The Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga (DSCGC) in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society joins together every year to host a local Buddy Walk. This event celebrates and supports individuals with Down syndrome and their families while promoting understanding and acceptance of those with Down syndrome. Last year, we saw close to 1,000 registrants and raised over $45k! This funding is the primary source of revenue for our programs, grants and scholarships hosted and given to our families/loved ones throughout the year.

Join us as we unite for a common cause at the 2024 Chattanooga Buddy Walk. Whether you have Down syndrome, know someone who does, or just want to show your support, take the first step and donate or register today! Help us spread the word; all are welcome for our day of celebration!

REGISTER HERE by creating or joining a team: www.ds-stride.org/chattanoogabuddywalk

Who: Dads and male caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome

When: Tuesday, October 29, 7:00pm

Where: Oddstory 1604 Central Ave. Chattanooga, TN

Come enjoy some food and/or a refreshing beverage and hang with your fellow dads and dudes in the Down syndrome community!

Open only to dads or male caregivers in the Down syndrome community.
Food and beverage purchases are the responsibility of the attendees.

Who: Adults with Down syndrome

When: Saturday, October 26, 2:00-3:30pm

Where: Sing It or Wing It 410 Market St. Chattanooga, TN

Come hangout and enjoy some karaoke fun with your Future 3.21 friends! DSCGC will purchase some appetizers for the group... beverages are on your own.

Following the event, you are invited to join Best Buddies at UTC for their homecoming game at 4p.

This event is open to young adults with Down syndrome in the Greater Chattanooga area.

When: Saturday, October 19 10:30am-12:00pm

Where: Smith-Perry Berries 9626 Ooltewah Georgetown Rd, Ooltewah, TN 37363

Join your fellow DSCGC family and friends for a fun afternoon at the pumpkin patch! This is a very casual event... just show up when you can and have a good time. There is no schedule but we will gather near the front at 11:45 for a group photo.

Please note: there is an entrance fee for SPB.

POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER

f you are 21+ and have Down syndrome, and/or are a family member, you are invited to join our Future 3.21 crew for a fun afternoon of tailgating followed by a UTC Mocs football game.

Click HERE to buy tickets
You will need to:
1. Enter the Promo code DSCGC
2. Click the blue “FIND TICKETS” button
3. Use the “Purchase By Price” option
4. Select how many tickets you would like and click “Add to Cart”
5. Checkout

Spread the word among your Future 3.21 friends!

Come enjoy some food and/or a refreshing beverage and hang with your fellow dads and dudes in the Down syndrome community!

Open to only dads or male caregivers in the Down syndrome community.
Food and beverage purchases are the responsibility of the attendees

If you are a mom/female caregiver to an individual with Down syndrome, you are invited to join your fellow ladies on July 27th at 11a for a time of food and fellowship at 1885 in Cambridge Square.

Please note, DSCGC will not be able to provide food or beverages. Meals are the responsibility of the attendees. Please be sure to rsvp so we can prepare the restaurant.

Pools, splash pad, popsicles, and incredible friends both old and new. What more could you want at the FREE DSC of Greater Chattanooga annual Pool Party?! This event is open only to people with Down syndrome and their immediate families.

We hope you will make plans to join us - this is always one of the best events of the year!

The Katie Beckett Waiver is a wonderful benefit to our families, providing $10k in financial assistance. If you have questions on the program or are learning about it for the first time, please join us in the board room of Signal Centers for insight into this incredible resource for Tennessee residents.

Come join us for an hour and a half of fun at Modern Play! Free to our families with young ones with Down syndrome. The first half is play time, the second is for networking and DSCGC will provide light snacks

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Chattanooga Lookouts game in support of the Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga! Come together as a community and celebrate inclusion and diversity. The gates will open at 6:00 PM, giving you plenty of time to find your seats before the first pitch at 7:15 PM. Be part of the parade, cheer on your favorite team, and show your support for a great cause. Get your tickets HERE today!

Come hangout and enjoy some yummy chips and salsa, tacos and fun with your Future 3.21 friends! DSCGC will purchase some appetizors for the group, meals and beverages are on your own.

