Stephanie Meredith (left), Nancy Iannone (middle), and Heather Trammell (right)
For the past two years, Down Syndrome Pregnancy has operated as an independent 501(c)(3) charity serving expectant parents nationwide under the wonderful guidance of Nancy McCrea Iannone as the Executive Director. Nancy has been unfailingly generous, kind, and dedicated in this work—along with the amazing Down Syndrome Pregnancy Board of Trustees: Melissa Kline Skavlem, Amy Geoffrey, Sarah Hartway, Heather Trammell, Kelle Hampton, and Lisa Cape Lilienthal. Under their leadership, this work has grown to support over 75,000 online visitors in the past two years, and nearly 3300 copies of the booklet, “Diagnosis to Delivery: A Pregnant Mother’s Guide to Down Syndrome,” have been distributed nationwide.
Given the success and responsibility of this effort, Down Syndrome Pregnancy is now being absorbed by the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute (HDI), which currently administers both Brighter Tomorrows (an online resource for new and expectant parents) and the Kennedy Foundation’s nationally recommended diagnosis booklet, “Understanding a Down Syndrome Diagnosis.” Together, all of these resources will complement each other to provide comprehensive support for new and expectant parents nationwide.
Missy, Nancy, and Amy will continue to moderate the BabyCenter Down Syndrome Pregnancy board, and they will continue to provide guidance and consultation for the Down Syndrome Pregnancy website and resources. However, the program will now have the additional support of HDI as a distinguished University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, and the website will be managed by Stephanie Meredith, the Medical Outreach Director at HDI, who has also been part of Down Syndrome Pregnancy from the beginning as the co-author with Nancy of “Diagnosis to Delivery: A Pregnant Mother’s Guide to Down Syndrome.”
Please take a moment to share what Down Syndrome Pregnancy has meant to you over the past two years, and please also consider making a donation today so that we can continue growing the program to help more and more expectant parents.
Tags: Amy Geoffroy, Brighter Tomorrows, Heather Trammell, Human Development Institute, Kelle Hampton, Lettercase, Lisa Lilienthal, Missy Skavlem, Nancy Iannone, Nancy McCrea Iannone, Sarah Hartway, Stephanie Meredith
I’ve presented at international and national genetics, obstetrics, and Down syndrome conferences since DSP launched. Attendees always comment favorably on the quality and insights of the book and blog, and are reassured knowing there is this resource for their patients and loved ones. I look forward to seeing the work of DSP continue to flourish with UK/HDI!
DSG routinely shares information about DS Pregnancy with our prenatally diagnosed couples and we provided a hard copy of the book in our DS Awareness Month Book Bundles last year with the encouragement for our members to donate it to their OB office.
We have published articles in our newsletter about this great resource and shared information about it at our local trainings with OB staff at hospitals.
DS Pregnancy is an invaluable resource to DS orgs around the world. Thanks for all you do and congratulations on this exciting announcement.
Lastly, who took that great picture? HAHA
Amy Allison
Executive Director
Down Syndrome Guild
of Greater Kansas City
I am so glad HDI is taking charge and I know DSP is in great hands. I am glad we will be able to support our expectant parents without worrying so much about logistics. Thank you HDI!