September was filled with friendship, adventure, and community connections across DSAW! Chapters throughout the state brought families together for fishing, sailing, mini golf, bowling, picnics, inclusive playdates, outdoor adventures, educational opportunities, and gatherings for parents, grandparents, siblings, and self-advocates. We also kicked off Awareness Walk season, celebrating milestones like the 30th Annual Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk at the Milwaukee County Zoo and the 17th Annual Sheboygan Awareness Walk! From trying new activities and building friendships to raising awareness and celebrating inclusion, September was a wonderful reminder of what makes our DSAW community so special. Thank you to our families, volunteers, sponsors, community partners, and supporters who make these moments possible. We can’t wait to keep the celebrations going in October! 💙💛
Fox Cities
DSAW Fox Cities – September Recap
September brought another fun month with our DSAW Fox Cities families!
We spent time together at Xtreme Air, with lots of jumping, playing, and plenty of smiles. We were also disappointed to have to cancel our Bubolz Nature Preserve Scavenger Hunt due to the weather, but we hope to bring it back another time!
Thank you to everyone who joined us this month. We’re already looking forward to more fun, connection, and memories together in the months ahead!
Green Bay
DSAW-Green Bay September Recap
Our Sign-N-Play fall session was a success! From learning new signs to singing, playing, and building friendships, Sign-N-Play is a wonderful opportunity for our families to learn, grow, and connect through communication and play. A big THANK YOU Jenny at Hand-to-Hand for hosting us and to everyone who joined us this session!
DSAW families had a great time at our Inclusive Fishing Event on 9/13/26! We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and it was so much fun seeing everyone enjoying time together and having fun outdoors. A special thank you to Challenge the Outdoors for partnering with us and helping make this event possible.
DSAW representatives attended the Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay’s 21st annual Powerful event 9/17/26. The Powerful event brought community members together to learn more about how the Women’s Fund is empowering, inspiring, and investing in local women and girls to help create a stronger community. The event featured an empowering and dynamic keynote speaker, Paralympian Alana Nichols. Thank you, Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay, for an impactful event!
DSAW representatives visited Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) to speak with dental hygiene students as part of their Inclusive Dental Day on 9/22/26. This was a valuable opportunity to share experiences, increase awareness, and help future dental professionals better understand the importance of inclusive and accessible dental care.
Participants took on a new challenge with adaptive rock wall climbing at Odyssey Climbing + Fitness on 9/25/26. With support and adaptations to help everyone participate, climbers were able to challenge themselves, try something new, and celebrate their accomplishments.
South Central
DSAW-SC September Recap
September was a busy month filled with connection, community, adventure, and plenty of fun!
From relaxing coffee meetups to outdoor adventures and family activities, DSAW-South Central had something for everyone.
Our Moms Take 5 group gathered at JavaAbilities for time to connect, chat, and enjoy some well-deserved mom time. Our Grandparents Group also met at JavaAbilities, creating another opportunity for grandparents to connect, share experiences, and build friendships.
We partnered with the McFarland and Monona Police Departments for Cops & Bobbers, bringing families and local law enforcement together for a fun day of fishing, lunch, and community connection.
Our 0–6 Playgroup explored Waubesha Inclusive Park in McFarland, giving our youngest members a chance to play, explore, and connect with other families.
Our moms also enjoyed another fun evening with Moms Rock ‘N It in Beloit, with time to relax, laugh, and connect with other moms.
Families headed out for an adventure on the Mid-Continent Railway Museum trail ride, enjoying time together and making memories along the way.
Our self advocates enjoyed a Lilo & Stitch dinner and movie night, combining good food, great company, and a fun night.
Our SibShop brought siblings together for an opportunity to connect with others who understand the unique experience of being a sibling of someone with a disability. We enjoyed the School Forest for a low ropes course and campfire cook out. THANK YOU MINDCOLOR for sponsoring this event!
We wrapped up the month with a DeVoe Family Farm tour in Monroe, giving families an opportunity to get outside, explore the farm, and enjoy one another’s company.
Thank you for being part of the DSAW-South Central community!
