‘Three days ahead of its opening to the public on March 29, Eureka gave a sneak preview of their £2.9m gallery to the press and key people who made the gallery happen.’
‘Only hours after contractors made the finishing touches to All About Me, a whole group of guests including HDSSG’s Jack and his younger brother Alex were invited to explore the gallery in the company of its new ambassador – Paralympian Hannah Cockcroft. Leigh-Anne Stradeski, Eureka’s chief executive, gave a speech thanking all the numerous people who made it happen but also drew attention to the important messages the gallery aims to deliver.’
Eureka said “Creating and installing this new gallery is not just about putting in exhibits so that everything is shiny and new. All About Me is a gallery of our time, reflecting the interests, issues and concerns of children and families today and helping solve the social and health problems of tomorrow.”
The boys had a great time trying out all the new interactive exhibits. There are fabulous things to touch, smell, climb, reach for, look at, try out, watch, listen for… it really is a sensory wonderland! The models Eureka have chosen throughout the new area represent the wonderfully diverse society we live in and is a very true representation of the families they hope will visit their museum. They include images of families & children from all sorts of backgrounds, nationalities and abilities. Very refreshing.
We were thrilled that Jack had been asked to model for the project and you can see him in no less than 5 different areas! How’s that for inclusion!
So if you pop along to the museum look out for Jack won’t you….you can even have a dance with him!
The ‘All About Me’ gallery opens to the public this Friday (29.03.13) and is well worth a visit. For more info visit Eureka’s website
Today (21.03.13) HDSSG celebrated World Down Syndrome Day. We were not alone! We were thrilled with the support of local businesses, schools, families and friends that embraced the day with us. Our local newspaper the Huddersfield Examiner featured us in their paper (read here) Many wore lots of socks, some baked cakes and some spread awareness and information via their websites or displays.
Shabang Theatre had produced many free resources that they sent out to schools in Kirklees to use in assemblies or citizenship classes. Including the brilliant ‘Like A Rainbow’ video that features many of our members. Kim also baked a scrummy looking cake, check out the cake with an even scrummier looking HDSSG member Jonah!
One local school – Thurstonland First School – went all out, and as well as holding a special assembly for the occasion they invited all the pupils to wear lots of socks too! HDSSG member Poppy and her school friends took this amazing picture!
Just brilliant!
Huddersfield New College put up this great display for all to see in their reception. It features HDSSG member Martha, (looking great in her ballet tutu) and her mum Tracey as well as our posters and some really useful information from the Down’s Syndrome Association as part of awareness week on visual acuity.
Best Buggy an online pushchair review company also spread the word on World Down Syndrome Day by creating a striking photo montage of son Toby and posting a wonderful blog on their website which included loads of great links and also the Shabang ‘Like A Rainbow’ video which Toby features in. Their posts and pictures were shared with some of the biggest pushchair manufacturers in the world! How’s that for spreading awareness! You can take a look at the Best Buggy website by clicking their logo >>
Locala Community Partnerships provides NHS community services to over 400,000 people in Kirklees and beyond. They are a Community Interest Company (CIC) independent, not for profit social enterprise. The staff at Locala got into the spirit by wearing odd socks to work and sharing lots of pictures on the social networking sites! Find out more about locala by visiting their website. Thank you for your support guys!
Martha attends Wilberlee school in Slaithwaite. It may be a small school but boy they don’t do things by halves. It was like an explosion in a sock factory in her school today! As well as wearing lots of socks pupils took part in crafty activities with socks too… Socktastic! Top of the class Wilberlee!!
Lowerhouses CE (VC) JI&EY School had a non-uniform day today as well as wearing odd socks “to emphasise all our uniqueness and celebrate our differences as well as to make explicit the fact though we all look different we all have the same feelings and needs.” …Check out HDSSG members Ben & Tess taking centre stage in their HDSSG tops! Inclusion Co-ordinator and Nursery Teacher Stan White delivered an awareness assembly and the pupils looked at some pictures from the DSA’s Shifting Perspectives exhibitions as well as watching HDSSG members Max Lockwood and Jack Drennen’s Deckchair Rehearsal from Shabang’s Up-Club. Excellent work Lowerhouses!
And finally massive thanks to our fantastic members, friends, colleagues, families who got their socks out for World Down Syndrome Day. Check out our montage of people rocking their socks for the 21st March.
21st March 2013 marks the 8th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day. A global awareness day which has been recognised by the United Nations since 2012.
Shabang Inclusive Learning, based at The Watershed in Slaithwaite and Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group have created a short accessible film – “Like A Rainbow”. This five minute moving photo montage shows images of local children and young people with Down Syndrome pursuing their interests and hobbies and enjoying life like anyone else.
