Aging with Down Syndrome Meeting
2025-11-24 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Detroit) | Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, 49548
Caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome are invited to this support group that meets every month. The Aging with Down Syndrome Meetings are sponsored by DSAWM and Alzheimer’s Association. Participants share experiences and discuss the process of caring for loved ones growing older with Down syndrome.

Please register HERE if you are interested in attending and email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Book Club
2025-11-25 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-12-09 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-01-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Chapbook Cafe at Schuler Books, 2660 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49512, United States
Every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month

6:00pm-7:00pm

Schuler Books

Ages 16+

Teens and adults with Down syndrome are invited to join Bobbi for Book Club at Schuler Books on 28th Street. Participants in Book Club will get the chance to read fun books with a group of their peers. After completing a book, members will be invited to a movie night where they will watch a film based on the book they read. All reading levels are welcome. Book Club will meet in the Chapbook Café.

Please email program@dsawm.org with any questions.

DSAWM Closed for Thanksgiving
2025-11-27 00:00 - 23:59 | MI

MSU Community Music School: Virtual Music Therapy
2025-12-03 18:30 - 19:30, 2026-01-07 18:30 - 19:30 | MI
CMS Music Therapists under the direction of Cindy Edgerton, Director of Music Therapy, will be leading monthly “virtual” music therapy events on the first Wednesday of every month. The participants are split up into two groups based on age, each group will have their own unique Zoom link.

These events are meant to be interactive and there will be a lot of moving around! If you have a streamer, scarf, or your own instrument(s), that’s awesome! If not, feel free to use things you probably have at home already. Spice or sprinkle jars become shakers, a pot and a wooden spoon becomes a drum set!

Please RSVP to Cathy Blatnik at 517-381-1410 or at blatsie63@yahoo.com the Saturday before each monthly event with the following information: first and last name of each participant, birthdate, phone number, and email address.

“Together Let’s Sing, Dance, and Jam!” is generously sponsored by the Mid-Michigan Autism Association and the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan.

Kalamazoo Holiday Party
2025-12-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Centerpoint City Church, 326 W Cork St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001, United States
Mark your calendars! Our DSAWM Kalamazoo Holiday Party will be hosted on Saturday, December 6th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at a NEW LOCATION: Centerpoint City Church (326 W Cork St Kalamazoo, MI 49001)! This is a free gathering for all of our members to come and celebrate the holiday season! There will be holiday activities, light refreshments, and pictures with Santa.

Please register HERE!

Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions!

Grand Rapids Holiday Party
2025-12-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Fredrick Meijer Gardens, 1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49525, United States
Mark your calendars! Our annual DSAWM Member Holiday Party will be hosted on Saturday, December 13th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Fredrick Meijer Gardens in the Huizenga Grand Room & Atrium! This is a free gathering for all of our members to come and celebrate the holiday season! The party is Whoville themed this year so dress as your favorite Whoville character such as the Grinch or Cindy Lou Who! There will be holiday activities, light refreshments, an Elvis performance, and photos with Santa! Families will also get to explore the different exhibits available at Fredrick Meijer Gardens.

Please register HERE!

The Whoville 5k is the day after the Grand Rapids Holiday Party, on December 14th, so make sure you register for that as well! All proceeds of the Whoville 5k benefit DSAWM. Register HERE for the Whoville 5k!

Please email admin@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Whoville 5k
2025-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | MI
Join us for the Whoville 5k on December 14th at 1:00pm! The Whoville 5k is a Whoville celebration including Whoville characters, Santa, Whoville hats, cookies, hot cocoa and more! It will be at Riverside Park, Grand Rapids Michigan. All proceeds benefit DSAWM.

We have a 50% off code that is good for 20 registrants and should be used for members with Down syndrome only. Members with Down syndrome can use this code when registering for the race to get 50% off: DSAWM50off

We have another discount code that is for $5 off registration and this can be used for anyone interested in participating! Here is the $5 off code for anyone to use: DSAWMTake5

Click HERE for more Whoville 5k information.

Click HERE to register for the Whoville 5k!

Please email admin@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Aging with Down Syndrome Meeting
2025-12-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, 160 68th St SW Ste. 110, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49548, United States
Caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome are invited to this support group that meets on the fourth Monday of every month. The Aging with Down Syndrome Meetings are sponsored by DSAWM and Alzheimer’s Association. Participants share experiences and discuss the process of caring for loved ones growing older with Down syndrome.

If you are unable to attend in person, here is the zoom link so you can attend virtually: https://zoom.us/j/91902495068?pwd=[REDACTED]

Please register HERE if you are interested in attending and email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Independent Living Skills
2026-01-12 17:00 - 18:00, 2026-01-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, 160 68th St SW Ste. 110, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49548, United States
This series of workshops for members aged 14 years and older will focus on a variety of skills one needs to work towards independence. We will have Independent Living Skills every Monday from 5pm-6pm before Shape Up.

Here is the zoom link if you are unable to participate in person: https://zoom.us/j/93801138656?pwd=[REDACTED] This zoom link will be the same for every week.

Please register HERE if you are interested in participating!

Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any suggestions for topics or if you have any questions.

Shape Up
2026-01-12 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-01-19 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-01-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
Shape Up is a fun and exciting health program for members 14 and older. NOTE: we will meet on Mondays in the Athlete Hub EXCEPT for January where we will meet in the Auditorium. It will still be from 6:00pm-7:30pm. There will be 45 minutes of nutrition education and 45 minutes of exercise.

