Connection Groups

Early Connections offers a friendly and supportive environment for parents and their babies (ages 0–3). We share helpful information to support your baby’s development. Some months we invite guest speakers and focus on a specific topic.

2025 Schedule

Early Connections

Saturdays - 9:30am-11:00am

• Location: DSCBA Office, 101-J Town and Country Dr, Danville

• Jan 18¹, Feb 15, Mar 22², Apr 19³, May 17⁴, Jun 21, Jul 19⁵, Aug 16, Sept 20⁶, Oct 18, Nov 15⁷ 

1. 1. Oral Motor Development presentation with Heather Vukelich
   2. Early Connections Dance Party for World Down Syndrome Day
   3. Easter Egg Hunt 
   4. Play4All Park at 815 Elmira Rd, Vacaville or Children’s Wonderland Park in Vallejo (tentative)
   5. Inclusive Playground at Lucchesi Park, 320 N. McDowell Blvd, Petaluma  
   6. Blue Goose Park, 1765 Adams Ln, Brentwood 
   7. Friendsgiving at DSCBA office

Las Conexiones Tempranas ofrecen un entorno amigable y de apoyo para los padres y sus bebés (de 0 a 3 años). Compartimos virtualmente información útil para apoyar el desarrollo de su bebé. Algunos meses invitamos a oradores invitados y nos enfocamos en un tema específico.

CONEXIONES TEMPRANAS en español

 Jueves - 3:00pm - 4:30pm

• Ubicación: Zoom
• Jan 16, Feb 20, Mar 20, Apr 17, May 15, June 19, Jul 17, Aug 21, Sept 18, Oct 16, Nov 20, Dec 18 

Teens and Young Adults - Saturdays

Teens and Young Adults with Down syndrome are welcome to join this new group for fun and social connections. This is a great opportunity for Teens/Young Adults and their families to meet and connect!

• Danville - DSCBA office - Saturdays: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

  Feb 15, Apr 19, Jun 21, Aug 16, Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 13

This is a great opportunity to meet with other DSCBA parents to support each other with knowledge and information needed to meet the educational needs of your children and more. Share information and resources on many topics relating to your children, including educational best practices, health concerns, etc. In addition sometimes we host guest speakers from various professions to help contribute expert knowledge, answer questions, and provide resources to our network of parents.

2025 Meeting Times:

• Facilitator: Laurie Hawley, Laurie@dscba.org 
• Location: Virtual via Zoom
• Thursday: 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

  Jan 9 ¹, March 6 ², Aug 7 ^3, Sep 4 ⁴    

1. 1. Transitioning to a New School (Preschool to Elementary, Elementary to Middle, Middle to High and High to Transition Program). 
   2. IEP Assessments, Goals and Services and How they Relate 
   3. Transition to Preschool, IPP to IEP 
   4. Modifications and Accommodations 

Please email Programs@dscba.org if you have any questions.

Mom’s Coffee Chat

Moms of children of all ages are welcomed to join in on an opportunity to get together in the comfort of your own home with fellow moms and share in the joys and challenges of parenting.

2025 Meeting Time/Dates:

• Facilitator: Michelle Slape / Laura Gordon
• 2nd Thursdays (Bi-Monthly) 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM 
• Locations: various

  Jan 16¹, Mar 13², May 8³ 

1. 1. Journey’s Coffee Co, 370 Chadbourne Rd, Fairfield, CA 94534 (Meeting room available for $15/hr or they have open seating space) 
   2. Lever Coffee, 27 Alamo Square Dr, Alamo (Also look into Walnut Creek or Concord locations) 
   3. Starbucks, 205 Soscol Ave, Napa, CA 94559 

Please email Programs@dscba.org if you have any questions. 

Dad’s Night

Dads of children of all ages are welcomed to join in on an opportunity to get to meet other dads.  This is a perfect way to get together in the comfort of your own home with other dads and share in the joys and challenges of parenting.

2025 Meeting Time/Dates:

• If you are interested in facilitating a Dad's group either Virtual or In-Person, please reach out to Laura Gordon, Program Director

If you are caring for someone with DS who exhibits symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia please join us in this monthly virtual meeting.

2025 Meeting Times/Dates:

• Facilitators: Marianne Iversen
• 3^rd Thursday of the Month: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Location: Virtual
• Jan 16, Feb 20, Mar 20, Apr 17, May 15, Jun 19, Jul 17, Aug 21, Sep 18, Oct 16, Nov 20, Dec 18

Email: marianne@dscba.org for more information

Grandparents of children with Down syndrome are welcomed and encouraged to join this monthly group. This is an opportunity to exchange information, share common experiences, and be encouraged by other grandparents with similar issues and concerns.

2025 Meeting Time/Dates:

• Facilitator: Michelle Slape, Michelle@dscba.org 
• Location: Hybrid - Zoom / DSCBA, 101-J Town and Country Dr, Danville
• 10:00am–11:30am, Third Wednesday of the month
• Jan 15, Feb 19, Mar 19, Apr 16*, May 21, June 18, Jul 16, Aug 20*, Sept 17, Oct 15, Nov 19, Dec 17* 
  
  • In - person meetings in Danville office are marked with "*"
  • All other meetings dates by Zoom.

