Featuring good food/drinks, conversation, and fun. Come out for the evening and relax with friends- new and old! All dads and male caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome are welcome!
Join DSANV at Ridgetop Coffee & Tea for an informal meet-up with fellow parents of children with Down syndrome. Grab a cup, sit back, and chat! Children are welcome! No registration required.
Summer is on it’s way! Stop into Jake’s Ice Cream in Falls Church for a sweet treat alongside DSANV buddies, new and old.
From One Stage to the Next—Building Confidence for Every Transition
Transitions—whether entering early intervention, starting school, moving between grade levels, or preparing for adulthood—can feel overwhelming for children with Down syndrome and their families. This session focuses on practical, strengths-based strategies to help families support smooth, confident transitions at every stage of development.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Identify key transition points from early childhood through adolescence
Understand common challenges and opportunities during transitions
Apply strategies to support communication, independence, and emotional readiness
Strengthen family advocacy skills during transition planning processes
Collaborate effectively across systems (home, school, community)
Calling all DSANV Chefs! Join Anna Sudha Community Kitchens for this inclusive culinary experience. Practice your cooking skills while preparing a delicious meal. This class is for teens/adults with Down syndrome (Ages 13+).
The Arc of Loudoun’s Disability Resource Fair is a free event to learn more about the disability resources in our community. We anticipate having up to 75 vendors and resources; see the current vendor listing below. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and connect with community resources!
Hosted by The Arc of Loudoun, this free event offers families, self-advocates, and caregivers the chance to learn more about the disability resources available throughout our community.
For more information, reach out to ally@thearcofloudoun.org.
Join DSANV at Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates for an informal meet-up with fellow parents of children with Down syndrome. Grab a cup, sit back, and chat! Children are welcome! No registration required.
DSANV is partnering with the St. Lucy Food Project Warehouse for our Career Development Program. All members ages 16+ are welcome!
Stop by Bluemont Park for a relaxed meet-up with fellow DSANV families. All ages welcome!
Independent Living Retreats & Camps
Dave’s Place
Dave’s Place is a transformative independent living retreat experience aimed at improving essential life skills and problem solving. This is an opportunity to learn about:
· Living away from home with other roommates.
· Develop friendships with peers.
· Create skills that will help in the workplace.
· Become a contributing member of the household in which they live.
· Work together as a team, social etiquette, conversation skills, personal boundaries, expressing and identifying emotions, nonverbal communication and stress management.
· Occupy free time, plan social events, enhance time management skills, explore interests, develop hobbies, etc.
· Kitchen management, household chores, safety and emergency training, simple household repairs, and decision-making.
Featuring good food/drinks, conversation, and fun. Come out for the evening and relax with friends- new and old! All dads and male caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome are welcome!
Stop by Fairmont Park for a relaxed meet-up with fellow DSANV families. All ages welcome! 4/21 is a day off for PWCS students.
Join DSANV at BKD Bagels (Fort Evans) for an informal meet-up with fellow parents of children with Down syndrome. Grab a cup, sit back, and chat! Children are welcome! No registration required.
Join us for an educational seminar designed for youths and their families to address the various types of bullying. This session provides a safe space for coaches and participants to share their stories while engaging in an easy-to-learn Martial Arts curriculum.
Toilet training is an incredibly complex and often frustrating process for families. Join us in this virtual information session, Dr. Lina Patel will review the medical, physical, behavioral, emotional, and environmental factors that impact children with Down syndrome more significantly. Participants will learn practical strategies to address these challenges and leave with the tools to create an individualized toilet training plan for their child
DSANV is partnering with the St. Lucy Food Project Warehouse for our Career Development Program. All members ages 16+ are welcome!
Let WDSD Weekend begin! Stop by the park next to South Run Recreation Center for a relaxed meet-up with fellow DSANV families. All ages welcome!
Featuring good food/drinks, conversation, and fun. Come out for the evening and relax with friends- new and old! All dads and male caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome are welcome!
Dine out with DSANV during WDSD Week! Bring your family and friends to The Casual Pint for a meal together — that benefits DSANV!
Dine out with DSANV during WDSD Week! Bring your family and friends to California Pizza Kitchen (Fairfax Corner) for a meal together — that benefits DSANV!
Join DSANV for an informative evening dedicated to navigating the complexities of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. This session features Elizabeth Tuomey and Kaitlynn Fraze, PhD, from the Tuomey Law Firm.
This is a unique opportunity to meet with a legal expert and a dedicated special education advocate to get answers to your specific questions. Whether you are new to the IEP process or looking for guidance on systems-level advocacy and evidence-based educational opportunities, this Q&A is designed to provide you with practical support for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Kick off your St. Patrick’s Day with DSANV’s first Lucky Mama Sip & Stroll! Join DSANV Regional Engagement Coordinators for a beverage at Jirani Coffeehouse followed by a 21-minute walk through Old Town Manassas.
Dine out with DSANV during WDSD Week! Bring your family and friends to Tropical Smoothie Cafe for a meal together — that benefits DSANV! Stop by the One Loudoun big screen afterwards to see our WDSD slideshow (featuring DSANV VIPs).
Inclusion in Action: Empowering our community to shape tomorrow
Join the Virginia Down Syndrome Association for our 2026 Disability Education & Transition Conference. We hope to engage educators, families, and professionals across Virginia with the knowledge, strategies, and connections needed to support individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in their educational journeys and beyond—fostering inclusive, lifelong pathways toward independence and belonging.
Our 12th Disability Education & Transition Conference will make a return visit to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College - Parham Campus. This year we will be in the Massey Library Technology Center Building.
