Kern Down Syndrome Network

Kern Down Syndrome Network Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Kern Down Syndrome Network, 1712 19th Street, Suite 215, Bakersfield, CA.

KDSN’s mission is to empower and celebrate individuals with Down syndrome by providing opportunities, support, and resources through inclusive education, outreach, and community programs.

We’re looking for volunteers to join us at KDSN Pathways on Saturday, August 8! 💙💛KDSN Pathways brings families together...
07/28/2026

We’re looking for volunteers to join us at KDSN Pathways on Saturday, August 8! 💙💛

KDSN Pathways brings families together for education, developmental support, and meaningful connection—and volunteers are an important part of creating a welcoming, well-supported experience for everyone.

Volunteer roles include:

💙 Connect Club support
💛 Foundations for Growth support
💙 General event support, including setup, check-in, welcoming families, lunch service, and cleanup

Volunteers are needed from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at New Life Church. A background check is required for all roles.

If you’re dependable, encouraging, and ready to support our KDSN Pathways families, we would love to have you join us!

Visit the link in our bio to register.

💛 Make a difference in our community with KDSN!There are so many ways to give your time and talents, and we’re looking f...
07/25/2026

💛 Make a difference in our community with KDSN!

There are so many ways to give your time and talents, and we’re looking for people who want to help us continue creating meaningful programs, events, and support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families throughout Kern County.

✨ Current volunteer opportunities include:

🚀 DreamFest — Help us bring our biggest event of the year to life! We’ll have opportunities available before and during DreamFest.

💻 Office Support — Looking for a more behind-the-scenes way to help? Volunteer in the KDSN office with organization, general office tasks, computer work, and other day-to-day needs.

💙 KDSN Pathways — Help support our monthly family programming with check-in, welcoming families, setup and cleanup, program support, and more.

Whether you can volunteer occasionally, at special events, or on a more regular basis, your time can make a meaningful difference.

📲 Ready to get involved? Visit the link below to see our current volunteer opportunities and register.

https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/JE/x5g7v24zmja11u

Know someone who would be a great KDSN volunteer? Tag them or share this post with them! 💛

Join us for our next KDSN Pathways event—a day of learning, connection, and inclusive programming for the whole family.📅...
07/22/2026

Join us for our next KDSN Pathways event—a day of learning, connection, and inclusive programming for the whole family.

📅 Saturday, August 8, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM–1:30 PM
📍 New Life Church
4201 Stine Road, Bakersfield
Registration required 👉🏼 https://secure.qgiv.com/for/kerndownsyndromenetwork/event/kdsnpathwaysaugust/

🥪 Lunch will be available from 11:00–11:30 AM, followed by our scheduled sessions and activities.

This month’s programming includes:

✨ Lunch & Learn
Don’t Cross the Line! Navigating Boundary Confusion in People with I/DD
Presented virtually by Terri Couwenhoven, this session will help parents better understand boundary confusion and learn practical ways to teach personal boundaries, safety, and healthy interactions.

🌱 Foundations for Growth
Feeding and Speech: How Feeding Skills Support Speech Development
Presented by Heather Vukelich, MS, CCC-SLP, this seminar will explore how feeding skills such as chewing, cup drinking, straw drinking, and spoon feeding help support oral development and speech sound development.

💙 Connect Club
An inclusive space for children and teens ages 5+ to participate in activities, build friendships, and have fun together.

🗣️ Spanish interpretation will be available for Lunch & Learn and Foundations for Growth.

🚐 Transportation assistance is available upon request. Please register by the Wednesday before the event so arrangements can be made.

Registration is required to attend. Visit the link in our bio to register.

➡️ Swipe through the following slides to learn more about each presentation and this month’s KDSN Pathways programming.

We are thrilled to welcome nationally respected educator and author Terri Couwenhoven, M.S. for the first session in a special three-part KDSN Pathways Lunch & Learn series designed to help families better understand boundaries, safety, healthy relationships, and independence.

Don’t Cross the Line!

Navigating Boundary Confusion in People with I/DD

In this first session, parents and caregivers will learn why boundary confusion may occur in individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, why clear boundaries are so important, and practical ways to begin teaching healthy and appropriate interactions.

Terri is an AASECT-certified sexuality e

🌟 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Luna’s Lucky Stars 💫💝We are so excited to welcome Luna’s Lucky Stars to their very first DreamFest! 🚀E...
07/18/2026

🌟 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Luna’s Lucky Stars 💫💝

We are so excited to welcome Luna’s Lucky Stars to their very first DreamFest! 🚀

Every new team brings another family, another story, and another circle of people ready to celebrate someone they love. This October, Luna’s family and friends will be joining our community for Down Syndrome Awareness Month and helping us create a day filled with joy, connection, and belonging.

DreamFest is a celebration of individuals with Down syndrome and the incredible impact they have on the people and communities around them. We cannot wait to see Luna surrounded by her lucky stars and feel all the love they bring with them.

💙 Gather your people.
💛 Create your team.
🌟 Celebrate with us this October.

Welcome to DreamFest, ✨Luna’s Lucky Stars!✨

🔗 Ready to start a team or support DreamFest? Visit the link in our bio.

🚀 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Team Waylen Wisdom 💙💛Please join us in giving a huge DreamFest welcome to Team Waylen Wisdom! 🎉Waylen ...
07/16/2026

🚀 TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Team Waylen Wisdom 💙💛

Please join us in giving a huge DreamFest welcome to Team Waylen Wisdom! 🎉

Waylen is part of the Bakersfield Family Chiropractic family, whose beliefs are rooted in the simple but powerful truth that every person has something meaningful to teach us and that every life has value. It’s a philosophy that beautifully reflects the mission of KDSN and the heart behind DreamFest.