Sibling Support

Brothers and sisters of those with Down syndrome tend to be compassionate, understanding, wonderful people. But we also know that being the brother or sister of someone with Down syndrome can have its tough times, too!  

If you would like more information about resources please contact info@dscba.org 

Additional Resources

Organizations:

• Sibling Leadership Network: www.siblingleadership.org   
  • Provides siblings of individuals with disabilities tools to advocate for their sibling and for issues important to their family.
• Sibling Support Project: www.siblingsupport.org
  • A national network to provide support to siblings of people with disabilities. Sibling support workshops (SIBSHOPS) are available throughout the country.
• National Down Syndrome Congress for ADULT SIBLINGS: www.ndsccenter.org/adult-siblings 
• National Down Syndrome Society: Caring For Your Family

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Books about Siblings and Down syndrome*:

• Fasten Your Seatbelt: A Crash Course on Down Syndrome for Brothers and Sisters
  • Brian Skotko and Susan Levine (Woodbine House, 2009). Uses a question and answer format to address questions from teens who have a sibling with Down syndrome.
• 47 Strings: Tessa's Special Code
  • Carey, Becky (Little Creek Press, 2012). A big brother learns about his little sister’s special code. A book to help explain Down syndrome to young children.
• Sibshops-
  • Meyer, Don and Patricia Vadasy, revised edition (Brookes Publishing, 2008). A guide to organizing workshops for siblings according to the SibShop model.
• Special Brothers and Sisters-
  • Hames, Annette and Monica McCaffrey, editors (Jessica Kinsgley, 2005). Accounts from real-life siblings of children with special needs.
• Special Siblings-
  • McHugh, Mary, Revised Edition (Brookes Publishing, 2003). Interviews with more than a 100 siblings and experts.
• The Sibling Slam Book-
  • Meyer, Don, editor (Woodbine House, 2005). Eighty teenagers talk about what it is like to have a brother or sister with special needs.
• The Sibling Survival Guide-Indispensable Information for Brothers and Sisters of Adults with Disabilities
  • Meyer, Don and Emily Holl, editors (Woodbine House, 2014). Advice for siblings on topics ranging from communication to medical and legal issues.
• Views from Our Shoes
  • Meyer, Don, editor (Woodbine House, 1997). Essays from children who have a sibling with a disability.
• We'll Paint the Octopus Red-
  • Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, (Woodbine House, 1998). A little girl prepares to welcome her new baby brother with Down syndrome. Ages 3-7.
• Your Loved One is Having a Baby with Down Syndrome-
  • When you learn that someone you love is expecting a baby with Down syndrome, you naturally have concerns, and wonder what to say and do. This book will help you through your initial, normal reactions of sadness, shock, and worry, and give you the information and perspective you need to welcome a baby with Down syndrome.

*Check to see if a copy is available to borrow from our Lending Library 

Email the Lending Library

We have several private Facebook Groups to serve the needs of our diverse membership.  Please click through the links to request to join. Our main Facebook page is located here.

• Young Connections at DSCBA
  • A DSCBA Connection group for parents of young and elementary-aged children. This private group provides a place to share and support one another in a respectful environment. 

     
• DSCBA Homeschoolers
  • This private group, a part of the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area (DSCBA), is open to parents, family members and caregivers who homeschool a child or adult having Down syndrome. This group also welcomes parents or persons in the Bay Area seeking more information about homeschooling their loved one with Down syndrome. This is a place for families to ask questions and share advice, resources, and experiences about the unique challenges, added stress, struggles and successes of homeschooling. The focus is on helping each other to find possible solutions, along with sharing humorous stories, in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

• DSCBA Conexión de Síndrome Down del Área de la Bahía
  • Down Syndrome Connection es una organización apasionada y dedicada a fomentar el potencial ilimitado en niños y adultos con síndrome de Down en todo el Área de la Bahía de San Francisco desde 1998.
    Este es un lugar para que las familias y cualquier persona con un ser querido con el síndrome de Down puedan hacer preguntas, compartir consejos, recursos y experiencias sobre los desafíos únicos, el estrés adicional, los retos y los éxitos. La atención se centra en ayudarse mutuamente a encontrar posibles soluciones, junto con historias divertidas, en un entorno seguro y sin prejuicios.

     
• DSCBA Dual Diagnosis Support
  • This private group, a part of the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area (DSCBA), is open to parents, family members, caregivers, and others working with a child or adult having Down syndrome and autism in the Bay Area. This group also welcomes parents or persons in the Bay Area seeking more information about a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism.
    This is a place for families, and anyone touched by a person having dual diagnosis, to ask questions, share advice, resources, and experiences about the unique challenges, added stress, struggles and successes. The focus is on helping each other to find possible solutions, along with humorous stories, in a safe, non-judgmental environment.

• DSCBA-Parents/Caregivers of Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome
  • A DSCBA Connection group for parents/caregivers of Teens and Adults with Down syndrome. This is a private group that is meant to give an opportunity to share and support one another in a respectful environment.