Mile High Down Syndrome Association to Offer Life Skill and Continuing Education Classes to Adults with Down Syndrome

DENVER, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mile High Down Syndrome Association (MHDSA) announced that it will take over the ALIVE! (Ability, Life Skills, Independence, Vitality Education) continuing education program for adults with Down syndrome. The program was initiated and managed by the Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic (DADSC) for the past five years.

As people with Down syndrome are living longer, it is important they have the life skills to be productive individuals. The ALIVE! Program explores a variety of topics to learn and practice important life skills, such as:  employment, healthy relationships, education, etc. and these concepts are delivered in an educational, fun, and meaningful way.

For 31 years, MHDSA has been serving Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, providing support to expectant parents, family members and caregivers of children with Down syndrome.  MHDSA coordinates new parent visits, hosts community support groups, works with 8 school districts (representing over 300,000 students) and offers educational programs to parents, self-advocates, and caregivers.  

"We are honored to move the ALIVE! program to MHDSA.  As MHDSA is continuously increasing its educational programs offerings, and by overseeing the ALIVE! Classes, we will directly impact the needs of adults with Down syndrome now and well into the future. We plan to expand the program and the service area to include not only the Denver area, but the western slope, and northern and southern Colorado," said Mac Macsovits, executive director of MHDSA. "We are so grateful to the Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic for their hard work for the past five years!"

The DADSC will continue to offer medical services to adults with Down syndrome. The Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic is designed to provide medical and psychosocial evaluations for adults with Down syndrome.

The ALIVE! program is a one of a kind adult education program for people with Down syndrome in the United States and it takes place on the University of Denver's campus, in the Joseph Korbel School for International Studies building, 2201 South Gaylord Street. The fall quarter starts August 15 and runs through October 4.  Class fee is $200.  Scholarships available.

For more information and to sign up for the class, please call 393-979-1699 or e-mail [email protected].

About Mile High Down Syndrome Association

Mile High Down Syndrome Association (MHDSA) serves people living in Colorado with Down syndrome, as they strive to live independent and empowered lives. MHDSA provides Colorado families and caregivers with information, tools and resources to support children and family members with Down syndrome. An integral part of its mission is raising awareness and education about Down syndrome at the state and national level.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition, resulting when a baby is born with three, rather than the usual two, copies of chromosome 21.  Down syndrome is the most frequently occurring chromosomal abnormality, occurring once in every 691 live births. Over 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome.

About Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic

The mission of the Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic is to provide quality health care to adolescents and adults with Down syndrome, education for the families and care givers, and consultative services for their health providers.  The Denver Adult Down Syndrome Clinic is a regional referral clinic designed to provide medical and psychosocial evaluations for adults with Down syndrome. The Clinic also offers support to family members and caretakers regarding aging issues that affect persons with Down syndrome. www.denverdsclinic.org

Press Contact:
Mac Macsovits, Executive Director
303-756-6069 or [email protected]

SOURCE Mile High Down Syndrome Association