Southeastern WI
DSAW – SEWI/KRW – Looking Back on September 2026
September was a busy month for DSAW – Southeastern Region, with three great opportunities for families to get together, have some fun, and celebrate our community.
🎳 Glow Bowling | September 12
We kicked off the month with Glow Bowling at Country Lanes in Franklin. Families hit the lanes for an afternoon of bowling, music, and plenty of laughs. The glow-in-the-dark atmosphere made an already fun afternoon even more memorable!
🥞 Brunch | September 19
The following weekend, DSAW friends gathered at The Gingerbread House in Muskego for brunch. It was a relaxed morning filled with good food and even better conversation—a chance for DSAW friends to catch up and enjoy some time together. We are so thankful to the anonymous family who donated to cover our brunch!
🦁 30th Annual Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk | September 27
We wrapped up the month with an incredible celebration at the Milwaukee County Zoo for DSAW’s 30th Annual Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk.
With families and supporters from across Wisconsin coming together, the zoo was filled with team spirit, smiles, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. Thirty years of the Statewide Walk is a pretty remarkable milestone, and we were thrilled to celebrate it with so many members of the DSAW community.
We would like to take a moment to especially thank our Top 10 Fundraising Teams and our Walk Sponsors. It truly takes a community working together to reach our goals, and we recognize the outstanding efforts and leadership of these particular individuals, families, teams, organizations, and businesses. Please give them all the kudos they deserve!
Thank you to our Top 10 Teams:
1) Peyton’s Peanut Gallery – $17,949.25 raised
2) Leilani’s Tribe – $17, 669.25 raised
3) Mighty Mia’s Mates – $11,514.75 raised
4) Ohana Althea – $11,143.77 raised
5) Kennedy’s Wildflowers – $10,097.70 raised
6) Jabby’s Troopers – $7,101.10 raised
7) Everlee’s Entourage – $6,180.75 raised
8) Cora’s Crew – $5,029.80 raised
9) I Love Lucy – $4,689.55 raised
10) Gerbitz Grizzlies – $4,476.00 raised
Incredible teamwork and generosity – thank you!
Thank you to our Walk Sponsors and Community Partners:
AMPED Association Management, LSS Connections, Support Plus Personal Care, Curative Care Network, Waisman Center/INCLUDE Collaboration for Down Syndrome Progress, Country Lanes Bowling, Nicolet National Bank, Orbis, Cleland Custom Urethane, Festival Foods, and The Dentists on Bluemound.
We would not be where we are today without the amazing work and generous support of these local organizations and businesses – thank you!
Take a look at all the JOY from our September Family events, including our 30th Annual Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk, and mark your calendars for another joyful celebration on Sunday, September 26, 2027 for the 31st Annual Statewide Down Syndrome Awareness Walk!
Thank you to everyone who joined us throughout September. We’re already looking forward to the next opportunity to get together!
Chippewa Valley
DSAW – Chippewa Valley September Recap
This September the Chippewa Valley Chapter took a trip to the Bahamas! Well, we took a trip to a business that had real sand from the Bahamas! The Indoor Sandbox located in Eau Claire, hosted us for a fun play date. The owners are an amazing couple who love to let the imaginations of our youth run wild. Even the adults got in on the fun and dipped their toes into the sand. After that everyone willing buried their feet, and some even their legs in the beautiful white sand! Their were plenty of smiles to go around, along with a promise to do this again in the winter to help us feel warm.
Sheboygan & Surrounding Counties
DSAW – Sheboygan September Recap
September was walk month for the Sheboygan & Surrounding Chapter! In September we went sailing with SEAS on Lake Michigan in Sheboygan and had our 17th Annual mini-golf and awareness walk at Harbor Pointe mini golf in Sheboygan.
Our members learned some things about sailing in September, going out on a sailboat with an instructor. They all did fantastic!
The weather for the walk was perfect and everyone that attended had an awesome time!
Looking for upcoming events?
DSAW hosts activities and programs across Wisconsin throughout the year. Visit our Events Calendar to find opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate with the DSAW community.