This event is open to young adults with Down syndrome in the Greater Chattanooga area. Please RSVP to info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org so we have an accurate headcount for the reservation.

Don’t worry, singing is NOT mandatory but it IS highly encouraged! This event is open to all moms and ma’ams in the Down syndrome community for an amazing night of food, fellowship, and of course… KARAOKE FUN! We will have our own private space upstairs at Naked River Brewing.

Small bites will be provided by DSCGC and beverages will be available for purchase at Naked River

DSC of Greater Chattanooga is excited to invite parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome back for another Puberty Workshop. This event will be an extension of our first session, however, you do NOT need to have attended the first in order to come. We will have a semi-formal presentation by Dr. April Nesin as well as breakout groups for parents/caregivers to share with one another.

Food and beverages will be available. Childcare will not be provided and you can park off Lyndon Avenue in the lot by the playground.

April Nesin PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in children and adolescents, although she also sees many parents of children with special healthcare or developmental needs. Dr. Nesin is in the unique position to have had not only the academic and clinical training related to specialized healthcare concerns in childhood, but also the first-hand knowledge of the joys and tribulations of parenting and advocating for a child with complex medical, developmental, emotional, social and behavioral needs.

Dr. Nesin’s passion is helping families navigate life’s challenges and advocating for their needs. She has extensive experience working with families impacted by medical issues, including communicating with and coordinating care with medical teams, as well as working with school systems to create plans to support a child’s unique needs. She is a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and Level 1 trainer and also a certified grief recovery specialist. Being the parent of a child with complex needs, she is also passionate about providing support to parents as they navigate life and help them find balance.

You are not going to want to miss this!

The Dash is back and the Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga can't wait to see everyone again! March 21st is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day and to celebrate as a community, we invite you to join us at the Tennessee Riverpark, Shelter #4, on March 23, 2024. This fundraising event is a perfect way to show your support for those in our community who are more alike than they are different as we help raise awareness for our loved ones with Down syndrome in the Greater Chattanooga area.

Race Day Schedule of Events
12:30 pm - Registration and Race Day Packet Pick Up
1:45 pm - Kiddie K
2:05 pm - 5K Run
2:20 pm - Fun Run/Walk
2:45 pm - Awards

Be sure to register before March 10 to get your 2024 Dash for DS t-shirt!

Register here

For our moms and female caregivers of an individual with DS… please join us on Thursday, March 7th for our first Moms & Ma'ams event of the year! We will have a delicious spread of charcuterie items and a non-alcoholic punch. Please feel free to bring a beverage of choice if you would like. We have missed being together and can't wait to see you all again!

Please note, the location is at the lovely home of one of our newest board members and parking is available all along MacCallie Ave and Fortwood Place. RSVP HERE

Join your fellow DSCGC Dads and Dudes for an unforgetable evening of axe throwing, community building and a downright good time. There may be some beverages, there may be some competition, there may even be some professional training. Come and find out what the night will have in store.

For any dads whose kiddos with DS are older than one, there is a $10 admission fee. If your kiddo is under one, please simply come and enjoy! Tickets are available in the DSCGC online store HERE

*DSCGC will not be providing/purchasing any alcoholic beverages during the event.

Join your fellow young adult Future 3.21 friends for an amazing evening of food, fun, and of course.... dancing! Please rsvp on Facebook or by emailing info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org so we can have enough food for everyone.

The event is open only to young adults in the Greater Chattanooga area who have Down syndrome. It will take place at First Centenary United Methodist Church. Free parking is available and someone will be outside to help guide you to the correct room.

The holidays are upon us and the DSCGC holiday party is back for another year of incredible fun! Join us at the Creative Discovery Museum for fun time of food, fellowship and lots of laughs with The Chattanooga Elf! Everyone with Down syndrome and their immediate family members are invited to attend.

This year, we are adding a "Down to Give Back" element and asking attendees to bring an item to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.

Come join us for an hour and 45 minutes of fun at Modern Play! Free to our families! The first hour is play time, the second is for networking and we will provide a light snack!

Lights, camera, action!! We are excited to invite our individuals with Down syndrome, ages 18 and older, to movie night with lots of food, fellowship, and fun.

