Drumming with Arts in Motion
2025-09-25 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-09-18 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-09-11 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Detroit) | 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!

Karate with Down to Defend
2025-09-24 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-09-17 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-09-10 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-09-03 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.

Developmental Sports
2025-09-23 18:15 - 19:00, 2025-09-16 18:15 - 19:00, 2025-09-09 18:15 - 19:00, 2025-09-02 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

Book Club
2025-09-23 18:00 - 19:00, 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.

Young Athletes
2025-09-23 17:30 - 18:15, 2025-09-16 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

Aging with Down Syndrome Meeting
2025-09-22 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.

Shape Up
2025-09-22 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-09-15 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. We will meet on Mondays from 6pm-7:30pm in the SOMI Athlete Hub. 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/96053773711?pwd=[REDACTED] This zoom link will be the same for every week.

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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

Independent Living Skills
2025-09-22 17:00 - 18:00 | DSAWM Board Room, 160 68th St SW Suite 110, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49548, United States
This series of workshops for individuals 14+ will focus on a variety of skills one needs to work towards independence. We will meet every Monday from 5pm-6pm in the DSAWM board room. Please send topic suggestions and questions to our Program Coordinator, Maria, at program@dsawm.org.

Here is the zoom link if you are unable to participate in person: https://zoom.us/j/97658800068?pwd=[REDACTED] This zoom link will be the same for every week.

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

Cooking Capers
2025-09-18 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:30, 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!

Dance for Teens and Adults
2025-09-17 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-09-10 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!

Please register HERE if you would like to participate!

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

Self Advocate Board Meeting
2025-09-15 17:00 - 18:00 | DSAWM Board Room, 160 68th St SW Suite 110, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49548, United States

LMCU Bridge Run 5k
2025-09-14 08:00 - 12:00 | MI
Participants and volunteers that have been training in our Rapid Runners program are able to participate in the LMCU Bridge Run 5k for free! The 2025 Bridge Run will take place on SUNDAY, September 14 and will be located on the west side of the 6th Street Bridge (use 731 Front Ave NW, Grand Rapids, 49504 in your GPS for our physical location). Please make sure to tell the DSAWM Program Coordinator, Maria, if you are going to participate in the race. More information and details about the race will be shared once the date gets closer.

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

Rapid Runners
2025-09-08 18:00 - 19:00 | 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.

Step Up for Down Syndrome
2025-09-06 15:00 - 19:00 | MI
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!

MSU Community Music School: Virtual Music Therapy
2025-09-03 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.