Here is the zoom link if you are unable to participate in person: https://zoom.us/j/94784309703?pwd=[REDACTED] This zoom link will be the same for every week.

Please register HERE if you are interested in participating!

Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Young Athletes
2026-01-13 17:30 - 18:15, 2026-01-20 17:30 - 18:15, 2026-01-27 17:30 - 18:15 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
Join DSAWM, Autism Support of Kent County, and Special Olympics in our Young Athletes program. This program will be on Tuesdays from 5:30pm-6:15pm in the SOMI Auxiliary Gym. Young Athletes is a sport play program designed for members aged 2-7. Participants will be introduced to the basics of sports and start to build their gross motor skills for future sports participation. Young Athletes also helps to build cognitive and social skills. Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Please complete 2 quick registrations if you would like to participate:

https://dsawm.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/dsawm/eventRegistration.jsp?event=2444&

and

https://forms.gle/NHNcUkVcPzBUao7V6

Developmental Sports
2026-01-13 18:15 - 19:00, 2026-01-20 18:15 - 19:00 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
Join DSAWM, Autism Support of Kent County, and Special Olympics in our Developmental Sports program. This program will be on Tuesdays from 6:15pm-7:00pm in the SOMI Auxiliary Gym. Developmental Sports is a program designed to teach members aged 8-13 how to participate in a team sport. Participants will be introduced to the basics of sports and start to develop the skills necessary to play as a team. Developmental Sports will also help build cognitive and social skills and allow kids to see the possibilities in their athletic careers. Sports will be repeated multiple times throughout the session to help develop and strengthen skills. Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Please complete 2 quick registrations if you would like to participate:

https://dsawm.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=2445&

and

https://forms.gle/2WrMJVp3cbEy6zp69

Dance for Teens and Adults
2026-01-14 17:30 - 18:30, 2026-01-21 17:30 - 18:30 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
Join our Dance program with Molly from Arts in Motion and our intern Molly! This is an adaptive program for all of our teens and adult members aged 13 and older. We stretch, dance, and play percussion instruments while we listen to participant-selected music! Here is the zoom link if you are unable to participate in person: https://zoom.us/j/93780199670?pwd=[REDACTED] This zoom link will be the same for every week.

Please register HERE if you are interested in participating!

Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Grand Rapids Cooking Capers
2026-01-15 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-01-22 18:00 - 19:30 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
Grand Rapids Cooking Capers is a program led by GVSU nutrition students to teach independence in the kitchen for members 12 and older (members 12-15 must have a guardian present). We work on goals and learn kitchen safety, measurements, and more! We cook a delicious 3 course meal each week and enjoy socializing with others. Registrations are required so that we can make sure to accommodate all food allergies and purchase the correct amount of groceries.

Please register HERE if you are interested in participating!

Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Lakeshore Mom's Night Out
2026-01-15 18:30 - 19:30 | Don Luis Mexican Bar & Grill, 442 N Beacon Blvd, Grand Haven, Michigan, 49417, United States
Mom’s Night Out is a monthly program for mothers raising children with Down syndrome. Each month, mom’s have the opportunity to enjoy different activities and come together to connect, share stories, and support each other. This month’s gathering will be at Don Luis Mexican Bar & Grill!

Please email Maggie at lvalley22@gmail.com if you have any questions and to RSVP!

Self Advocate Board Meeting
2026-01-19 17:00 - 18:00 | DSAWM Board Room, 160 68th St SW Suite 110, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49548, United States

Buddy Up Tennis
2026-01-24 10:15 - 11:45 | MI
Buddy Up Tennis is a 90-minute tennis and fitness program specifically created for individuals with Down syndrome ages 5+ who we call our Athletes. Buddy volunteers are partnered with Athletes to provide support, reinforce instruction, and develop friendships. No tennis experience required!

New Athletes please complete the Buddy Up Tennis Athlete Application and Release Form, click HERE for registration, and sign up on Sign Up Genius.

Returning Athletes please click HERE for registration and sign up on Sign Up Genius.

New Buddies please complete the Buddy Up Tennis Buddy Application and Release, click HERE to complete your Background Check/DSAWM Volunteer Form, and sign up on Sign Up Genius.

Returning Buddies please sign up on Sign Up Genius.

Please email GrandRapidsTennis@buforlife.org if you have any questions.

Lakeshore Dance
2026-01-26 16:30 - 17:30 | Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus Avenue, Grand Haven, Michigan, 49417, United States
Join us for our monthly Dance program with Molly from Arts in Motion at the Loutit District Library on January 26th from 4:30pm-5:30pm! This adaptive program is open to members age 6 and older. We’ll stretch, dance, and play fun percussion instruments while listening to participant-selected music!

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

Please email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.

Aging with Down Syndrome Meeting
2026-01-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, 160 68th St SW Ste. 110, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49548, United States
Caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome are invited to this support group that meets on the fourth Monday of every month. The Aging with Down Syndrome Meetings are sponsored by DSAWM and Alzheimer’s Association. Participants share experiences and discuss the process of caring for loved ones growing older with Down syndrome.

Some meetings will also have a zoom option. If you are unable to attend in person on January 26th, here is the zoom link so you can attend virtually: https://zoom.us/j/95024116482?pwd=[REDACTED]

Please register HERE if you are interested in attending and email program@dsawm.org if you have any questions.
