Laois Down Syndrome News
Dear Member,
We have had a busy year to date which resulted in a number of exciting events and activities for our members.
Our Annual Summer Camps were a great success which included a trip to Lullymore Heritage Park, music, a puppet show, Minnie & Mickey Mouse for our smaller members, Cinema and a Sports day in Ballacolla. We ended the week with an X Factor Disco. A great time was had by all.
The “Here I am Exhibition” which travelled to Laois was a huge achievement for our Branch. We were delighted to host this exhibition in conjunction with Laois County Council and Laois People Heritage Forum as a lead up to 2015 Heritage Week and we thank all those members who supported us in attending the event. The exhibition helped raise awareness of people with additional needs and the struggles they and their families face in their everyday lives.
Here I am Exhibition. Photo courtesy of Down Syndrome Ireland
We also secured a stand at the National Ploughing Championships in September. This was a massive undertaking over three days. We were fortunate to have a Charolais Heifer donated by Mountrath Mart and a Rocking Horse worth €2,000 donated by Midlands Prison Portlaoise. Pottery pieces made by our members with the kind help and support of Kate Ramsbottom sold like hot cakes! A great success story for the branch.
The STRANDS Book (Strategies for Teachers to Respond Actively to the Needs of children with Down Syndrome) was distributed to member families who put in their order at the greatly reduced price of €5.00. This book meets the Special Educational Needs of Children with General Learning Disabilities in Primary Schools.
We welcomed the fantastic cyclists from the Tour de Leinster to the Maldron hotel in September on their stopover in Portlaoise. Our Branch benefitted greatly from the share of funds last year
which is going to improve and enhance the range of services supplied to our members. We are looking forward to some more wonderful events for our members before the end of the year. Check out the forthcoming events section of our newsletter.
Michael Gorman
Chairman