NDSC Convention Quick Reference for Sunday 7/13

NDSC Convention Schedule for Sunday 7/13 (subject to change).

7:30am-12:30pm Kids Camp Session 5
7:30am-9:00am Grandparent's Breakfast
8am-1pm Exhibits Open
8am-12:15pm Youth & Adult Conference and Talent Show
8am-12:15pm Brothers & Sisters Off-Site Trip
8:30am-10am Workshops
10:30am-12pm Workshops
1:35pm Indianapolis Indians Baseball Game

Special-needs students perform in high school talent show

by Eric Yutzy from Local 10:
MIAMI -

They may be out of tune, but these best friends are not out of place.

Howard Rouse and Matthew Fernandez are in Best Buddies, a club at Southwest Miami High School that connects students with and without special needs.

Howard has Down Syndrome. Matthew has Howard, and high school hallways are always better with an ally.

"When you go into the cafeteria you see people with Down syndrome and disabilities sitting with jocks and cheerleaders," said Fernandez. "It's a beautiful sight."

Another reason I love Darius Rucker...

by Carol Hughes from KFDI FM 101.3:

I love him because of his big heart!
He totally surprised this boy who has Down Syndrome when he performed his song during a talent show.
Here's what The Boot had to say about the surprise:

"It was already a good night for 16-year-old Frankie Antonelli when he took the stage of his high school talent show to cheers from the audience. But his night was about to get a lot better — Darius Rucker was planning to join the teen, who has Down syndrome, on stage.

Antonelli’s friends and family can be heard cheering the teen on as he performs Rucker’s hit ‘We Still Got Time.’ The cheers get louder at the 3:10 mark in the video above, when Rucker appears on stage with Antonelli and shows that even though he is a huge country star, he has managed to stay down to earth.

Rucker and Antonelli finished the song next to one another, with Rucker’s arm around Antonelli’s shoulders, and the duo ended the song with a hug on the stage of Wando High School in Rucker’s native South Carolina.

NDSC Convention Schedule for Sunday 7/22

Sunday's itinerary at the NDSC Convention in Washington, DC


8:30AM-10:00AM, 10:30AM-12:00PM Workshops
The General Convention also consists of five workshop cycles, three cycles offered on Saturday and two on Sunday.  Each cycle offers a selection of 14 workshops that registrants may attend based on their interest.  These interactive workshops are provided by the experts – from those who pioneered in early childhood communication, to those who redefined the K-12 classroom and are on the frontier of adult challenges.  Each workshop is 90 minutes in length.  Some topics are repeated to give flexibility to attendees.

7:30AM-12:30PM Kids Camp - registration is closed
Kids’ Camp will provide a means for parents to leave their children between the ages of six months and 11 years (14 years for children with DS) for designated times during the weekend in a safe, structured, and fun environment.  This program will be offered to families registered for the general convention whose children are not old enough to participate in the Brothers & Sisters or Youth & Adults Conferences.  The camp will be offered in four separate sessions.  Registration is required for each session.


8:00AM-12:15PM Youth and Adult Conference and Talent Show - registration is closed
The Youth & Adults Conference really is the heart and soul of the weekend! It is designed to be a fun, empowering, enriching and safe experience for self advocates (individuals with Down syndrome) age 15 and older. With the support of NDSC’s Y&A Support Team, this conference is planned and presented by self advocates, for self advocates.


8:00AM-12:00PM Brothers and Sisters - registration is closed
The NDSC Brothers & Sisters Conference is a fun-filled weekend where siblings can share ideas and experiences and make new friends. It is a place to learn, to be inspired and grow, to be enlightened and encouraged, and to ask tough questions in a supportive environment.  Participants will learn about Down syndrome and disability related issues, including how to be an advocate for their brothers and sisters.

12:30PM-1:00PM Grand Finale
A closing General Session.
8:00AM-1:00PM Exhibits Open
There is also an Exhibit Area for vendors where you’ll find the latest in books, toys, teaching aids, apparel, software and more.


See the NDSC Convention website for complete information.