Lawrence. With summer coming to a close, he is still trying to sneak another KU weekend into his busy schedule. Although he loves high school at Shawnee Mission West, he really wants to be a Jayhawk already!

Being 18 and a Senior, Ted is very excited to show off his new basement apartment for the school year. His apartment lets him be more independent in taking care of himself. Enjoying his pool table, big screen, and game room doesn’t hurt either! He is very excited to be a senior this year at Shawnee Mission West, and is proud to be a Viking. He plans on competing in the Mr. Viking competition this year (we wish him the best of luck!), and although he will miss having the opportunity to sleep in, he is ready to see what the new year will bring.

Walker's Walkers Celebrate Step Up Walk's 20th Anniversery

Sharon Walker has been with First Downs for Down Syndrome at the Step Up Walk before it even was called the Step Up Walk. We caught up with her to discuss her experience with this amazing event, the impact it has had on her and her children, Dan and Elli, and the growth she has seen in the past twenty years.

How did you first hear about the Step Up Walk?

The Down Syndrome Guild was looking for a fundraising event to support the
ever-growing needs of the Down Syndrome community, so the board decided to try what was then the Buddy Walk. The first year the event was held between the stadiums and involved a few dozen families and friends. There was no year printed on the t-shirts in case they needed to be used the next year. It was both fun and successful and has continued to be both as it has grown into the Step Up Walk that exists today.

What made you decide to be a part of the very first walk?

The Down Syndrome Guild meetings were held in the basement of a church when my older daughter Elli was a baby.  We wanted to support the effort so that staff could be hired to help run the Down Syndrome Guild and offer more services to individuals and families.  Having staff would enable the services to grow and better meet needs of the Down syndrome community.

What has been your favorite experience with the walk?

Watching the Walk grow over the years has been remarkable and the sense of community at the Walk is always moving! On a personal level, the Walk is an opportunity each year to share the accomplishments and joy-filled lives of Elli and Dan. I am so grateful for the support we have received from friends and family and the Walk is an opportunity to share that gratitude. It is also a fabulous opportunity for Elli and Dan to feel the love!

What is the most memorable story you have from participating in the walk?

As I read this question all sorts of memories come flooding back!  Big brother Jack and his friends running laps around the stadium while we walked in a slow moving mass, pushing strollers and carrying kids, losing Dan- frequently, the first year with a Walker’s Walker banner, the first year with a team tent area, wind blowing our tent over, younger sister Abby who wasn’t born when the Walk started now being old enough to be a volunteer, having a team spot saved for us, new friends that join our team and the friends and family that join every year, every weather condition imaginable- cold, rain, hot, sunny, wind, but also, perfectly beautiful days!  These memories mesh into a quilt of Walk memories that reflects the endurance of our Walker’s Walker team, and a day filled with gratitude, joy, and love.

What would you say is the best thing about being part of the Step Up Walk?

The kinship and celebration by teams is my favorite thing about the Step Up Walk, as well as the activities for every age and interest imaginable!

How has the walk grown/changed in the past 20 years?

The growth has been phenomenal!  Growing from a few dozen folks to over 10,000, and from hoping to break even to making over $430,000 is truly unbelievable. The number of activities that are going on during the Walk has grown exponentially too. The exact location of the Walk at the Arrowhead campus has varied quite a few times to accommodate the size of the Walk. The team tent area in the center of food and activities is another change as a result of growth and inspiration by organizers.

It’s important to note the consistencies also. The Chiefs have supported the Walk each year and the location has been at Arrowhead as a result of this ongoing relationship. The Arrowhead location is a cornerstone of our KC Walk.  Also the commitment to not only raising money for First Downs For Down Syndrome and the Down Syndrome Guild, but also providing a fun-filled day for families and teams has always been a priority, regardless of the overall size of the Walk. Having teams be the focal point of the Walk is something organizers have been committed to over the years in spite of various challenges, including having team names printed on our shirts.  Step Up Teams love the Arrowhead location, fun atmosphere and team shirts that have been consistent over the years!

Will you be continuing to participate in the Step Up walk?

I’ll see what happens now that both Elli and Dan are out of K-12 education. We’ve made it this far and hope to keep the Walker’s Walkers going!

How has being a part of this event impacted your life?

The Step Up Walk is like a special birthday or anniversary for our family. Each year, the Walk is an opportunity to reflect on and be grateful for the support we have and to celebrate the year’s accomplishments. Feeling supported, being grateful, and sharing joy are incredibly uplifting acts that help sustain our extraordinary lives.

