CCDSN

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

CCDSN Building a network of friends & families in Champaign County & East-Central Illinois We hope you will join us!

The DSN partners with families, educators, therapists and local agencies to create an environment in which individuals with Down syndrome are welcomed with fairness, enthusiasm, and encouragement in the community. We embrace inclusion at all levels of community life: schools, workplace, neighborhoods and places of worship. We envision a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations and become valued members of welcoming communities. Through our various community outreach programs, educational workshops, support groups & fun member activities, we hope to build a diverse, thriving network of friends & families sharing deep relationships while working together to achieve success for those in our world with Down syndrome.

10/08/2026

"It's just Down syndrome."

Unfortunately, many families have heard this statement after describing a behavior change or new symptom that they have noticed their loved one with Down syndrome experiencing. In medical care, this is called diagnostic overshadowing. When a healthcare professional overshadows with regards to Down syndrome, the professional focuses primarily (or only) on the fact that the person has Down syndrome and less on the possibility of a co-occurring health condition. Diagnostic overshadowing can lead to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of potentially treatable health conditions.

National Down syndrome organizations have developed (and continue to develop) resources to educate healthcare professionals about health of people with Down syndrome, including Down Syndrome Project ECHO and Learning Library from the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group - USA and CARE Down Syndrome from the National Down Syndrome Society. Sharing these resources is one way to reduce the likelihood of experiencing diagnostic overshadowing.

See our Resource Library to learn more about diagnostic overshadowing and find links to Down syndrome resources for healthcare professionals.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/news/down-syndrome-awareness-month-october-8-2026/

10/05/2026

Many people with Down syndrome have blood pressures on the lower side of normal or lower than normal. Differences in how the autonomic nervous system functions in people with Down syndrome may contribute to these lower blood pressure readings.

Even with blood pressures that are on the lower side of normal or even lower than normal, many people with Down syndrome do not have symptoms associated with low blood pressures. A blood pressure that is "too low" and results in symptoms varies from person to person.

It is important to check blood pressure periodically (such as at doctor's appointments) to determine what a person's typical blood pressure is. If an individual becomes ill, it is helpful to be able to compare their blood pressure to their typical blood pressure. Additional information on blood pressure in people with Down syndrome is available in the article by Brian Chicoine, MD linked below.

🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/blood-pressure/

To celebrate Down Syndrome month (October) and World Down Syndrome Day (3/21), local Penn Station restaurants will offe...
10/04/2026

To celebrate Down Syndrome month (October) and World Down Syndrome Day (3/21), local Penn Station restaurants will offer Deals for Down Syndrome coupon books for a $5 donation.

Each book includes more than $30 in Penn Station deals, and 100% of proceeds benefit local Down syndrome organizations in the communities Penn Station serves. The CCDSN directly benefits from this great program.

Coupons are valid through March 21, 2027 - making the books a great way to enjoy Penn Station throughout the year.

Stop by an area Penn Station (Champaign, Danville, or Springfield) to purchase your coupon book and support our organization.

10/01/2026

💛💙 Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! 💛💙

Every person with Down syndrome is unique. They have their own personality, interests, talents, goals, and life experiences. A phrase often heard in the Down syndrome community is, “If you have met one person with Down syndrome, you have met one person with Down syndrome.” This reminds us that no two people are exactly alike.

At the same time, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals have noticed that many people with Down syndrome have some common behavioral characteristics and traits. This is sometimes called the “behavioral phenotype” of people with Down syndrome. These common characteristics include self-talk, the “groove,” empathy radar, strong visual memory, and concrete thinking.

Understanding these characteristics can be helpful when supporting individuals with Down syndrome in optimizing their health and promoting their overall well-being. When we appreciate both the person’s unique qualities and the characteristics they may share with others, we can provide more thoughtful support. We can build on strengths, respond to challenges, and help each person work toward their own goals.

More information about common characteristics is available in our Resource Library: https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/common-characteristics/

💙💛 Join us in celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month this October! Follow us to see our daily "Did You Know?" posts. 💙💛

09/29/2026

Do you have questions about how to support an individual with Down syndrome in becoming more independent with personal hygiene tasks?

Check out the recording of our webinar featuring Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, occupational therapist at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. Katie shares tips and strategies for a wide variety of tasks including:
🚽 toilet hygiene
🛁 bathing/showering
🦷 brushing teeth
🧴 caring for skin and nails
➕ and more!

The recording and slides are available at the link below.
🔗https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/personal-hygiene-webinar-12-12-2024/

09/27/2026

Incorporating shorter periods of physical activity throughout the day can be more manageable than doing longer periods of exercise all at one time.

During our Healthy Lifestyles group for individuals with Down syndrome, we brainstorm ways to be more active such as:
🧘‍♀️ stretching when we wake up in the morning
🛗 taking the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator
💪🏾 doing jumping jacks, arm punches, or squats during commercial breaks
📱 setting reminders to take movement breaks

A ten-minute walk in the morning ➕ a three-song dance break in the afternoon ➕ a ten-minute yoga video in the evening 🟰 the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity for the day!

Our Resource Library has a visual and template that can be used to make a plan for being active throughout the day. They are available for free at the link below.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/be-active-throughout-the-day-visual/

09/26/2026

A serving size is a recommended amount of food or drink. While measuring every piece of food or ounce of liquid we consume is unrealistic and unnecessary for many of us, we can get a general sense of serving sizes by using the size of our hand.

For example, a 1 cup serving of vegetables 🥦 is about the size of a fist ✊🏼. A 3-ounce serving of meat 🥩, fish 🍣, or poultry 🍗 is about the size of a palm 🖐.
These are general guidelines. Each person has unique nutritional needs. A registered dietician or other healthcare professional can help determine individual dietary needs.

Our Resource Library has a visual and video that share tips for eating appropriate amounts of foods and how the size of our hand can be used to estimate serving sizes. They are available for free at the link below.

🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/serving-sizes-video/

Thank you to Avenues to Independence for providing a filming location and assisting with coordination and filming of the video!

09/23/2026

For people with and without Down syndrome, our needs may change as we age and/or develop health issues. We may need to make challenging decisions about where we live. Some questions that we may need to consider include:
▪ Should we stay in our current home?
▪ Should we seek in-home support?
▪ Should we move to an assisted living setting or nursing home?
▪ When is the optimal time to move?

In the article linked below, Brian Chicoine, MD, shares information that individuals with Down syndrome and their families may want to consider when answering these questions.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/increased-need-for-services-and-support/

09/22/2026

Change can bring a lot of emotions. Whether it's starting a new job, moving to a new home, welcoming a new staff member, or facing another life transition, it's normal to feel uncertain. The good news is that having a plan can help us feel more prepared, supported, and confident.

We're excited to share My Change Plan, a new free resource in our online library. Developed by our occupational therapist, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, this worksheet helps individuals with Down syndrome think through upcoming changes and identify ways to navigate them successfully.

The worksheet encourages us to:
✅ Identify what is changing
✅ Explore how we feel about the change
✅ Think about who can support us
✅ Choose one thing we can do to help us feel better
✅ Remember the things that will stay the same

Access My Change Plan for free: https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/my-change-plan/

Community Organizations can have a tabletop display in the Resource Showcase at the 2026 Buddy Walk. Know an organizatio...
09/21/2026

Community Organizations can have a tabletop display in the Resource Showcase at the 2026 Buddy Walk.

Know an organization that can benefit share this information with them.

Sign up for a FREE table at https://www.champaigndsn.org/buddywalk/showcase

Address

Champaign, IL

Telephone

+12177786702

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when CCDSN posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to CCDSN:

Shortcuts

Share

Category