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BCARC Family Support News |
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On June 21, 2006, a perfect sunny evening, the BCARC Family Support Program and the Down Syndrome Resource Group of Western Massachusetts sponsored a picnic for the families of the BCARC Down Syndrome Family Support Group at Pinegrove Park in Dalton. Members of the groups and their families participated in an evening of a “pizza picnic”, complete with an ice cream sundae bar, good company and, most important, a casual support atmosphere for parents, siblings, and children with Down Syndrome. The children, as expected, had a lot of fun playing on the playground while their parents chatted. Parents of ten families in Berkshire County are currently |
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members of the Down Syndrome Support Group that meets on a bi-monthly basis. The group, which supports family members of children and adults with this diagnosis, was formed as one of many support services that Berkshire County Arc makes available to families involved in the Family Directed Project as well as families in the community not receiving other supports from BCARC. Down Syndrome is a diagnosis is becoming more common in Berkshire County. Area parents, particularly those involved in the support group, have dedicated themselves to not only finding as much information about Down Syndrome as possible but also finding other families living in the same circumstances to |
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support in the future. The Support Group recently connected with Berkshire Medical Center to disseminate contact information about the group when new babies are born with Down Syndrome. The group also plans to design a brochure as well as other handouts to distribute throughout Berkshire County to make other parents and members of the community aware of the supports available to them. The BCARC Down Syndrome Family Support Group in the coming months will aim to create an even stronger support network of families of people with Down Syndrome throughout Berkshire County. For a support group that has grown so quickly this is sure to be a successful endeavor in the early years to come. |
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Would you like more information about the BCARC Down Syndrome Family Support Group? Contact Marie Tiffany Spencer at (413) 499-4241 Ext. 265 or mtiffany@bcarc.org |
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