They are bringing that same heart to DreamFest with an incredible goal of raising $5,000 to support Kern Down Syndrome Network! 💙💛

We are truly grateful to Waylen’s family and Bakersfield Family Chiropractic for believing in this mission and choosing to make such a meaningful investment in local individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Funds raised through DreamFest help KDSN continue providing resources, education, family support, community programs, and opportunities throughout the year.

DreamFest takes place during Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the abilities, accomplishments, and contributions of people with Down syndrome while building a stronger community where everyone belongs.

Waylen’s family is reminding all of us that one team—and one community—can make an incredible impact.

🚀 Start a team.
💙 Set a goal that inspires you.
⭐ Invite your community to be part of something meaningful.

💫Welcome to DreamFest, Team Waylen Wisdom!💫

🔗 Support Team Waylen Wisdom here:
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/kdsndreamfest2026/team/1039499/

🔗 Want to create a team, donate, volunteer, sponsor, or get involved? Visit the link in our bio.

☀️ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Delainey’s Sunshine Squad 💙💛DreamFest is getting a little brighter with Delainey’s Sunshine Squad joi...
07/14/2026

☀️ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Delainey’s Sunshine Squad 💙💛

DreamFest is getting a little brighter with Delainey’s Sunshine Squad joining the celebration! ✨

Every team brings its own special energy, and we cannot wait to see Delainey surrounded by the family, friends, and community who are ready to cheer her on and celebrate alongside her.

This October, we are coming together for Down Syndrome Awareness Month—not only to raise awareness, but to celebrate the joy, connection, and belonging that people with Down syndrome bring to our community every day.

Gather the people who light up your world, create a team, and make DreamFest part of your October traditions. ☀️🚀

💛 Welcome to DreamFest, Delainey’s Sunshine Squad!

Ready to rally your own squad? Registration is open through the link in our bio.

Emme’s Spidey Squad is officially launching into DreamFest! 🚀💙💛We are so excited to welcome Emme’s Spidey Squad to Dream...
07/14/2026

Emme’s Spidey Squad is officially launching into DreamFest! 🚀💙💛

We are so excited to welcome Emme’s Spidey Squad to DreamFest 2026!

DreamFest takes place during Down Syndrome Awareness Month 💛💙, a time to celebrate individuals with Down syndrome, recognize the joy and value they bring to our community, and show what inclusion looks like when we build it together.

Emme is part of the heart behind why Kern Down Syndrome Network exists. She is the reason Amber helped create this organization and continues working to build a community where people with Down syndrome are truly seen, valued, included, and given every opportunity to thrive.

Emme inspires her family to dream bigger—not only for her, but for every individual with Down syndrome across Kern County.

That is what DreamFest 💫 is all about.

Every team that joins helps carry this mission forward. Your team helps raise awareness, create connection, and build a celebration where families can feel the support of an entire community surrounding them.

Whether you are joining for your child, sibling, student, friend, or someone who inspires you, there is a place for your team at DreamFest.

Who is gathering their squad and launching next? 🚀

🔗 Start your team, get involved, and help us celebrate together! Visit the link in our bio.

✨ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: DJ’s Lucky Homies 💙💛Some teams just know how to bring the fun… and DJ’s Lucky Homies are one of them! ...
07/14/2026

✨ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: DJ’s Lucky Homies 💙💛

Some teams just know how to bring the fun… and DJ’s Lucky Homies are one of them! 🚀

This isn’t their first time celebrating with us, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome them back for DreamFest. They already have 9 team members registered, and knowing this crew, there are even more smiles, laughs, and memories on the way!

As DJ’s family says:

“To know DJ is to love him! From the moment he came into our lives, he has brought us so much joy and happiness. DJ has changed our world in the best ways possible. He is truly a blessing to our family. Because of him, we have met some amazing people. The support we have received and the friendships we have made in the Down syndrome community are very special. We are the Lucky Few.” ❤️

That is exactly what DreamFest is all about—celebrating the people who bring us together and the community we’ve built because of them.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and there’s no better way to celebrate than surrounded by the people who make life brighter.

💙 Rally your crew.
🚀 Start a team.
⭐ Celebrate with us this October.

Registration is open—link in our bio!

✨ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Gavin’s Gang 💙💛We’re so excited to welcome Gavin’s Gang to their very first DreamFest! 🚀Not only are t...
07/14/2026

✨ TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Gavin’s Gang 💙💛

We’re so excited to welcome Gavin’s Gang to their very first DreamFest! 🚀

Not only are they joining us for the first time—they’re also the first team to make a donation for DreamFest 2026! 🎉 Thank you for helping kick off this year’s celebration in such a meaningful way.

Every DreamFest team starts with one family, one story, and one decision to bring people together. Gavin’s Gang is leading the way, and we can’t wait to see their community celebrate alongside ours this October.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and DreamFest is how Kern County comes together to celebrate, connect, and create a more inclusive community for individuals with Down syndrome and the people who love them.

🚀 Could your family, friends, coworkers, church, school, or business be our next Team Spotlight?

Start your team today—the link to register is in our bio!

💙 Welcome to DreamFest, Gavin’s Gang! JoAnn Divers

Address

1712 19th Street, Suite 215
Bakersfield, CA
93301

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 3pm
Tuesday 10am - 3pm
Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

+16612463200

Website

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