About Us
Every person is a unique individual with strengths, gifts and dreams. As parents, families and friends of children and young adults with Down syndrome, the DSA of Delaware members have discovered that every person has something special to offer. The individuals in their lives with Down syndrome may have different needs than those who do not, however their ability to enrich, teach and challenge is the same. Founded in 1979, the DSA of Delaware is a statewide non-profit support group, organized and managed by parents of people with Down syndrome. They aim to be a supportive resource, advocating for the acceptance and understanding that allows individuals with Down syndrome to achieve the same level of access and opportunity as their peers.
Membership is open to all parents, relatives, friends and professionals desiring to make a positive impact on the life of a person with Down syndrome.
Our Board of Directors
President: Karen Marsh
Karen, her husband, Rob, and their daughters, Kierstin (Nov 96), Josephine (Jul 98) and Victoria – DS (Sept 01) live in Middletown. The Marshes have been involved with the DSA of Delaware since 2004 when they moved from West Virginia where Karen was founder and president of the Down syndrome Network of West Virginia. With the DSA of Delaware, Karen has served as Corresponding Secretary, the chair of the Public Relations committee and as a member of the Buddy Walk committee. She is a stay-at-home mother who home schools Kierstin and Josephine and is actively involved with Victoria’s education at Cedar Lane Elementary. Rob is a senior regional account manager for Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals. Often found with a camera in hand, Karen enjoys taking pictures of our kids to show they are more like their typical peers than they are different.
Vice President: Jean Beck
Jean and her husband, Will, are parents to four children- Madeline (1991), John (1993), William (1995) and Matthew (2001 – DS). Jean has been a member of the DSA since Matthew was born and has volunteered for several years with various aspects of the association including Buddy Walk Registration and the website. Jean has a degree in math education and teaches part-time for Del Tech. She has also served for six years on the Christ the Teacher Athletic Association Board and is currently President.
Treasurer: Kathy and Gary Anderson
Kathy is the mother of three beautiful children - Erin, Eric (DS), and Ben. Kathy is an Accounting Director at JP Morgan Chase. She has been a member of the DSAD since Eric's birth in 1999. Kathy graduated Partners in Policy Making in 2001 and has been the Food Chair for the Buddy Walk since its inception in 2005. In her spare time, Kathy loves watching the kids play sports and spending time at Bethany Beach with her family. Gary owns his own CPA practice performing a wide range of tax and accounting services for a variety of clients. In his spare time Gary enjoys working in the yard and playing with the kids. Both Gary & Kathy have served the BOD as Co-Treasurer since the summer of 2005.
Secretary: Lisa Wisnewski
Lisa, and her husband Joe, are parents to Grace (2003 – DS.) They have been active members of the DSA since the birth of Grace. Lisa serves on the Buddy Walk committee and is has served as Recording Secretary for two years.
Self- Advocates:
Elizabeth Nolan
Elizabeth graduated from Saint Katherine's Day School at Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, PA. She works five days a week at Neurology Associates in Newark. She does office work and loves her job a lot. She likes to get paid because she likes to spend her money on Broadway shows. She loves Special Olympics, acting in the Delaware Theater Company and helping out with Waggies by Maggie & Friends. She is on the advisory council board for the Center for Disabilities Studies. Her hobbies are art, dancing and singing.
Laura Scott
Laura graduated from Middletown High School in 2004. Laura has been employed by Bob Evans Restaurant for over 2 years, bussing tables, hostessing, assisting the wait staff, and wrapping silverware. Laura is also employed by Waggies by Maggie & Friends as a baker. Two days a week she travels by Paratransit to North Wilmington to prepare tasty treats for our four-legged friends. Laura also volunteers one day each week at the MOT Senior Center where she is known to call numbers for BINGO and play Dominoes with the seniors. In her free time, Laura takes a jazz hip-hop class with New Castle Dance Academy, acts with Totally Awesome Kids, and participates in Special Olympics where she swims and plays bocce, volleyball and basketball. At home she enjoys listening to music, scrapbooking, and watching her favorite TV shows and movies.
