Alexander's Angels, Inc.

The Up of Down: An Insight Into the World of Down Syndrome

Michael Smith (ACDS)

Esther Gomez-Nieto, Alexander's Angels Cecilia Barry, ACDS Mike Hoffman, DSAF Kathleen Feeley, L.I.U/C. W. Post Jack Dean, DSRTF/RDS

Michael Kelly (DSAF)

Kathleen M. Feeley, PhD, BCBA, an Associate Professor and Director of Center for Community Inclusion at the C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University has an active research agenda in the development of effective interventions to meet the needs of young children with developmental disabilities (specifically Down syndrome and Autism). Dr. Feeley serves on the editorial board for the journal Down Syndrome Research and Practice, provides technical assistance to several school districts to facilitate inclusive education programs for children with Down syndrome, and through her work with the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation has received funding to support preschoolers with developmental disabilities in community preschools in Suffolk County.  Her presentation “Research Demonstrating the Use of Behaviorally Based Strategies to Meet the Needs of Young Children with Down Syndrome” is based on the work she is conducting.

Esther Gómez-Nieto, M.S., Retired Visiting Instructor from SUNY College at Old Westbury since 2006, Esther shares her personal experience as a grandmother to a 9 year-old child with Down syndrome and her role in establishing Alexander’s Angels, Inc.  Alexander’s Angels is responsible for organizing the Long Island Buddy Walk, the panel presentation The Up of Down:  An Insight Into the World of Down Syndrome , and DOWNrightART, exhibits of the works of artists with Down syndrome and other projects to promote awareness of the  contributions of individuals with Down syndrome to society.

Mike Hoffman, DSAF.  Mike Hoffman is a parent of four boys, one of whom has Down syndrome. Mike is a founding member of the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that assists families and individuals with Down syndrome in accessing inclusive environments. Mike is a graduate of Partners in Policy Making and has had a profound effect on services for children with Down syndrome on Long Island.

Michael Francis Kelly, Esq.  Mr. Kelly is the Principal of Kelly Development Corp. focusing on redeveloping blighted sites throughout Long Island.  He  serves on the Board of Directors of the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation. Mike lives in Stony Brook with his wife and 4 children, including Owen who has Down syndrome. Mr. Kelly has advocated for inlcusive preschool and elementary school placements for Owen who is currently a 6th grader in his local elementary school.

Michael M. Smith, has been Executive Director of the Association for Children with Down Syndrome since 2004 and has seen the agency grow to today where it serves almost 1,000 individuals annually in its school, 5Plus, residential, service coordination, and camp programs. ACDS has 250 employees and has an annual budget in excess of $13million. Michael is a graduate of Tufts University and has worked with special needs populations for over 30 years. Earlier this year he was honored by Exceptional Parent magazine at Citifield for his years of exemplary service to the developmentally disabled. He lives with his family in Greenwich, CT.

Linda Sperber,  Director of Program Development for the Association for Children with Down Syndrome.  It is ACDS’s mission “to provide lifetime resources of exceptional quality, innovation and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities”