Local News Items

• Gail Marino, founder of Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization, Terri Harmon, Executive Director, and self-advocates Zach Gottsagen and Frank Harmon will be traveling to Washington D.C. again this year to visit local legislators and discuss issues affecting individuals with Down syndrome.  On the agenda this year is the ABLE Act.  The trip is scheduled for February 24-25, 2010.
   
• Sue Davis-Killian, Board Chairman, featured in recent Teaching Tolerance article.

• Kim Marino, self-advocate featured on Weight Watchers International Blog
  
  Excerpt from the blog of David Kirchhoff
  http://www.manmeetsscale.com/
  CEO of Weight Watchers International
  Thursday, February 18, 2010

  
  The book signing event in Boca was attended by a bunch of local area Leaders and Receptionists from our meetings.  In many cases, they brought a member or two so they could meet Jean.  One of the Leaders, Vicki Thomas (on the left), brought a very special member by the name of Kimberly Marino (on the right).  Kimberly is special for a variety of reasons:  she's a joyful, kind, energetic, hard working and enthusiastic person.  At age 34, she also happens to have the developmental disability of Down syndrome.
  
  I did not realize that people who have Down syndrome are statistically much more likely to suffer from an overweight or obese condition.  It seems that this is primarily due to the fact that people who have Down syndrome also tend to have a lower basal metabolic rate.  With this in mind, some of our local staff in the Palm Beach area worked with the local Goodwill to begin providing Weight Watchers for people who have developmental disabilities including Down syndrome.  The effort has been funded by the State of Florida, and 24 people have now gone through the program.
  
  Kimberly was one of those people.  At a relatively young age, Kim had to have a total hip replacement which disallowed her from doing an exercise for a long period of time.  At only five feet tall, her weight jumped to 157 pounds.  To help with the recovery of her hip operation, Kim's mother had her enrolled in the Weight Watchers program so she could learn about better food choices and proper portions.  Kim attended regular Weight Watchers meetings and had the immediate support of all the members in her meeting.  During her first week, she lost 5 pounds to the wild cheers of her group.  She was hooked.  She has since gone on to lose 52 pounds and keep it off for two years.  She has done so despite having a second hip replacement operation.
  
  Today, she loves to shop, and she is a regular exerciser. She regularly puts in 10K steps EVERY day, reportedly while singing Celine Dion loudly. She approaches her healthy life with joy and enthusiasm.
  
  She is a reminder to me about why I love to work for Weight Watchers, and she is a reminder to me that a healthy life is a gift, not a punishment. Kim. You rock hard and successfully. Cheers, David  
  
  

• Local Moms travel to D.C. to advocate for individuals with Down syndrome.

Click for The Palm Beach Post Story
 

In February 2009, as part of Affiliates in Action, five moms from Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization and one mom from Treasure Coast Down Syndrome Awareness Group traveled to Washington, D.C. for two information-packed days of learning and one day "on the hill" with local legislators.
 

Local mom advocates met with Congressman Ron Klein and representatives in the offices of Congressmen Hastings, Rooney, and Wexler. Moms from other Florida groups met with representatives in the offices of our Florida Senators Nelson and Martinez.

The night before meeting with the congressmen, affiliate leaders from around the country were briefed on two bi-partisan issues affecting the Down syndrome community. Over 200 visits were made to legislators.

The first issue discussed with our local leaders in Washington was the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act. The bi-partisan bill was signed into law on October 8, 2008 and requires Congress to enact a separate appropriation of $5 million per year over the next 5 years. This will ensure that parents receiving a positive prenatal or postnatal test result for Down syndrome will be provided current, scientific information about life expectancy, clinical course, intellectual and functional development as well as prenatal and postnatal treatment options.