Please rsvp so we know how many to prepare for. When you RSVP, we will send you the address to the event.

RSVP HERE

DSCGC is excited to invite our male caregivers to a DS Dads event at Top Golf on Thursday, September 21st at 7p!

Come and enjoy a couple rounds of golf, some food/beverage & a great time of connecting with fellow dads in the community. DSCGC is funding part of the cost but we are asking that each participant contribute $20 to the event as well. This does not include dads whose kiddos with Down syndrome are less than one year old... We would love for you to simply come & enjoy!

PLEASE be sure to rsvp so we know how many bays to reserve, and pay at the link below to ensure your spot. Hope to see you there!

If you are a mom/female caregiver to an individual with Down syndrome, you are invited to join your fellow mamas on August 19th at 11a for a time of food and fellowship at Foodworks on the North Shore. This is a great opportunity for connecting with some new moms in our community!

Please note, DSCGC will not be able to provide food or beverages. Meals are the responsibility of the attendees. Please be sure to rsvp so we can prepare the restaurant.

RSVP info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org

Ice cream, splash pad, and all of our friends, old and new! What more could you want at the FREE (for people with DS and their immediate families) DSCGC Pool Party!

Listen up all you male caregivers… it’s time for an event just for you! If you are a Dad, Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, or any other male who cares for a loved one with Down syndrome, please join us!

Don't worry, it's not a requirement that you actually enjoy bourbon. This event is completely BYOB so you can bring whichever beverage most suits your fancy. The Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga will provide some food and waters.

Please RSVP so we know how many to prepare for!

There is metered parking in the front and back of the building along market street and cowart street. There is also the Republic Parking lot beside Urban Stack if the street parking fills up. The main entrance is off of Market Street… Just come on in, head up the stairs and go straight back to the rooftop patio

DSC of Greater Chattanooga is excited to invite parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome to our first ever Puberty Workshop. We will have opening remarks from Shonda Caines, a presentation by Dr. April Nesin, and some breakout groups for parents/caregivers to share with one another.

April Nesin PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in children and adolescents, although she also sees many parents of children with special healthcare or developmental needs. Dr. Nesin is in the unique position to have had not only the academic and clinical training related to specialized healthcare concerns in childhood, but also the first-hand knowledge of the joys and tribulations of parenting and advocating for a child with complex medical, developmental, emotional, social and behavioral needs.

Dr. Nesin’s passion is helping families navigate life’s challenges and advocating for their needs. She has extensive experience working with families impacted by medical issues, including communicating with and coordinating care with medical teams, as well as working with school systems to create plans to support a child’s unique needs. She is a certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist and Level 1 trainer and also a certified grief recovery specialist. Being the parent of a child with complex needs, she is also passionate about providing support to parents as they navigate life and help them find balance.

Childcare will not be provided and you can park off Lyndon avenue in the lot by the playground.

You are not going to want to miss this!

“Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd….” That’s right folks, it’s time for another Down syndrome night at the Chattanooga Lookouts and we want this to be our BEST YEAR EVER! Gates open at 6p and you are invited to join us for a parade on the field before the game at 6:15p. Purchase tickets in the store.

If you have a loved one with DS between the ages of 7 and 18, we invite them to come participate in our first ever cooking class! Attendees will have a hands-on experience of making delicious Fruit Sushi! What is Fruit Sushi, you ask? Well, come find out!

Please RSVP specifically by emailing info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org… There are ONLY 10 spots available so be sure to email ASAP!

Parents are welcome to stay during the class, but are encouraged to hang back and only step in if assistance is needed. The instructor is incredibly excited to work with everyone!

Employment and Community First CHOICES is a TennCare program that is available to support people of all ages who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. The aim of the program is to help members to gain as much independence as possible through a wide variety of supports and services tailored to each individual’s needs. This presentation will provide a high-level overview of the program including eligibility criteria, information on how to apply, benefits, and related resources.

Gary Smith, Director of Employment and Community First CHOICES, will lead the discussion as well as allow time for as many questions as possible at the end of the webinar.

A Microsoft Teams virtual link will be provided prior to the event.

Email for link info@chattanoogadownsyndrome.org