OUR VISION
The vision of Down Syndrome Alabama is to empower individuals with Down syndrome to live meaningful lives as contributing members of their communities throughout all stages of life.
OUR HISTORY
The Beginning
Down Syndrome Alabama started in June of 1987 as a group of dedicated parents who wanted to advocate for their children who had Down syndrome. They incorporated under the name PADS (Parent Advocates Down Syndrome) and started this organization.
April 23, 2013
In August of 2012, the Board of Directors made and seconded a motion that the name of the organization be permanently changed to Down Syndrome Alabama. And on April 23, 2013 the amendment was filed and the organization officially changed its name.
The Present
In 2020, Down Syndrome Alabama elected new board members and hired a new Executive Director in the hopes of moving the organization forward to become a leading champion in our state for those living with Down syndrome. We continued through the pandemic building a great foundation with new bylaws and strategic planning to focus the direction of the organization towards the future.
OUR TEAM
Missy Haughery
Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Katherine Gorham
Board of Directors, President
Katherine Gorham got involved with DSA through the Learning Program in 2013. Two years later, she helped develop and administer a two day, statewide education conference. After the sucess of the conference, she worked to implement an Education division for DSA to provide resources to educators in our area. She is actively involved in her local PTO and currently sits on the Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Foundation Board and the Help the Hills Coalition Board. She joined the DSA Board in January of 2020 as the Treasurer. She lives in Vestavia Hills with her husband, Bob, and is mother to five children. Her youngest, Nate, who has Down syndrome, is the inspiration and drive for her advocacy through DSA.
Joe Lawhorn
Board of Directors, Vice President
Corrie Merchant
Board of Directors, Secretary
Corrie and her husband, Jason, have been members of DSA since 2009 when their son George was born. In 2013, Corrie worked alongside other members to bring the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County’s Learning Program to DSA. She also serves on the state’s Special Education Advocacy Panel (SEAP), Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) and the Stanford University Down Syndrome Research Center's Advisory Board. Corrie joined the DSA board in the hope that her advocacy will encourage others on their journey. She has a deep appreciation for the many DSA mentors who inspired and supported her. Corrie is an alum of Auburn University and Troy University. She lives with her family in Trussville.
Mary Meadows Livingston
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Mary Meadows Livingston, CFA, CFP® is Founder and President of Abeona Wealth, a financial planning firm built to give empowering and approachable financial advice. Prior to her career in financial services, she was an Early Childhood Special Educator at The Bell Center for Early Intervention. She has a B.S. in Psychology and a M.T. in Early Childhood and Developmental Risk from the University of Virginia. She lives in Homewood with her husband and stays involved in her community through her work on the DSA Board, the board of the Alabama Holocaust Education Center, and the board of the Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.
BOARD MEMBERS
Directors Emeritus
Dr. John Cortopassi, MD
Betty Bell
Allison Crawford
Brian Fleury
Jennyfer Goodnight
Snehal Khatri, MD
Stephanie Langford, Past President
Debra Mattison
Jenny McInerny
Dr. Christina Norman
Beth Olive, Self-Advocate
Kathy Olive
Jennifer Rucker
Scott Shunnarah
Jonathan Wells
Lauren Woolley
JUNIOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lara Self
Junior Board, President
Junior Board, Vice President
TBA
Hannah Echols
Junior Board, Event Co-Chair
Rachel Hamm
Junior Board, Event Co-Chair
Gage Young
Junior Board, Secretary
JUNIOR BOARD MEMBERS
Chase Lacy
Carolina Rovarotto
Reynolds Sorrell
Gage Young
To Register for DSA's Junior Board, click below and fill out the application. Junior Board membership is open to individuals between the age of 23 and 39.
Down Syndrome Alabama is a proud member of these national organizations
