Due to local philanthropic funding, every central Missouri family with a loved one with Down syndrome qualifies for a single therapeutic caregiver consultation this year at no cost, provided via telehealth. Consultations occur by scheduled appointments that occur during daytime hours on weekdays.  

During the appointment, a Down-syndrome specialized therapist (OT, BCBA, SLP, or LCSW) will provide a skilled consultation discussing strategies that will assist with the expressed need, which may include toilet training, behavioral or emotional concerns, sensory challenges, or difficulties with activities of daily living.  

Completing this registration will inform us you are interested in this service and following review of your information, the Intake Specialist will contact you for scheduling.

We are committed to preparing your loved one with Down syndrome for a meaningful, productive, and authentic adult life! This requires future planning for parents and caregivers—and we are here to guide you every step of the journey! Long-Term Planning Consultations offer individualized support to parents/caregivers to better prepare for the transition towards adulthood. Tasks or topics may include identifying your county's developmental disability organization (CDDO), navigating the IDD eligibility process in your county, accessing an ABLE account, advocating through your service coordinator, and defining action steps towards long-term goals. Our DSI team members will help you prioritize and plan according to your loved one’s age and your family’s specific situation. 

Please register and then we will contact you to schedule an appointment that works for your family.  Appointments will be provided via Zoom during standard business hours on weekdays.

At Down Syndrome Innovations (DSI), we value independence, self-determination, and high expectations for the people we serve, regardless of their age. We support parents and caregivers with strategies to facilitate independence, foster self-determination, set high expectations, and problem-solve through setbacks and barriers. We recognize that independence looks different for every person with a developmental disability, varying across ages, stages, and environments.

Join Sarah Mai, Executive Director and Occupational Therapist, in Columbia, Missouri, as she guides you through strategies to build skills, adapt tasks and environments, and create opportunities to maximize your loved one's independence. We will discuss skills within DSI’s Lifespan Services Framework for building independence at home and in the community. Together, we can identify barriers to independence and share effective ideas and tools

The caregiver education event will take place between 10:00-11:30am and participants will have the opportunity for a light lunch and caregiver connection immediately following.

DSI will do our best to find a sufficient number of trusted volunteers for childcare for parents who have traveled a long distance with their family or have no other options. If possible, we encourage utilizing your own childcare. Please email sarah@kcdsi.org if you require childcare to attend as a parent.