{"id":12,"date":"2014-12-10T19:41:26","date_gmt":"2014-12-10T19:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nldss.com\/site\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2024-05-03T11:42:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T11:42:15","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nldss.com\/site\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our Mission<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We are a volunteer group of parents, friends and families committed to raising awareness and understanding of Down syndrome, and to removing societal barriers that place limits on our children\u2019s ability to be valued and contributing members of our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every person, regardless of their developmental strength or disability has the right to be accepted, to work, and to feel valued in the community. These are priceless assets that should be readily available to our children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will \u201cSpread our Wings\u201d and have a stronger impact as a volunteer group of advocates by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 fundraising in the community and using those funds to provide special services in the form of Occupational, Speech and Music Therapy to help our children and young adults develop and grow;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 raising awareness of Down syndrome by developing affiliate groups across NL and Labrador and using that collaboration to better help all persons with Down syndrome be integrated members of our community;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 to help more people with Down syndrome find the self-esteem and joy of having a real job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A snap-shot of our beginning and our growth<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Newfoundland and Labrador Down Syndrome Society started in 1997 with a meeting of a group of parents of children with Down syndrome eager to make a difference in their children\u2019s lives. From that initial meeting, a makeshift Board began to form and monthly meetings were held around various dining room tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early days of 1998, without the benefit of \u201cnon-profit\u201d status, fundraising was difficult, but we persevered and tried a little of everything \u2013 from car washes, to writing letters to Legions, to canvasing local charity support groups. The first real donation we were given was a fruit basket from a local grocer. We set up a table at the local Mall, camped out there for an afternoon, and managed to raise all of $100. We were on our way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In early 1999, we established a collaboration with Noble Drilling through which the Society would receive the funds raised from Noble\u2019s annual charity golf tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With our small office and a limited source of private funding \u2013 and no Government funding, we began the next chapter in the growth of NLDSS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n