Five DSANWI friends and family members standing arm in arm outdoors at a community event

Our Services

Compassion. Connection. Community. Helping individuals with Down syndrome thrive at every stage of life.

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What We Do

DSANWI serves individuals with Down syndrome in Northwest Indiana.

We provide activities, services, and education for people of all ages across the Region, along with family support and real opportunities for volunteers who want to get involved. Check the events calendar to see everything happening this year, and join us.

Get Involved
A DSANWI volunteer and a young woman working on a craft project together
A young girl at a DSANWI activity table
A DSANWI volunteer and a young man working on a project together
Two moms holding their babies together at a DSANWI family outing

New Family Support

Welcoming you with answers, guidance, and support.

Receiving a pre-natal or post-natal Down syndrome diagnosis can feel overwhelming. You are not alone. Families who have walked this road are ready to welcome you with answers, guidance, and support, and you are always welcome to reach out to us directly. Page through our member profiles and you will see many happy faces helping make the Region a vibrant place to live and work.

Guidance

Compassionate information and resources when you need them most.

Support

Connect with experienced families who understand your journey.

Education

Practical tools and local resources to help you feel confident.

Awareness

We help create a more informed, inclusive community.

Community

Lifelong connections and a place where everyone belongs.

DSANWI teens and volunteers outside with buckets and supplies for a community fundraiser

Raising Awareness

Building understanding. Creating inclusion.

Our families are committed to correcting misinformation about the abilities of individuals with Down syndrome. We invite healthcare, education, and business professionals to get to know our community and benefit from our friendship. Self advocates of all ages are available to speak to groups and classes, or simply meet on Zoom to get to know each other better. Together, we create a more informed and inclusive Northwest Indiana.

Get Involved

Programs & Services

Activities, services, and opportunities for all ages.
Children running and playing together at a DSANWI community event

Children

Fun activities and programs that build skills, friendships, and confidence.

Teens in green DSANWI shirts cheering with a costumed character at an event

Teens

Social events and opportunities to explore interests and independence.

A smiling adult man with Down syndrome, studio portrait

Adults

Programs that encourage community participation and personal growth.

A grandmother and a small child smiling together at the DSANWI registration table

Family Support

Resources and connections for families at every stage of the journey.

A family of five, including three young children with Down syndrome, smiling together in a studio portrait

Volunteers

Meaningful ways to get involved and make a difference.

Buddy Walk participants gathered under the balloon arch beneath the DSANWI Buddy Walk banner

Buddy Walk®

Together for a better tomorrow.

Many individuals with Down syndrome say Buddy Walk Day is their favorite day of the year. Fun, family, friends, food, and much more. The Buddy Walk is the primary fundraiser for DSANWI and helps provide the services and activities we offer across Northwest Indiana.

More About Buddy Walk

Together, we can create a community where everyone belongs.