At-Large Directors
Deb Bartell
Debi and her husband Kurt, share the love of Kurt’s daughters Margret & Sarah. Debi is a paralegal with Richards Layton & Finger, PA., and the Director, Founder and Coach of the Delaware Stars Cheerleading program. She is a Former Vice President of the Delaware Cheerleading Coaches Association and a DFRC committee member. She judges cheerleading at the State, Regional and Nationals levels. She is obtaining a Therapeutic Riding Instructors Certification with the desire to share her love for horses with all. She is a volunteer at the Summer Winds Stables/Greener Pastures Equine Sanctuary working with abused, abandoned and rescue horses to be rehabilitated for adoption.
Jenn Beamer
Jennifer Beamer is a happy wife to Sean and mother to three boys (Collin – 9, Bradley – 8 and Dallin – 3) and one girl (Addy – 1). Jenn has been active in the DSA of Delaware since the birth of her son Collin 9 years ago. She has been the Outreach Director for the past two years and a member of the Buddy Walk committee since its inception in 2004. In addition to the time she dedicates to the DSA of Delaware, Jennifer is a hair stylist.
Teesie Bonk
Teesie and her husband, John, have three children: Michael Pat (25), Shawn (22), and Meghan (18). She is the sister and guardian of her brother, Michael McNesby (48 – DS). Michael lives with her during the week and spends weekends with his sister Trish and brothers Joe, Jerry and Dan. She would like to become more involved with DSA, especially in areas involving adults. She would also like to help other parents, siblings and guardians work together to learn about adult issues.
Mary Krienan
Mary and husband Carl are blessed to be the parents of Tom, Celie, Jimmy, John Paul (DS) and Danny. Carl is an architect in Wilmington; Mary is a stay at home mom. They all enjoy the wild and crazy ride that a large family brings.
Amy Lefranc
Amy Lefranc is mother to a beautiful daughter Addison (age 6 -DS.) Her family has been involved with DSA Delaware since Addison was a baby. She is the Vice-President of the Meadowood School PTA and an active member of Delaware PTA as well. She has a B.S. in Education and has been an elementary teacher since 1997. She is also a graduate student at Wilmington University. She will be a State Certified Reading Specialist in September 08 and will complete her Masters in Reading in May 09. When she is not teaching, studying, or driving Addison to ballet & tap, gymnastics, soccer, or horseback riding, she can usually be found on the yoga mat, reading a book, baking or cross-stitching.
Kate McNesby
Kate is currently a litigation paralegal in Wilmington handling personal injury cases as well as family law, dealing with divorces and adoptions. Growing up with an uncle with DS, who she is very close to, has led to her involvement at an early age with Special Olympics and Blue-Gold events. She was involved with the DSA this past year and would like to continue to become more involved with the association.
Connie Stevens
Connie and her husband Owen are parents to Sydney, Alex (2000 -DS) and Max. Connie has been DSA Librarian for two years. She has worked on the Buddy Walk committee most recently designing the shirt, poster and celebration tent. She has a strong knowledge base of Educational resources and educational topics. She enjoys photography and scrapbooking.
Carol Taylor
Carol is a computer technician working under contract to E. I. DuPont for the past 11 years. Prior to this she worked for various Fortune 500 Companies in New York City, including 5 years in Public Relations at Tiffany & Co. Her Godson and Nephew, Eric Anderson, inspires her to participate in the Buddy Walk and bake cookies for the bake sale at the annual event. Carol enjoys music, crocheting, cooking, baking, and spending time with friends and family.
Sheila Walsh
Sheila and her husband Tom have been married for fourteen years. They have three wonderful children, Harry, Peter, and Fiona (DS). Their family has been active members of the DSA of Delaware since the birth of Fiona in 2005. Sheila works full time for JP Morgan Chase in the Marketing Operations department of their card services division. Sheila is a member of the Board of Directors for Holly Oak Child Care Center, where Fiona attends. In her free time, Sheila enjoys relaxing with her family and watching her sons play soccer and run track.
Southern Delaware Board Representative
Open: Contact Us if interested
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