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.
Executive Board
President: Karen Marsh
Karen, her husband, Rob, and their daughters, Kierstin (14), Josephine (12) and Victoria – DS (9) 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 Bunkerhill Elementary. Karen is on the board of Best Buddies - Delaware. 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 (Website/Fundraising Committee)
Jean and her husband, Will, are parents to four children- Madeline (18), John (16), William (14) and Matthew (9 - DS). Jean has served on the board the past two years as vice-president. She currently chairs the Fundraising and Website Committees and manages registration for the annual Buddy Walk. Jean is also involved with the planning and implementation of the annual convention for the National Down Syndrome Congress. Jean enjoys her hobby of shuttling her children around New Castle County to school and extra-curricular activities. At various stops she becomes coach, mentor, organizer, tutor, and cheerleader.
Treasurer: David Arthurs (Finance Committee)
David Arthurs works at WSFS Bank as an Assistant Vice President in the WSFS Bank Call Center. As a bank officer and department manager, David is responsible for the management of department budgets and expenses and provides budget reports and expense explanations to senior management on a regular basis.
David is a member of the Governor’s Council on Early Education and serves as a parent advocate. He is a member of Team WSFS. For the last three years, he has been a volunteer with the annual Special Olympics Basketball Skills at University of Delaware. He has served as a volunteer with DFRC for the Blue Gold Football Game and is currently serving on the DSA of Delaware Buddy Walk Committee. David lives in Middletown with his wife Michelle. They have 4 children and a daughter-in-law, Dave (25), Devin (24), daughter in law Erica (25), Kayla (19), and Kennedie (7-DS). When not working, David likes spend time with his family and church where he serves on the music team and leadership team.
Secretary: Lisa Wisnewski (Volunteers Committee)
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 has served as Secretary for 5 years. Lisa enjoys her time as volunteer at Grace’s school.
Self-Advocates
Elizabeth Nolan (Teen/Adult Social Committee)
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 and currently on the DSA of Delaware board. Her hobbies are art, dancing and singing.
Laura Scott (Teen/Adult Social Committee)
Laura graduated from Middletown High School in 2004. Laura has been employed by Bob Evans Restaurant for over 3 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.
Members at Large
Barb Ashmead (Resource Committee)
Barb has been married to Jim for 27 yrs. They have 4 kids- Damian(25) and his new wife Mallori, Amanda(22), Brittni (20) and Shawn (15). Brittni has Down syndrome as well as a hearing impairment and Celiac Disease. Jim works for DuPont as Mech. Eng. Technologist. Barb is currently a stay at home mom. She is also a 2000 graduate of Partners in Policymaking, a trained, past Parent Mentor for the Inclusion Project of Delaware from the ARC of DE in conjunction with the Dept of Ed. She and Jim have served on the DSA of Delaware Board as Secretary, Recording Secretary, Vice President, and VP of the Teen Group, for a total of 6 years consecutively.
Amy Brunnquell (Parent Education Committee)
Amy and her husband, Christian, are parents to a beautiful daughter Addison (age8 -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 certified in K-12 Special Education and is currently teaching a third grade inclusion class. Amy is working towards becoming a State Certified Reading Specialist and will complete her Masters in Reading from Wilmington University. When she is not teaching, studying, or driving Addison to dance class, gymnastics, soccer, or horseback riding, she can usually be found on the yoga mat, reading a book, baking or cross-stitching.
Teesie Bonk (Teen and Adult Outreach/Social Committee)
Teesie and her husband, John, have three children: Michael Pat (27), Shawn (24), and Meghan (20). She is the sister and guardian of her brother, Michael McNesby (50 – DS). Michael lives with her during the week and spends weekends with his sister Trish and brothers Joe, Jerry and Dan. She is currently the DSA of Delaware Teen and Adult outreach director. Teesie has been instrumental in forming a support group for parents/caregivers of adults with Down syndrome. It is Teesie’s dream to have an Adult Down Syndrome Clinic in the region that will serve adults past the age of 30.
Mary Jo Gilligan (Outreach Committee)
Mary Jo lives in Middletown Delaware with her husband Sean and three wonderful children: Tommy is eight, Amanda, who has Down syndrome, is six and her youngest Ryan is five. They moved to Delaware in 2002 and has been a member of the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware since 2003. Mary Jo is currently on the Outreach committee and enjoys meeting new families and providing them with resources that may help them on their new journey. Mary Jo works as an MRI technician for Christiana Care and as a radiographer for Bryn Mawr Hospital. She enjoys recreational activities such as long distance running, soft ball, aerobics, and just relaxing with a good book.
Debra Kail (PR Committee)
Debra Kail and her husband John reside with their clan Simon, Emma, Nigel, Henry and twin Sophie (DS) in Chester County, PA. They joined the DSA shortly after Sophie was born three years ago. Deb is a member of the DSA of Delaware PR committee. Graduating with a Biochemistry degree and formerly a project manager in the environmental industry, Deb now manages the clan while managing her own equine photography business she started two years ago. She continues to be actively involved through volunteering at Quest Therapeutic Services, where Sophie rides, and with her local college alumnae group serving in various board positions over the last 20 years.
Rick Kosmalski (Government Affairs Committee/DADS)
Rick Kosmalski is the father of 3 year old Kayla, husband to Amy. He participated in many DSA events, supported committees for past Buddy Walks, and attended 2 national conferences. Rick works in Lending Operations at JP Morgan Chase and co-chairs a committee at Chase that advocates for employees with disabilities. He has a BS in Economics from University of Delaware and MBA from Wilmington University. Rick enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and Philly sports teams, and looks forward potentially serving the DSA as board member.
Mary Krienen (Social Committee)
Mary and her husband Carl are blessed to be the parents of Tom (13), Celie (9), Jimmy (7), John Paul (5-DS) and Danny (2). Carl is an architect in Wilmington; Mary is a stay at home mom. Mary has chaired the Volunteer Committee for DSA and serves on the Buddy Walk Committee. They all enjoy the wild and crazy ride that a large family brings.
Tracy Taylor Calhoun (Professional Education Committee)
Tracy was born and raised in Delaware. She went through the Colonial School District where she began her work with peers with special needs through a peer mentoring program. Tracy participated in Blue-Gold and gained a position at Easter Seals in New Castle working in Early Intervention as Program Assistant. This will be her eighth year in the Appoquinimink School District as a Special Education teacher. She has worked Preschool - Kindergarten in Inclusive settings and is currently working towards her Masters in Severe Disabilities at the University of Delaware.
Sheila Walsh (Outreach Committee)
Sheila and her husband Tom have been married for sixteen years. They have three wonderful children, Harry, Peter, and Fiona (DS). Their family has been active in the DSA of Delaware since the birth of Fiona in 2005. Sheila co-chairs the Outreach Committee and is a member of the Buddy Walk committee. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for Holly Oak Child Care Center. Sheila works full time for JP Morgan Chase in the Marketing Services department. In her free time, she 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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