Triangle Down Syndrome Network

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located in central North Carolina, serving families in Wake, Durham and Orange and surrounding counties

TDSN Recognizes the Contributions of Individuals who "Expect the Very Best"
Expect the Very Best was the theme of the first TDSN dinner held on April 29
at the Embassy Suites in Cary. People traveled from as far away as Missouri
and Virginia, to celebrate the organization's growth over the past few years,
to honor 8 outstanding individuals who have made life better for those with
Down syndrome, and to hear the inspirational message of best-selling author,
Martha Beck.
    Nancy Lowther and her daughters Jenny and Shana provided enjoyable
musical entertainment during the dinner.
    Many of the parents in the TDSN group could relate to Beck's journey of
raising a child with Down syndrome.  She encouraged the audience to expect
the very best of their children and of themselves as well.
    The two Distinguished Service winners, Susannah Beals-Simon and Joanne
Mackey were commended for their service and work with children with Down
syndrome. Beals-Simon, who has a master's degree in early childhood
development, worked for the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities
until April of this year. She was nominated for her talent and dedication in
working with children with Down syndrome and their families.  "It's so easy
to get discouraged, and Susannah helped us to keep setting high goals for our
child and provided us with help to achieve those goals every step of the way."
    Joanne Mackey, the other Distinguished Service winner, has likewise
encouraged many families to expect the best for the children with Down
syndrome through her work as a nurse practitioner at the Chromosome Clinic at
Duke University Hospital.  She has worked tirelessly over the past 20 years
to help improve services for all children with disabilities by leading and
serving on numerous volunteer boards and committees.  
Mackey was also credited with playing a key role in obtaining non-profit
status for TDSN.  She is serving as the co-chair of the 2002 statewide
conference sponsored by TDSN. Beth Cooper, a therapist with the Tammy Lynn
Center for Developmental Disabilities was one of 6 individuals receiving
Special Recognition Honors at the dinner. Her nomination included the
following statement, "I feel Beth went above and beyond the call of duty so
many times...I can't imagine where my child would be today without her
unfailing support."  
    Priya Kishnani MD, one of the cofounders of the Duke University Down
Syndrome Clinic, was likewise praised for her contributions to the medical
challenges individuals Down syndrome often encounter.  "In 1997 she began to
research the use of the drug Aricept to enhance the cognitive functions of
people with Down syndrome...her groundbreaking work continues today with a
new study focused on medication for children with Down syndrome."
    Jennifer Lail MD, a pediatrician from Chapel Hill Pediatrics was
described as "an exceptionally caring person that opened her heart to
children with Down syndrome.  Numerous times she has helped Latino families
with children with Down syndrome overcome some of the cultural and language
barriers to ensure proper medical care for children."
    Thomas Layton, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, another recipient of Special Recognition
Honors, was commended for his life- long dedication to helping improve the
speech of children with Down syndrome."In addition to publishing 39 articles
and making dozens of presentations on speech issues, he arranges to see
children at his clinic at times convenient for parents which often includes
Saturdays and weekends.  He definitely cares about each child's progress."
    Rene' Morrison, the director of Family Support Network of Wake County,
was recognized as a leader in helping parents navigate the social service
system for the benefit of the children.  As a parent of a child with special
needs, she understands firsthand the importance of advocacy and collaboration
of many different kinds of disability support groups.
    James Thullen, MD, the final outstanding recipient of Special
Recognition Honors, was hailed for his pioneer work in the field of advocacy.
 "He practiced full and open disclosure and supported early intervention
efforts, long before it was considered the standard of care.  Dr. Thullen has
a special connection with children with Down syndrome, and has lost his car
keys on more than one occasion because he shared them with a child on his
examining table."