SVDSN is offering new and expectant parents of babies with Down syndrome the opportunity to connect with trained parent mentors who share the same or similar life circumstances. The new parent will receive support and guidance from the paired parent mentor the first year following birth.

We also offer a monthly support meeting to new parents (child age 0 to 1) where they can connect with fellow new parents. We also invite various guest speaker (speech pathologists, occupational therapists, older kids parents) to cover different topics each month.

For any questions about this program, contact our Family Support Coordinator (svdsnwelcome@gmail.com).

We are parents of children with Down syndrome who have found the support of other parents to be priceless in navigating our children's educational journeys and the IEP process. Each child with DS has her/his own unique educational needs. While we may not be trained advocates and lawyers, we are here to share information, resources, and our experiences to help you become a better advocate for your child. We meet the 1st Wednesday of every month from 6/7 pm (PST) on Zoom to chat with you about your IEP questions and concerns. We also accompany your IEP meeting if requested and if our team member is available. If you need help to prepare for your child's IEP, complete this form and our team will contact you. 

Monthly zoom meeting invites will be sent to registered SVDSN members. To contact the parent Education Support team, please email: svdsnedu@gmail.com.

Click here! 

How can I sign up?

Become SVDSN member and look for the announcement from SVDSN Programming for the family to sign up in August. 

Operation Housecall Picnic

Each year around May, SVDSN hosts OH picnic to show our appreciation to Stanford Graduates students with our participating SVDSN families. You can come and join the picnic to chat with our program director to find out more about this program.

What is Parent Sharing? 

The Ready or Not (RoN) Transition Group is a group of parents supporting each other through the process of planning the transition to adulthood for their children with Down syndrome. The group meets monthly to discuss topics such as conservatorship and alternatives, financial planning, medical transition, housing options, post-secondary education, employment and independent living skills. In addition to sharing books and information at meetings, RoN maintains an online drive with additional resources. Future plans include hosting guest speakers on financial planning and post-secondary education opportunities. RoN is open to everyone but is primarily geared toward parents with teenagers.

See upcoming event on home page for the meeting details.

What is Learning Without Tears?

SVDSN subsdise 50% of the LWT workshop costs for registered SVDSN members. We try to register as group to take additional group discount. Look for the future workshop announcement from SVDSN programming for the instruction of how to register together.

We usually meet third Saturday at the restaurant convenient for most anticipating participants. This is a casual dinner (each family pay their own meal) to get to know each other, especially welcoming new family who just joined us. We are currently re-organizing this event and plan to resume in the near future. 

Event Date - Normally early December.

We typically have our Party in two different locations, one is in Mountain View and the other one in Morgan Hill. Great to network with other families and celebrate holiday spirit. Click here to watch promo video. 

Event Date - Normally late March or early April.

Perfect family event filled with fun and crafts, games, egg hunt. Build friendship with other families, Mr. Bunny and enjoy the visit from Canine Companions for Independence. Click here to watch promo video. 

Super Sprouts is a play group for age 1 to 5 years old.

This play group meets monthly with various formats to connect. If you would like to join this play group, please e-mail to svdsnwelcome@gmail.com.

Inclusive taiko (Japanese-drumming) workshop for people with Down syndrome and their families in collaboration with the world-renowned taiko drumming group San Jose Taiko.

San Jose Taiko has hired an occupational therapist, Sydney Shiroyama, to supervise taiko drumming lessons for self advocates to bring about maximum benefit to participants. Sydney has studied the beneficial effects of incorporating music into OT sessions and is developing exercises in an inclusive setting for individuals with Down syndrome. Check out future classes information on Taiko For All page and watch our promo video!  

Yoga wih Ms. Jessica Zander (following Yoga for the Special Child methods). (Due to the low attendances, currently this class is inactive). We hope to gain enough interests from SVDSN members and bring back the class in the near future.  Click here to watch promo video.

Dance class with Ms. Melaena and Ms. Sarah. We have two different classes by age group. We have a show case at North Valley Holiday Party. (Due to low attendances, currently this class is inactive). We hope to gain enough interests from SVDSN members to bring back the class in the near future. Click here to watch promo video.

Whenever and whoever has itch to gather fellow moms or dads to go out and connect, share laughter and tears along our journey, this event happens! Registered SVDSN members will coordinate and schedule the event using our Social Forum on our Membership Page.