What is something that you learned through participating in the Step Up Walk?

Time flies! I am so grateful to have taken the time to enjoy our Walker’s Walkers team each year. Year by year Elli and Dan have grown and our team has grown, shrunk, and endured. Our challenges now are with post high school education, employment, and independent living. Those challenges are a long way from walking, talking, and potty training! The Walk became part of our lives, so did taking the time to celebrate Elli and Dan, their accomplishments, the gratitude for never ending support, and the team’s gratitude for all we have learned from Elli and Dan. I am grateful to see so many new teams each year and hope they continue to build happy memories around the Walk as we have, because time does fly!

Is there anything you would like people to know about the Step Up Walk, or reasons why you would encourage others who haven’t participated to participate?

The effort is worth it! There is time involved in organizing a team, but it is well worth it! Take the time to enjoy and celebrate the lives of your honorees and your support system, and all that they bring each special year of life.

The success of the Walk has enabled First Downs for Down Syndrome and the Down Syndrome Guild to grow into what they are today providing opportunities for education, support, and services to individuals with Down syndrome and the Down syndrome community. There is a great deal of work and commitment from staff and volunteers behind the scenes which have enabled the Step Up Walk to be all it is today. Their efforts combined with Step Up Teams and donors benefit our Down syndrome community and our entire KC community.

This experience has definitely been a big part of the entire Walker family’s lives, and impacted countless others as well. For information about how you can get involved with First Downs for Down Syndrome, or participate in the Step Up Walk, visit the Step Up Walk website.

Max Goes to Camp

Max headed out to Camp Barnabus in the Ozarks this summer for an incredible faith-based camping experience designed especially for people with special needs, physical or intellectual challenges, and their siblings. The program strives to create life-changing experiences for both campers and staff, and to give spiritual growth and lasting friendships for all who participate. The camp was founded by Cyndy and Paul Teas after meeting a young girl going through chemotherapy who just wanted a camp experience that she felt included in, after having attended summer camp at Kanakuk for so many years prior to her diagnosis. Camp Barnabus is that place, where all are welcomed, accepted and included.

Max spent a week at Camp Barnabus this year, his third year attending the camp, and had invaluable experiences. Being part of a sleep-away camp is almost a rite of passage, and his family was very excited for Max to be able to have that experience in a place he could learn and grow. His family talked of how much he loves going swimming, eating camp food, and getting to leave the cabins for a night to sleep in tents. The campers even cooked dinner and ate s’mores roasted over a campfire! The camp has themed parties every night for the campers, and Max thoroughly enjoyed all the singing and dancing that came along. He made many friends along the way as well, his parents said, and rekindled old friendships with campers who had attended with him in years past, including his volunteer helper from last year.

When we asked Max’s mother what her favorite thing about Max’s experiences at camp, she had this to say:

“We love that Max gets an independent, sleep away camp experience that every child should have available to them and that we knew confidently that he would be well cared for, loved, and authentically respected as a person at Camp Barnabus. We love that it is a chance for him to step away from the world of iPads, Netflix and video games and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.  They request very detailed information about your camper so they know how to make his experience best.  When we met Max’s new assigned volunteer helper for the week I was very touched when he told us he had not only studied about Max, but he wanted us to know that he had been praying daily, for a boy he still had yet to meet, that their experience together would be wonderful.”

Camp gave Max opportunities to grow and learn how to be independent, a valuable experience for all kids, but especially important to those with special needs. Barnabus gave Max the opportunity to have the same experiences as his typical peers at school are able to have during the summer, and to build authentic and genuine friendships through the camp. Camp Barnabus also allowed Max to grown in his faith, and his parents were excited for him to have the chance to see that God made him perfect the way he is, and that there is an important plan for his life. They also mentioned how great this camp has been for them as well, as it is often difficult for them to part with him because they worry about his care. However, they have seen how wonderful the staff at Camp Barnabus is with all the people who attend and how equipped they are to handle any situation, and they remind themselves that Max is capable, smart and able to rise to any challenge.

                  

Max is already signed up to attend Camp Barnabus next year, and may even be attending two one week sessions. He couldn’t be more excited to go back! He will also be attending another sleepaway camp with the Jewish Community Center this summer, which he can’t wait for either. We hope he has a wonderful time!