DSAWM

Rapid Runners
2025-08-04 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-11 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-18 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-08-25 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-09-08 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit) | Manhattan Park, 3180 Cascade Rd SE, East Grand Rapids, MI, 49506, United States
This summer, teens and adults with Down syndrome (ages 12 and up) are invited to join Rapid Runners, a fun and supportive running program where we train together for the LMCU Bridge Run 5k on September 14th! We meet at the pavilion at Manhattan Park to warm up, then participants are paired with volunteers to walk/run for an hour around East Grand Rapids. DSAWM covers the cost of the race for both participants and volunteers.

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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

Summer Stars
2025-08-05 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-06 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, 49548
Summer Stars is a free program for children with Down syndrome aged 7-12 or in grades 1-6. Through a variety of thoughtfully designed activities, including games, crafts, and outdoor play, the program helps children make progress on their IEP (Individualized Education Program) goals while supporting their overall development. Summer Stars will take place Monday-Thursday from June 9th-August 7th skipping June 19th, June 30th-July 3rd, and July 21st-July 24th. The program runs from 1:00pm-4:00pm with an optional early drop-off available at 12:00pm and the option to stay for extra programming offered from 4:00pm-5:00pm. Spots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis so be sure to complete this application by May 8th to be considered for participation.

Please click HERE to complete the application if you have a child who is interested in attending Summer Stars.

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

School Aged Dance with Arts in Motion
2025-08-06 16:00 - 17:00 | 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 school-age members aged 7-12. We stretch, dance, and play fun percussion instruments while we listen to fun music!

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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

Dance for Teens and Adults with Arts in Motion
2025-08-06 17:00 - 18:00 | 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!

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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

MSU Community Music School: Virtual Music Therapy
2025-08-06 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-09-03 18:30 - 19:30 | Michigan
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.

Drumming with Arts in Motion
2025-08-07 16:00 - 17:00 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
Join us on Thursdays from 4pm-5pm for Drumming with Josh from Arts in Motion! This program is for members of all ages and it will be a fun opportunity to work on your rhythm and make some music with friends.

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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

Cooking Capers
2025-08-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
DSAWM has Cooking Capers every other week in the summer. 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!

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

Therapeutic Horse Handling
2025-08-09 09:30 - 11:30 | Hestóvin Stables Therapeutic Riding Center, 1217 East Paris Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49546, United States
DSAWM is excited to partner with Hestóvin Stables Therapeutic Riding Center (1217 East Paris Ave. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49546) again this year to offer Therapeutic Horse Handling sessions on August 1st and August 9th, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM. While there won’t be any riding, participants will take part in grooming, bathing, and interactive games with the horses.

This program is open to individuals ages 5 and up, with a maximum of 10 participants per session. Due to limited capacity, we can only accommodate our members with Down syndrome for this program. To help us include as many members as possible, please register for only one date.

Click HERE to register!

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

Kalamazoo Mom's Night Out
2025-08-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Martell’s, 3501 Greenleaf Blvd, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, 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. DSAWM covers the cost for first-time attendees (excluding alcohol). This month’s gathering is going to be at Martell’s.

Aging with Down Syndrome Meeting
2025-08-25 18:30 - 19:30 | 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.

Mom's Night Out
2025-08-30 14:00 - 17:00 | Michigan
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 is going to be a pool party!

Please email Keri at dsmamas321@yahoo.com to RSVP or if you have any questions.

Office Closed for Labor Day
2025-09-01 00:00 - 23:59 | Michigan

Young Athletes
2025-09-02 17:30 - 18:15, 2025-09-09 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. 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=2432&

and

https://forms.gle/Qo31XvBKV38PTmgb6

Developmental Sports
2025-09-02 18:15 - 19:00, 2025-09-09 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 team sports play and start to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to play as a team. Developmental Spors will also help build cognitive and social skills and allow kids to see the possibilities in their athletic careers. Sports offerings will vary each week, with each week of the program focusing on a different team sports. Sports will be repeated multiple times throughout the session to help develop and strengthen skills. 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=2433&

and

https://forms.gle/APaNxKtsxxvefmBF9

Karate with Down to Defend
2025-09-03 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-09-10 16:30 - 17:30 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
DSAWM is partnering with Down to Defend to offer a new 6-week karate class from September 3 – October 8, every Wednesday from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM with Sensei Allison.

This program will focus on:

Confidence Building: Helping participants believe in themselves through achievable goals and positive reinforcement.

Intro to Karate: Learning foundational karate moves in a safe and encouraging environment.

Practical Safety Skills: Understanding the difference between strangers, safe people, and safe places, and building awareness to navigate the world more securely.

This class is more than just self-defense — it’s about equipping participants with the tools they need to feel strong, capable, and informed.

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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

Cooking Capers
2025-09-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
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 would like to participate!

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

Step Up for Down Syndrome
2025-09-06 15:00 - 19:00 | Michigan
As DSAWM celebrates our 40th anniversary, we invite you to “Step Right Up” and celebrate carnival-style at the 2025 Step Up for Down Syndrome event!

Step Up for Down Syndrome is the largest Down syndrome awareness event in Michigan and the Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan’s (DSAWM) biggest fundraiser.

This year’s celebration will be held on Saturday, September 6th from 3-7 PM at Hudsonville Fairgrounds and will feature carnival games, prizes, food trucks, a disability-focused resource fair, music, and more!  We will also be celebrating DSAWM’s 40th anniversary with a look back at the milestones that have defined the past 40 years.

We expect this to be our biggest event yet, with over 1,000 attendees coming together for this highly anticipated community celebration and ceremonial walk. This is the time to come together to support our loved ones with Down syndrome and we are excited to welcome new and returning members, friends, and family, back together for a full day of celebration and community.

Join, donate, and find more information on our Step Up Fundraising Page!

Book Club
2025-09-09 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.

Dance for Teens and Adults
2025-09-10 17:30 - 18:30 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548

Drumming with Arts in Motion
2025-09-11 17:00 - 18:00 | Special Olympics Michigan Unified Sports & Inclusion Center, 160 68th St SW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548
Join us on Thursdays from 5pm-6pm for Drumming with Josh from Arts in Motion! This program is for members of all ages and it will be a fun opportunity to work on your rhythm and make some music with friends.

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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