FND POPIN

10/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1512883894197428&set=a.623972653088561

Did you know FTRI's free tablets are for kids too? 🎉 Parents of eligible Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and speech-disabled children can apply on their behalf, giving kids an easier way to connect with classmates, family, and friends. 📱✨ Learn more and apply at ftri.org.

10/07/2026

RESCHEDULED!!!! See below!👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

🚨🚨 BIG BUDDY WALK UPDATE — PLEASE SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! 🚨🚨

💙💛 THE BUDDY WALK IS NOT CANCELED — WE’RE JUST MOVING THE PARTY! 💙💛

Due to the potential severe weather impacting our area this weekend, we have officially been notified that we will need to RESCHEDULE the 17th Annual DSAEC Buddy Walk.

📅 NEW DATE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2026
📍 Tommy Oliver Stadium
⏰ Registration: 8:30 AM
👟 Buddy Walk: 10:00 AM

SAME PLACE. SAME PARTY. NEW DATE. 🎉

While changing the date just days before our event certainly wasn’t what we had planned, this gives our families, volunteers, vendors and community the opportunity to focus on preparing for the potential weather and keeping their families safe.

And our Buddies? THEY ARE STILL GETTING THEIR DAY. 🥹💙💛

In fact… we’ve decided we’re going to look at the bright side. 😉

🎟️ WE JUST GOT TWO MORE WEEKS OF RAFFLE TICKET SALES!
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 TWO MORE WEEKS TO BUILD YOUR BUDDY WALK TEAMS!
📣 TWO MORE WEEKS TO INVITE YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, coworkers and loved ones!
💙 TWO MORE WEEKS TO RALLY AROUND OUR BUDDIES!
🎉 TWO MORE WEEKS TO MAKE THIS THE BIGGEST CELEBRATION WE CAN!

So if you’ve been meaning to grab those raffle tickets… YOU JUST GOT TWO MORE WEEKS! 👀🎟️

If you haven’t gotten your Buddy’s team together yet… YOU JUST GOT TWO MORE WEEKS!

Call Grandma. Call Grandpa. Text the cousins. Invite the neighbors. Rally the coworkers. Make the shirts. Gather your people and SHOW UP BIG for your Buddy on October 24th! 💙💛

Our Buddy Walk isn’t simply about walking around a track. It’s about our community coming together to tell every individual with Down syndrome and their families:

We see you. We love you. We celebrate you. And we are SO glad you’re part of our community. 🥹

Now we need YOUR help making sure everyone knows about the change!

📣 SHARE THIS POST.
📣 TAG YOUR TEAM.
📣 TELL YOUR FRIENDS.
📣 UPDATE YOUR CALENDAR.
📣 HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.

❌ NO BUDDY WALK — OCTOBER 10

✅ BUDDY WALK — OCTOBER 24

OCTOBER 24. OCTOBER 24. OCTOBER 24. 📅💙💛

We have two bonus weeks, DSAEC family. Let’s USE THEM. 🙌

Two more weeks to raise money.
Two more weeks to grow our teams.
Two more weeks to spread awareness.
Two more weeks to invite our community.

And then on October 24th, we’re going to pack Tommy Oliver Stadium and CELEBRATE OUR BUDDIES BIG! 💙💛🎉

Please stay safe, prepare as needed, and keep an eye on the DSAEC page for additional updates.

We’ll see you OCTOBER 24TH!

— Kaitlin
President, Down Syndrome Association of the Emerald Coast 💙💛

10/07/2026

10/06/2026

Small tools can make a big difference for your family.

This Prime Day, October 6-7, explore items that could help your loved one with a disability access everyday activities, manage daily routines, and build independence with the support they need.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are here, and FND has put together a guide highlighting products that may support accessibility, independence, safety, communication, sensory needs, daily living, and more. Explore the full guide here: https://fndusa.org/blog/amazon-prime-day-disability-deals/

Our new resource includes smart-home technology, personal-care tools, sensory products, and other everyday items, along with information about who each product may help and how to use it. Prices and availability can change, so be sure to check the current listing before purchasing.

Please note: FND is not affiliated with or sponsored by Amazon and does not receive payment, commissions, or other compensation from the product links included in this resource.

10/02/2026

Tickets are on sale for the 10th Annual Connecting the Dots Conference!

Friday, October 16, 2026
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
The Schultz Center | Jacksonville

This year's conference will feature a full day of educational sessions, community resources, expert presenters, opportunities to connect directly with agencies and providers, and information families can put to use long after the conference ends.
Whether you're a parent or caregiver, self-advocate, educator, professional, provider, or community partner, Connecting the Dots is designed to help you find information, make connections, and better understand the resources available in our community.

Tickets are available now! Space is limited, so register early - https://buff.ly/Ny346ht.

09/29/2026

We examine how planning for -and surviving through- a disaster can be stressful for everyone. Learn tips for recognizing stress in this situation and how to manage those feelings. Resources will be shared.

09/29/2026

Evacuation and Shelter planning is addressed for it takes early awareness and education. This webinar will guide your planning and give you tips to make sure you and your loved ones will be safe in the event of needing to leave your home and find shelter. Special needs planning is discussed in this workshop.

09/29/2026

It's important to have the necessary supplies for a disaster kit. Learn about what needs to go into a disaster supply kit, how long to prepare for, what to consider for loved ones with special needs, and how to store the supplies.

09/29/2026

This four-part series of online workshops will teach you what you need to know to navigate the world of disasters and to make sure your family is safe. Families with loved ones with special needs especially need to be mindful of preparing for these situations and these workshops will help you do that.