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John Cena Meets Teen Superfan With Down Syndrome Who Fled Ukraine

Featured, In the Media

After Misha Rohozhyn’s mom told him that their escape from Mariupol was actually a trip to see his idol Cena, the WWE star made the fantasy come true. According to a video posted to the WWE’s YouTube channel, the star got word that Misha Rohozhyn, a non-verbal 19-year-old with Down syndrome, escaped the war-embattled nation with his mother, Liana Rohozhyn, after their home in Mariupol was destroyed, and that Liana encouraged Misha throughout the journey by telling him they were on their way to see his hero, Cena. On June 5, Cena turned Liana’s fantasy into reality when he traveled to a residence outside Amsterdam where the refugees had been staying.

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June 13, 2022/0 Comments/by Admin
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President of North Macedonia walked an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome to school

Featured

President Stevo Pendarovski, of North Macedonia walked an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome to school after he heard she was being bullied. He held Embla Ademi’s hand as he walked her to her elementary school in the city of Gostivar on Monday.  Embla has experienced bullying at school due as a result of having Down syndrome

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February 14, 2022/0 Comments/by Admin
https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/220211164316-02-north-macedonia-president-walks-girl-school-handout-exlarge-169.jpeg 438 780 Admin https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-21_Foundation_Logo.png Admin2022-02-14 18:27:372022-02-14 18:28:49President of North Macedonia walked an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome to school

Chris Nikic Inspires Others!

Featured, In the Media

In November, Special Olympics athlete Chris Nikic became the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. Nikic, 21, finished a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run at the Ironman Florida competition in Panama City Beach in 16 hours, 46 minutes and 9 seconds, just 14 minutes under the 17-hour cutoff time. Throughout his training and completion of the race, Nikic inspired others to follow in his footsteps.

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February 4, 2022/0 Comments/by Admin
https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/chris-nicik.jpg 442 570 Admin https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-21_Foundation_Logo.png Admin2022-02-04 18:23:162022-02-04 18:23:16Chris Nikic Inspires Others!

Thankful Every Day for the Decision that I Made

Featured, In the Media, Our Blog

Our 16-year-old daughter, Penny, wakes up to the beeping of her alarm. On her way downstairs, she picks up her iPhone to check her texts. She eats breakfast, gathers her sneakers and pompoms for cheerleading and heads to school. When Penny was diagnosed with Down syndrome a few hours after she was born, I didn’t expect our mornings to feel so ordinary.

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February 3, 2022/0 Comments/by Admin
https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/01beccker-superJumbo.webp 2048 2048 Admin https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-21_Foundation_Logo.png Admin2022-02-03 19:14:412022-02-03 19:16:11Thankful Every Day for the Decision that I Made

COVID-19 Disproportionately Impacting Those With Developmental Disabilities

Featured, In the Media

We’ve all been impacted by Covid, but our community in particular has been hard hit.

A letter published recently in the American Journal of Psychiatry on behalf of the directors of the nation’s 13 intellectual and developmental disabilities research centers — which are funded by the National Institutes of Health — is sounding the alarm about the devastating impact the pandemic has had on an already vulnerable population.

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2020/09/08/covid-19-disproportionately-impacting-developmental-disabilities/28909/

September 10, 2020/0 Comments/by Michelle Alford
https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ds200504_covid-668x418-1.jpg 418 668 Michelle Alford https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-21_Foundation_Logo.png Michelle Alford2020-09-10 21:23:022020-09-10 21:28:02COVID-19 Disproportionately Impacting Those With Developmental Disabilities

Down Syndrome Pen Pal Program

Featured, In the Media, Our Blog

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A program that started in North Carolina to connect people with Down syndrome during social distancing is going global.

Every week, 14-year-old Melia Griffin goes to check the mail in hopes she will receive a letter from her pen pal Jenna. She is one of 125 people participating in the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-Salem’s pen pal program. After social distancing requirements forced the organization to cancel all of its events and programming, the group thought of a way to help members socially and emotionally connect. Melia’s mother, Kendra Griffin, said it’s doing exactly that.

“Getting her letters and knowing that there’s not that many people with Down syndrome so it’s comforting as a mom to know that there’s other families just like ours not just here in the Triad but all around the world really,” Kendra Griffin said.

Melia lives in North Carolina and her pen pal Jenna lives in Michigan. After three weeks of sending letters back and fourth, Melia said the two have created a special bond.

“I want to go to Michigan, and I want to see her,” Melia Griffin said.

There are many relationships being formed through this program. Clay Janke, 8, lives in Nebraska. His pen pal is Josiah from North Carolina. Clay’s mother, Leah Janke said it’s a welcome distraction for the entire family.

“There’s something about paper mail. We’re taking anything that’s fun and exciting right now while everyone’s at home, so getting paper mail has been really fun and Clay likes to run out and check the mail box and see if he has any mail,” Janke said.

The program keeps growing, with no end in sight. Down Syndrome Association board president, McNeil Cronin, said the group’s goal is to bring on as many people as possible.

“Right now we are at over 30 states in the U.S., three different countries, so we’ve gone international, and we have over 125 members currently, and we are really proud of that. It’s struck a core with people all over the world, and it started right here in Winston-Salem,” Cronin added.

Participants range from the ages of 1 to 48 and are all from different races and backgrounds.

If your child has Down syndrome and would be interested in participating in the pen pal program, you can e-mail Executive Director, Jay Callahan, at [email protected].

August 11, 2020/0 Comments/by Michelle Alford
https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pen-Pal-Cropped.png 347 596 Michelle Alford https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-21_Foundation_Logo.png Michelle Alford2020-08-11 16:43:532020-09-10 21:33:05Down Syndrome Pen Pal Program

Meet Kayla Mckeon

Advocacy, Featured, In the Media

Kayla McKeon…the FIRST individual with Down syndrome to serve as a lobbyist in Washington DC

October 14, 2019/0 Comments/by Admin
https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2018-Twitter-10-2a.png 569 473 Admin https://321foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3-21_Foundation_Logo.png Admin2019-10-14 21:00:502020-09-09 17:18:35Meet Kayla Mckeon
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