Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida

06/23/2026

The FOUNDATION hosted a Parent Informational Meeting on Brain Training to Increase Cognitive Development over the Summer 🧠✨ Families learned how sound therapy, primitive reflex integration, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Enneagram coaching, mediated learning, and brain training games can support neural development—helping improve life skills, academics, behavior, processing speed, memory, and confidence in a supportive environment 💡🌱

Thank you to Traci LaHue, Founder of , for leading the session and sharing her expertise and personal experience 🙌💙 We also extend our gratitude to the volunteers who supported childcare so families could fully participate.

💚Thank you to all the families who attended and engaged in the conversation. We look forward to seeing you next month at our Parent Meeting as we explore another valuable topic together!

06/23/2026

🧗‍♂️ Join the Club 321 for an exciting afternoon of adventure and friendship! FOUNDATION Members in middle school through high school are invited to learn the basics of rock climbing at High Point Climbing & Fitness Orlando. 🌟

After climbing, we'll enjoy a delicious potluck with friends! 🍕🥗Bring your favorite dish to share and get ready for an afternoon full of fun 💙

📅 Date: Sunday, June 28
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

👉 Register here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/321-2023/event/club321rockclimbing/

06/22/2026

🧘‍♀️🐠🎼Take a look at the events happening this week: https://dsfflorida.org/events
💚Volunteer Opportunities here 👉https://tinyurl.com/bdfmuxkf

06/21/2026

💙👔 Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads, grandfathers, stepdads, and father figures in our FOUNDATION family!

Thank you for your love, support, and dedication every day. We celebrate you today and wish you a joyful and meaningful Father’s Day! 💚

06/21/2026

Don’t miss this!

This is more than a movie.

Color Book is now on Netflix, featuring Jeremiah Daniels, a young Black actor with Down syndrome in a leading role.

For many families in our community, seeing a Black person with Down syndrome on screen isn’t something that happens often. Seeing one carry a story, move audiences, and receive critical acclaim is even rarer.

Representation matters not because it is symbolic, but because it shapes expectations. It challenges assumptions about who belongs, whose stories are worthy of being told, and whose talents deserve to be seen.

We are proud to see Jeremiah helping to expand what inclusion looks like in film and media.

Let’s show Hollywood that these stories matter.

Stream Color Book on Netflix. Share it. Talk about it. Help amplify a film that reminds the world that people with Down syndrome belong everywhere, including center stage.

BlackDownSyndromeAssociation

06/19/2026

🎨📚🖍️LEAP Summer Camp (Learning Enrichment Academic Potential) has come to an end after two weeks of growth, discovery, and fun!

🌟Campers strengthened important skills through interactive learning experiences designed to encourage communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. From engaging educational activities to meaningful friendships, each day provided opportunities for children to learn, explore, and build confidence in a supportive and inclusive environment.

🤝We are grateful to the City of Orlando Mayor Matching Grant Program (Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer) for helping make LEAP Camp possible and expanding access to enriching educational opportunities for the families we serve.

💚A big thank you to our dedicated teachers, Marissa Ramos and Joseph Leathead, our volunteers, and the entire FOUNDATION team for making this week such a success. A special thank you to Robin, our Program Manager, for her leadership and coordination, and to everyone who worked behind the scenes to create a meaningful experience for our campers and families. ✨

06/19/2026

Hey Knight Nation teachers! Check this out!

Last year, we distributed 5,000 Knight Educator kits to our School of Teacher Education alumni to help them show their Knight pride. Good news: The Knight Educator Kit is back! 🍎

Designed for K-12 teachers, each free kit includes specially curated UCF swag to display in your classroom or office. Kits were claimed faster than we’d imagined last year, so fill out the form to get yours now — they're only available while supplies last! 👇
https://ucfalumni.com/knighteducatorkit/

06/18/2026

We’d like to thank the Visit Orlando Magical Dining selection committee for the opportunity to share the impact The FOUNDATION is making in our community. It was an honor to show how we contribute to helping Orlando be the most welcoming and inclusive destination in the world.

A special thank you to Caden, Emmy and their amazing parents and Christine and Philip who shared how our partnership with University of Central Florida and TJEEI is impacting generations of professionals.

We were one of four very deserving finalists who presented to the voting committee. No matter what the outcome, it was awesome to share all the amazing things our members, families, volunteers, employment locations, community partners and our dedicated and talented staff are doing to make our community the best place for EVERYONE to thrive - visitors and residents alike!

06/17/2026

🌟 Jaime is thriving in her on-the-job training at UCP of Central Florida, where she supports daily office operations by filing and organizing records, managing inventory projects, and assisting with administrative tasks. 📂✨

Opportunities like this allow individuals to build valuable workplace skills while making meaningful contributions to their community. 💼 We are so proud of Jaime’s hard work and dedication, and grateful to community partners like UCP for creating inclusive workplaces where employees of all abilities can learn, grow, and succeed! 🌱

💚 The FOUNDATION iCan! Work Program is proud of Jaime’s accomplishments and looks forward to creating even more opportunities for our community. 🔗 Learn more about our iCan! Work Program: https://dsfflorida.org/ican-work

06/15/2026

🌊🏄‍♀️ There is something very special about watching our FOUNDATION members step onto a surfboard, challenge themselves, and discover what they are capable of achieving. Through the iCan! Surf program, individuals with Down syndrome are building confidence, forming friendships, and staying active while having fun in the ocean.

A special thank you to Surfing's Evolution & Preservation Foundation for being a proud sponsor, and to all of our amazing volunteers for making these experiences possible. 💚🙌🌊

Join us next month! Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time to catch some waves together. 🏄‍♂️🌴 https://dsfflorida.org/ican-surf