The film will be emailed out to schools across the country as a free resource to use in assemblies, discussion groups and citizenship classes along with some simple ideas to celebrate the day.
Kim Reuter from Shabang said” We hope our film will encourage people to see our children as children first – children who are high achievers, enthusiasts and experts – children who also happen to have Down Syndrome. “
Leanne Davies from HDSSG said “We always celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st – the date represents the 3rd copy of chromosome 21 which characterises Down Syndrome. This year the theme is ‘Lots of socks’ and we are inviting schools and their pupils to celebrate by wearing odd socks! This is a fun way to raise awareness. ” Local schools who have taken up the idea so far include Royds Hall High School, Thurstonland First School and Wilberlee Primary School.
Kim from Shabang says “Rather than seeing our children as ‘different’ – we consider them to be exceptional”
Exceptional indeed – members of HDSSG , who feature in ‘Like A Rainbow” include Jack Davies who models for Eureka Children’s Museum and has been featured in National Newspapers, Joanne Kempley, Aisling Connelly, Jack Drennan, Zoe Rank, Rebekah Hill and Ruben Reuter who will be competing in the Special Olympics Summer Games this Summer, not to mention the long list of members who have acquired their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Also Sophie Crossland a local dancer with tv appearances on BBC’s the One Show. Ruben has recently been featured in a CBBC channel My Life Documentary series which will be re run on World Down Syndrome Day at 9.05am. He is thought to be the first young person with Down Syndrome to ever narrate a TV programme.
Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group, run entirely by parent volunteers, organises a wide range of activities such at Yoga, Literacy and Numeracy classes, swimming and theatre trips and is currently developing a social enterprise for its Post 16 members. Leanne Davies HDSSG’s Communication Officer has developed a website packed with information and news, as well as lively social networking sites which connect with regional and national groups across the Down Syndrome global community.
HDSSG keeps up to date with emerging ideas and current research and also produces information packs for new families.
“Down Syndrome effects 1 in 1000 babies and so our numbers are always growing ” says Leanne “ however we also extend our membership to local children with additional needs with rarer diagnosis who may not have a support group of their own.”
So, now on Thursday 21st March , when people comment on you wearing odd socks – you can tell them why!
Happy World Down Syndrome Day 2013!
♦ Please enjoy Like A Rainbow made by our fabulous friends at Shabang!
You can also watch rating busting programme ‘Breaking Free’ produced by Markthree Media featuring Huddersfield’s Ruben Reuter and 2 other youngsters with Down Syndrome. The show follows the trio through their summer, can they acheive their goals?
Breaking Free will be aired again by popular demand on the Cbbc channel at 9.05am on World Down Syndrome Day. It will also be available on the BBC iPlayer for 7 days following.
Down Syndrome International invites everyone to wear lots of socks to raise awareness on WDSD! See the poster below for more:
West Yorkshire Playhouse presents – The Beautiful Octopus Club– it is an inclusive club night run by people with learning disabilities supported by playhouse staff.
♣ On tonight (21.03.13) is Mystery & Magic – Tickets £8 on the door.
‘Join us as we delve into the world of Sherlock Holmes – full of mysteries and magic. There will be music and drama as the evening unfolds and we solve the ultimate ‘whodunnit’. Plus all the usual Octopus Club fun including open mic sessions, live music, face painting and a huge dance floor to show off your moves’
Boden was one of the very first retailers to use a child model who had Down Syndrome, Thea Shiers and her sister were part of a winter campaign for the clothing company. Now we have seen more models rocking their designer genes in campaigns for high street giants such as Next and Marks & Spencer.
When HDSSG saw that Boden was holding an open casting at their headquarters in London we sent on the invitation to all our families. The invitation had come around the time 4 year old Seb White was included in the Christmas advertising for Marks & Spencer, the press were reporting on it and the social media sites were a buzz. It gave parents of children with additional needs a confidence that said ‘yeah, why shouldn’t our children be represented?’
And so 5 of our budding models and their families set off for the open casting at Boden House on the weekend leading up to World Down Syndrome Day. 21.03 is a day that typically showcases the abilities and accomplishments of person with Down syndrome and encourages independence, self-advocacy and freedom for persons with Down syndrome to make their own choices. Quite fitting!
Good luck to Ben, Tess, Nina, Poppy & Oscar…. we think you are beautiful!
Our fabulous youngsters swam with the Borough Of Kirklees special needs team yesterday at the Hull Special Olympics Swimming Gala.
The day was a huge success with team BOK bringing in a haul totalling 18 medals!
The guys and gals managed 8 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze along with 2DQ’s, 1 speeding ticket and at least 9 personal bests all happening over 21 races – tremendous result!
Your coaches Eddie & Gemma (pictured) must be so proud!
Huge congratulations as always from Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group.
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