Join us for our 22nd annual Buddy Walk at Lake Fairfax, VA! Register to create your team, today!
Calling all 2026 Buddy Walk volunteers! Prepare for 10/10 by attending this virtual, 1-hour training. DSANV staff will share details of the Buddy Walk event, describe volunteer roles, and provide tips for supporting our VIPs.
About the Event
Join the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia for a special virtual evening with award-winning children's author, educator, and inclusion advocate Nancy F. Goodfellow. Nancy will discuss her heartwarming middle-grade novel, Special, which offers a meaningful look at friendship, empathy, and belonging.
About the Book
Special is told through the alternating perspectives of two lifelong best friends—Meg, who has Down syndrome, and Madison, who does not. As the girls navigate the transition into junior high, their bond is tested by changing relationships, new challenges, and the universal desire to fit in. Filled with humor, heart, and authentic characters, Special celebrates the power of friendship while reminding readers that everyone deserves to be accepted for who they are.
About the Speaker
Nancy F. Goodfellow is an award-winning children's author, educator, and advocate for inclusion. Inspired by her own family's experiences, she writes stories that encourage empathy, celebrate differences, and help young people see the strengths in one another. Nancy enjoys connecting directly with readers to facilitate conversations that resonate long after the final page is turned.
The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) is a national leader in disability rights, working to ensure that the voices of people with Down syndrome and their families are heard where it matters most—at the local, state, and federal levels. Based in Washington, D.C., the NDSC Policy & Advocacy Team is made up of experienced and well-respected professionals who are committed to advancing policies that promote equality, opportunity, and inclusion across all areas of life—from education and Medicaid, to healthcare to employment, financial security, and community living, and more.
Fall has arrived! Get together for a picnic dinner, socializing, and yard game fun. This event is for individuals with Down syndrome Ages 18+.
The 2026 Champion Football season has begun! Join the Woodson High School football team for a 1-hour inclusive football skills clinic. Participants will experience the thrill and camaraderie of team football while engaging in various running & passing drills. This co-ed activity is for children and adults with Down syndrome (Ages 5+).
New & Expectant Families - This breakfast is for you! Connect with other families while enjoying a relaxed meal together. For families with a child with Down syndrome 3 years old and under & families expecting a child with Down syndrome. We can’t wait to meet you!
Serve the Manassas community with DSANV! We will be sorting & boxing food donations together. This program is for teens & adults with Down syndrome (ages 16+).
Stop by Fairmont Park for a relaxed meet-up with fellow DSANV families. All ages welcome! 9/21 is a day off for PWCS students.
The 2026 Champion Football season has begun! Join the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) Great Falls for a 1.5-hour inclusive football session. Participants will experience the thrill and camaraderie of team football while engaging in modified (non-contact) games. This co-ed activity is for children and adults with Down syndrome (Ages 5+).
Join us for a playdate with Special Olympics Loudoun County! Meet fellow athletes-to-be and their families while learning more about local Special Olympics offerings. This playdate is recommended for children ages 2-7 who have an intellectual disability or cognitive delay & their caregivers.
Imagine a place your child with Down syndrome can’t wait to visit—filled with friends, fun, adventure, and people who delight in who they are—while you get time to rest and recharge. Join Jill’s House CEO Dana Hecht and a Jill’s House parent raising a child with Down syndrome for this free, 1-hour virtual session.
Featuring good food/drinks, conversation, and fun. Come out for the evening and relax with friends -- new and old! This program is for dads or male caregivers of children & adults with Down syndrome.
Calling all DSANV artists! Join Dabble Creative Reuse Center for a Mixed Media Mixer. Socialize with friends while making a cool piece of mixed media art. Dabble will provide the materials. You bring the FUN! This class is for adults with Down syndrome (Ages 18+).
The 2026 Champion Football season has begun! Join the Woodson High School football team for a 1-hour inclusive football skills clinic. Participants will experience the thrill and camaraderie of team football while engaging in various running & passing drills. This co-ed activity is for children and adults with Down syndrome (Ages 5+).
Join DSANV at SimplyBe Coffee 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.
Dine out with DSANV! Stop into Pizza NY Margherita in Gainesville for a quick bite alongside DSANV buddies, new & old.
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+).
Make your Sunday un-FORE-gettable! Join fellow DSANV families for 18 holes at Jefferson Falls Mini Golf. All ages welcome!
Stop by and say “hi” to DSANV staff at Clemyjontri Park — a 2-acre all abilities playground! Event music will be provided by our very own DSANV VIP — DJ Brien!
This FREE event features arts & crafts, a community resource fair, and the Wonder Wagon Mobile Nature Center. Each guest will receive a ticket for the carousel and trackless train.
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.
DSANV joins Reston Bike Club’s 43rd Ken Thompson Reston Century. Choose from 4 different ride lengths — 100 miles, 62 miles, 31 miles, or a 10-mile family ride!
Does your child love music? Join Miss Chris for this free hour of music & games. This class is recommended for children ages 0-8 with Down syndrome & their caregivers. Siblings welcome!
Join us for a playdate with Special Olympics Loudoun County! Meet fellow athletes-to-be and their families while learning more about local Special Olympics offerings. This playdate is recommended for children ages 2-7 who have an intellectual disability or cognitive delay & their caregivers.
Join DSANV for a free outdoor concert at the beautiful Harris Pavilion in Downtown Manassas. Camping chairs and/or picnic blankets are encouraged.
Dine out with DSANV! Stop into Foster's Grille in Downtown Manassas for a quick bite alongside DSANV buddies, new and old.
DSANV is partnering with iCan Shine to bring the iCan Swim Camp to Northern Virginia. Teaching people with disabilities to swim is not only a good idea, it’s essential. Creating an effective swimming program for people with disabilities takes a patient understanding of each swimmer as well as a well-thought-out plan for how the lessons can be adapted to each child. This is the foundation of our iCan Swim program.
Join Arlene Lechner, M.Ed & Melissa Hochberg, M.Ed (Co-Founders of EASE) for a 1-hour virtual information session designed for caregivers and self-advocates. Discuss the importance of education surrounding consent, boundaries, relationships, and online safety for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).
