Events
DSANV + Reston Bike Club’s Reston Century
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!
DSANV Coffee Meet-Up
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 @ Clemyjontri Park Open House
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.
Family Mini Golf
Make your Sunday un-FORE-gettable! Join fellow DSANV families for 18 holes at Jefferson Falls Mini Golf. All ages welcome!
Adapted Cooking Class at Anna Sudha Community Kitchens
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+).
DSANV Dine-Out: Pizza NY Margherita
Dine out with DSANV! Stop into Pizza NY Margherita in Gainesville for a quick bite alongside DSANV buddies, new & old.
DSANV Coffee Meet-Up
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.
Champion Football (Woodson HS)
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+).
Adapted Art Class (Ages 18+)
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+).
Playdate with Special Olympics
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.
Career Development
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+).
New Parent Breakfast
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!
Champion Football (Woodson HS)
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+).
18+ VIP Picnic
Fall has arrived! Get together for a picnic dinner, socializing, and yard game fun. This event is for individuals with Down syndrome Ages 18+.
Buddy Walk Volunteer Training
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.
Adapted Cooking Class at Anna Sudha Community Kitchens
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+).
22nd Annual DSANV Buddy Walk
Join us for our 22nd annual Buddy Walk at Lake Fairfax, VA! Register to create your team, today!
Career Development
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+).
Champion Football (Woodson HS)
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+).
Playdate with Special Olympics
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.
DSANV Coffee Meet-Up
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.
Playdate with Special Olympics
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.
Music Class for Kids
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!
Playdate with Special Olympics
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.
DSANV Meet-Up: Outdoor Concert
Join DSANV for a free outdoor concert at the beautiful Harris Pavilion in Downtown Manassas. Camping chairs and/or picnic blankets are encouraged.
DSANV Dine-Out: Foster's Grille
Dine out with DSANV! Stop into Foster's Grille in Downtown Manassas for a quick bite alongside DSANV buddies, new and old.
iCan Swim Camp Week 2
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.
Info Session: Consent, Boundaries, and Safe Relationships
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).
DSANV Waterpark Meet-Up
Make WAVES with DSANV! Signal Bay Waterpark features slides, water cannons, a lazy river, and MORE! All ages welcome!
iCan Swim Camp Week 1
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.
DSANV Coffee Meet-Up
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.
Moms’ Night Out
Join us for a Moms’ Night Out at Lark Brewing Company! Meet new friends at this casual social get together. Food and beverage will be available for purchase.
New Parent Breakfast
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!
Jewelry Making Class
Learn to make earrings out of clay with local artist and DSANV community member, Lindsay W. No experience required! This class is for individuals with Down syndrome Ages 13+.
Omnium Circus: I’m Possible! at Wolf Trap
Spend your summer morning with DSANV at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. On this magical stage tucked amongst the trees, witness a one-hour performance from Omnium Circus, a singularly inclusive and accessible circus.
DSANV Ice Cream Social
Make Summer 2026 extra SWEET! Join DSANV for an ice cream social at local favorite, Swirlie’s Soft-Serve Manassas! The first 100 VIPs and immediate family members to arrive will receive a coupon for a FREE small ice cream!
Music Class for Kids
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!
Info Session: Community Safety and Vulnerability Prevention Series (Virtual)
Join DSANV and Pietas Coalition for a practical, empowering session designed to strengthen safety, awareness, and confidence for individuals with Down syndrome and the families who support them. This one hour webinar provides practical guidance, real life strategies, and tolls to help prevent exploitation, abuse, and risky situations - while building communication, boundaries, and trusted relationships.
D.A.D.S Meet-Up
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!
Adapted Art Class for Teens & Adults
Calling all DSANV Artists! Join Little Painted Playdates for this inclusive art class for teens & adults with Down syndrome (Ages 13+). All skill levels welcome!
Adapted Art Class for Kids
Calling all DSANV Artists! Join Little Painted Playdates for this inclusive art class for children with Down syndrome (Ages 12 and under). All skill levels welcome!
DSANV Sprayground Meet-Up
Make a SPLASH with DSANV! Cool down at the fully-accessible Our Special Harbor Sprayground during their FREE sensory-friendly hour.
DSANV Park Meet-Up
Join DSANV for a park play date in Fauquier County. Don’t forget your picnic lunch! All ages welcome!
Moms’ Night Out
Summer is underway! Connect with fellow female caregivers at this casual social get together. Food and beverage will be available for purchase.
DSANV Splash Pad Meet-Up
Kickoff the summer season with your friends from DSANV! Cool down in Hanson Regional Park’s splash pad or explore one of its many playgrounds.
iCan Bike Camp
The vast majority of people with disabilities never experience the thrill of independently riding a two-wheel bicycle during their lifetime. Recent research shows that over 80% of people with Autism and 90% of people with Down syndrome never learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle. iCan Bike defies those odds! The program builds on more than twenty years of research at the University of Illinois. Join us for camp the week of June 22nd!
DSANV Reading Program: Phonics the R-igh-t Way
Empowering Families. Building Lifelong Readers.
DSANV is proud to launch the DSANV Reading Program: Phonics the R-ight-t Way — a 9-month pilot literacy program designed to equip parents with the tools and confidence to teach reading to their loved one with Down syndrome (ages 3 and up).
This innovative program, already one of our most well-attended pilots, features the nationally recognized Raising Robust Readers curriculum and provides families with hands-on resources to build stronger literacy foundations at home.
Program Snapshot
Timeline: September 2025 – June 2026 (no session in December)
Format: 18 sessions (monthly in-person workshops at Burke Centre Library + monthly virtual sessions on Wednesday evenings)
Instructor: Certified teacher with expertise in literacy and Down syndrome education
Included Resources: Lifetime access to the Raising Robust Readers online program, Phonics the Right Way for Down Syndrome book, and FUN-O-Guide learning tool (the first 8 families received this $105 resource free, courtesy of DSANV)
LOCATION: Burke Centre Library 5935 Freds Oak Rd, Burke Centre, VA 22015
In-Person Session Dates (2025–2026)
September 17, 2025
October 15, 2025
November 19, 2025
(No December Session – Holiday Break)
January 21, 2026
February 18, 2026
March 18, 2026
April 15, 2026
May 20, 2026
June 17, 2026
Why It Matters
Families gain practical, research-based strategies to support literacy development at every stage
Parents connect with a community of peers learning side-by-side
This pilot reflects DSANV’s commitment to offering high-impact, evidence-based programming that empowers families
Registration Status
Registration for the DSANV Reading Program: Phonics the R-ight-t Way is now closed.
We are thrilled by the overwhelming response and will share updates and future opportunities with our community as this program unfolds.
Career Development
DSANV is partnering with The St. Lucy Food Project Warehouse for our Career Development Program. All members ages 16+ are welcome!
DSANV Coffee Meet-Up
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.
Adapted Art Class (Ages 18+)
Calling all DSANV Artists! Join Dabble Creative Reuse Center for this inclusive art class. Learn how to create artist trading cards — a mixed media art form that is made to be personalized and traded with friends. This class is for adults with Down syndrome (Ages 18+).
Info Session: Making the Best Decisions for YOU: An Hour with Heather Trammell (Virtual)
Making the Best Decisions for YOU: An Hour with Heather Trammell