Down Syndrome FOUNDATION of Florida

Volunteering at ICANBIKE Was Life-Changing!
I had the absolute pleasure of volunteering for the ICANBIKE event hosted by the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Watching the participants gain confidence and independence as they learned to ride a bike was nothing short of inspiring. The energy was positive, the families were incredibly supportive, and the organizers made sure everything ran smoothly from start to finish.

Being part of a team that truly empowers individuals with Down syndrome and helps them achieve such a meaningful milestone was unforgettable. I left every day feeling fulfilled and uplifted. I highly recommend volunteering with this organization—you’ll make a difference and have an amazing time doing it!

I have participated and volunteered with The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida for the last decade and am continually amazed by all the good they do in our community for DS families. They have progressively grown and adapted to offer so many wonderful opportunities for kids and adults with DS and have the most inspiring leaders and volunteers. I feel so lucky and proud to be a part of this incredible grassroots organization doing so much pure good for Florida families.

Aside from the countless opportunities and events the Foundation provides for its community, the way the board and staff connect with families is unlike anything you’ll see in other organizations. They genuinely care for the needs of the Down Syndrome community and pour their hearts and time into educating families like mine, all while building personal relationships. The Foundation makes it easy to be proud of being a Down Syndrome parent.

I am so happy to be a part of the Down Syndrome Foundation of FL. My son has benefitted in so many ways. He has made wonderful new friends, he is learning lots of new things and having experiences that would not happen without them. The iCan programs are fabulous and allows him to meet new people and socialize while he is learning. The mom's night out is such a wonderful way for me to meet other mom's dealing with the same issues and making lifelong friends. Just having that break and time to relax with others is really needed. Volunteering with the Foundation and helping with our fundraising is a lot of fun. I get to use my creative side and educate people on how special our children really are as well as being a part of this wonderful group of people working toward a great goal! We are blessed to have the Down Syndrome Foundation of FL as a big part of our lives. You will love them too!

As a parent of a child with Down syndrome, we are so grateful for the Foundation. They have helped and supported our family, and created opportunities for our child that he would not have had otherwise. They provide scholarships for individuals with Down syndrome, which enrich their lives and also supports local Florida businesses. This organization is a win-win-win!

The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida's dedication to improving the lives of individuals with Down syndrome has made a profound impact on us.

Since becoming involved with the foundation at its inception, we have witnessed significant strides in our son’s development and well-being. The resources, programs, and community outreach efforts have not only provided practical assistance but also emotional support during challenging times. From educational workshops to financial assistance for therapeutic services, each initiative has contributed to our son’s growth and happiness in immeasurable ways.

Moreover, the sense of belonging we've found through this beautiful network of families facing similar experiences has been truly uplifting. The encouragement and understanding shared within this community have helped us navigate uncertainties and celebrate milestones with newfound optimism.

As our son continues to flourish with the Foundation's ongoing support, please know that all efforts have touched our lives in ways words cannot fully express. Your commitment to raising awareness, fostering inclusion, and advocating for individuals with Down syndrome inspires us every day.

Thank you once again for making a difference not only in our son’s life but in the lives of countless others. We look forward to continuing this journey together and witnessing the positive impact of the foundation's work for years to come.

The Down Syndrome Foundation excels at offering valuable information to parents and organizing enjoyable events for families of all ages. I highly recommend them to families who have a loved one with Down Syndrome.

Dsff is an amazing organization and feels like part of our family. They hold valuable parents information classes and even offer childcare if needed. I love attending the moms night out where I get a chance to spend time with other moms while doing a fun activity. They also provide scholarships to help pay for my child to do singing lessons and horseback riding lessons. I am excited to have my daughter attend the I can bike program this summer. Every month there is a great get together for my daughter's age group. This organization provides so much and we are very grateful for all they offer and the support we receive.

The Foundation does a great job providing information to the parents and fun events for families of all ages. Highly recommend them for everyone either just starting out or seasoned veterans of the community.

We moved to Orlando at about the time DSFF was launching and our family has had the opportunity to watch the organization grow year after year. We have participated in dozens of programs and events over the years that have been life changing in providing education, friendships and resources that we've never found elsewhere. The dedicated team and the hundreds of volunteers continue to raise the bar of expectations at DSFF every single year.

The Foundation has been there supporting our family even before our daughter was born. Their mission and view of my daughter’s potential gave me hope and helped me see her for all she is and can be, past the diagnosis. I feel so lucky to be part of this community and have an organization like the Foundation as a source of constant support, resources and encouragement. They offer programs and therapies I otherwise never would have known about that have helped my daughter thrive and succeed. I’m so thankful the Foundation is an available resource and that we have been a part of it her entire life.

