by Wilton H. Strickland

One of the rewarding things about my work is that I often can make a positive difference in a client’s life. Every once in a while, though, my work makes a positive difference for large numbers of people, which is what happened recently when I helped the Montana Down Syndrome Association (MTDSA) to incorporate and earn its status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

The best way to describe the mission of the MTDSA is to quote from its Articles of Incorporation:

Montana Down Syndrome Association’s purpose is to honor and nurture the extraordinary lives of people with Down syndrome by advocating for them as well as providing financial, educational, social, and emotional support for them and their families. Through our fundraising activities, such as the Missoula Buddy Walk, we raise money to provide financial support to families for medical, educational, and therapeutic needs not funded by insurance. We also use these funds to provide parental support and education, a lending library, mentoring activities, workshops, and social activities for the individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the Montana communities in which they live.

If there ever was a client whose work I felt proud to perform, this is it. Apart from co-hosting the 14th Annual Missoula Buddy Walk (which takes place on September 13), MTDSA is embarking on a variety of projects to help families, such as the following:

• A reference library with books, CDs, DVDs, toys, and scheduled activities where families can interact and learn more about living with Down syndrome

• Charitable grants for families in need

• Dances, barbecues, bike camp, parent discussion groups, and other social events to keep everyone connected

• Advocacy and the raising of public awareness about Down syndrome

Best of all, MTDSA is just getting warmed up. As it moves onward and continues to grow, MTDSA will be a force for good in the lives of countless people. I encourage everyone to check out MTDSA’s Facebook page here. A website is also in the works and will soon be at the domain MTDSA.org.