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.

The DSANV invites teens and adults with Down syndrome (ages 13+) and a parent or caregiver to participate in a unique virtual book club featuring Special by Nancy F. Goodfellow.

This interactive book club offers participants the rare opportunity to read and discuss the novel with its author.

Through guided conversations, activities, and shared reading, families will explore themes of friendship, belonging, empathy, self-advocacy, and inclusion in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Stop by Windmill Hill Park for a relaxed meet-up with fellow DSANV families. All ages 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.‍ ‍

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+).

During this web-based information session, Josh will present educational material designed to help parents and caregivers understand some of the fundamental building blocks of special needs planning, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, ABLE accounts, and Special Needs Trusts—and, importantly, how these different resources can fit together as families plan for the future.

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+).

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.

SNP-CON 2026 - Special Needs Planning Conference & Resource Fair

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.

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!