The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida is more like a giant family in the way they treat their families and volunteers. They have helped so many people with so many things. My son has apraxia of speech and has very limited verbal communication. It is so difficult as a parent to see your child miss out on so many things because of this limitation. The Foundation has provided my son with an Oral Motor scholarship that is helping him make great improvements. They also have great programs called iCan in which they give children with Down Syndrome the opportunity to try and learn many different things. This helps give them a sense of accomplishment as well as builds community. My son has personally participated in the iCan Learn and recently started in the iCan Surf program. Aside from financial support they are an incredible source of training and education about many different topics. They hold both in person and Virtual Meetings. We are so thankful for the Virtual Meetings because we live far away from where most in person meetings happen so this allows us to participate. The encouragement and support they provide is also incredible. They schedule events where families can go and celebrate together and also individual programs that are age specific for the children and both Mom and Dad's Night outs. They have so many programs and incredible things that we have even considered moving homes just to be closer to them. :-)

I moved to Florida where I have no family around the area. Being a parent to a child with Down Syndrome was challenging at the beginning. However, the FOUNDATION is not only an organization, it is actually a community that embraces families and supports them by all means through effective programs, generous scholarships, informative meetings, and fun gatherings not only for our children but also for us as parents. The FOUNDATION helps us feel that we are not alone in this journey and develop long-life friends for ourselves and our beloved children. Truly appreciate all that they do.

Our family has been a member of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida (DSFF) since we moved to Florida in 2012. We have witnessed and benefited from the support, activities, informational meetings and kindness the DSFF provides people throughout Florida. We have also been awarded scholarships for things like music class, gymnastics, swimming, speech -Talk Tools, SLA Camp, iCan Learn, Excel and Bike programs. These scholarships help our son grow and evolve into an active, participating member of society. There is always something to do in the community organized by the DSFF and the volunteers. There is a full calendar of events like the yearly Bowl-a-Thon (the biggest fundraiser of the year), Winter Wonderland Christmas Event, iCan Bike, iCan Surf, iCan Learn and Excel, informational meetings, and Mom/Dads day out, Zumba, and social groups like the young kids, middle teen kids, and older kids/adults as well as so much more. The DSFF is a grass roots, non-profit organization financially supported by the community business'. We are so appreciative of all of the support the DSFF provides us and all families who have a loved one with Down syndrome.

The Foundation Is a very active organization that helps families with children with Down Syndrome. They have countless activities for our kiddos, including different types of scholarships to keep our kids included in all different areas, social, emotional, academically, and the list goes on. My son, 13 years old, has been receiving scholarship for swiming, tutoring, social activities, and advocacy services. Because of the scholarships, he has been able to participate consistently in the swimming practices with typical kids, and has recently promoted to the be part of the swimming team. Academically, he is able to be in the General Education due to his extra help he receives from his tutor. He receives scholarship for martial Arts class, which also led him in an inclusive class to be able to participate in competitions and amazing shows. All of this is just a tip of all the Foundation activities, they are much more than this! We are very thankful for being able to be a member of the Foundation.

I have been volunteering with the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida for over 10 years. I love meeting families and getting to know them. The Foundation helps families across Florida realize that their loved one with Down syndrome has potential and provides the resources for them to learn, grow and be successful!

The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida enhances the lives of individuals with down syndrome and their families. They provide numerous scholarships for different activities within the community. My son has benefited from these scholarships which has helped his development in countless ways, like eating solids, gross motor skills and being included in community based sports. We feel lucky to have the DSFF working hard for our families.

I have so many stories of how The Down Syndrome Foundation has helped not only myself but others in our community. I think one of the things that has always impressed me the most, is when they put together a program, it's a complete program, not some run of the mill, thrown together in a week program. It's a well-thought-out idea, with all the what ifs checked off. The DSFF has helped a lot of families over the years, and they've done it without taking a salary.

On the outside the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida looks like another non profit. Once you join you realize the incredible support system you have just connected yourself to. The foundation was started by mothers whom have children afflicted with down syndrome and these woman actually run it day to day. They walk your walk and are readily available to help you in any way that they can.
The foundation charges nothing and yet puts on amazing events for our loved ones afflicted with DS. Beyond that the foundation also runs numerous programs that impact the lives of our loved ones afflicted with DS. The foundation has made such a positive influence on my sons life and enriched it beyond what I thought possible.. I am eternally grateful to them.