history
It all began at the home of Nancy Litteken on January 10, 2007. Most of us had met previously in the lobbies of doctors offices, therapy clinics and preschools. (Because when you recognize another child with Down syndrome, you know there is a mom who needs you – and you need her.) WE ARE each other’s best resource.
Nancy envisioned a group of moms that could work together to share ideas that support our children and each other. We brainstormed and agreed that we needed to do something to make each other’s lives easier – and the ultimate goal was that our children would benefit. We didn’t know exactly how that would happen, but we were all “on board”. That’s how it all began.
Around Nancy's dining room table we planned, publicized, and produced a a one-day conference entitled “Tools For The Journey” that was offered to parents and educators with the express vision of promoting literacy strategies for children with Down Syndrome. Terry Brown of Orange County and Pat Oelwein who wrote the book Teaching Reading to Children with Down Syndrome were the keynote speakers. We expected about 60-70 people to attend, but the response was overwhelming with over 200 attendees. There had been nothing like it offered before in this area.
We offered another conference in 2008 on inclusive education with a turnout that included Orange County, speakers from The PREP program in Canada. The auditorium for the conference was packed. The voices of families, educators, and community partners begged for more than just annual conferences. Thus, responding to the need and momentum, Club 21 Learning and Resource Center incorporated and now serves the Los Angeles area as an educational resource for families of children with Down syndrome.
To date, this formidable group of mothers have created a website, which you are reading, hosted two major all-day conferences (Tools For The Journey), held multiple half-day workshops, formed a Board of Directors and acquired our non-profit status. We are very happy to add that on March 21, 2009, National Down Syndrome Day, we will hold our Grand Opening event on the campus of Pasadena Covenant Church.
We have been blessed with hard work, expertise and commitment of a handful of incredible people who are not “mothers”, but who share the love of our children. The generosity of our friends and the community as a whole has made all of this possible.
Club 21 Founders
Tools for the Journey Conference 2007
