iCan Shine Camp Volunteers

The Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas relies on the assistance of more than 150 community volunteers each summer to successfully implement our iCan Shine Summer Camps. Volunteers will ideally serve all five days of camp at the same time for consistency with their camp participant. There are multiple session times throughout the day. No prior experience is necessary; ongoing training and support is provided.

iCan Bike
June 22-26 | LaCore Logistics (McKinney, TX)

iCan Bike volunteers walk/run alongside their assigned rider providing emotional and physical support. This is a rewarding, hand-ons volunteer experience teaching individuals with IDD how to ride a two-wheel bicycle for volunteers ages 15 years of age and older.

ICan Dance
June 8-12 | Church Street Auditorium (McKinney, TX)

iCan Dance volunteers learn choreographed dance routines alongside their assigned dancer with IDD assisting as needing. This is a fun, hands-on volunteer experience for individuals 12 years of age and older.

Please click the camp links for full details on each camp, including session availability and volunteer registration toward the bottom of each page.

Board of Directors

The Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas Board of Directors are volunteers, comprised of family members of individuals with Down syndrome, self-advocates, educators, medical professionals, and other community leaders, who are responsible for upholding the mission and purpose of the organization, supporting and evaluating staff, ensuring effective planning and evaluation of strategic goals, monitoring and strengthening programs and services, ensuring adequate financial resources, protecting assets and providing financial oversight, building, evaluating, and orienting a competent board and committees, ensuring legal and ethical integrity, and enhancing the organization’s public standing.  Board Members are elected at the end of each calendar year to a term of 3 years. Terms are limited to no more than 2 consecutive terms (6 years) unless otherwise determined by the Board.

The Down Syndrome Guild is a diverse organization serving more than 2,700 families across North Texas from diagnosis through adulthood. The organization strives to maintain a Board of Directors that exemplifies that diversity by electing members who represent multiple age groups, areas of DFW, cultural backgrounds, as well as specific professional expertise.

For additional information and questions, please contact Jennifer Ford.

Committee Member Volunteers

The Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas operates under the guidance of numerous committees and sub-committees that report to the Board of Directors and work closely with staff in the areas of Finance, Fund Development, Medical, New Parent, and Grupo de Familias Unidas (Bilingual) programs.  Committee members are comprised of family members of individuals with Down syndrome, self-advocates, educators, medical professionals, and other community leaders. There are no set terms for committee members; however, the organization generally reviews participation and interest on an annual basis at the end of each calendar year and asks members for at least a one-year commitment.  For additional information and questions, please contact Jennifer Ford.

One-on-One Volunteers

One-on-One volunteers serve as peer buddies at various events (i.e. going out to dinner, an outing to a baseball game or movie) with teens and adults with Down syndrome. Volunteers have the opportunity to form ongoing relationships with self-advocates with Down syndrome while providing support to DSG staff in making sure the event goes smoothly and as planned.

One-on-One volunteers must be 18 years of age or older, complete a volunteer application, pass a background check, and complete a volunteer training workshop hosted by the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas. Prior experience with individuals with IDD is preferred, but not required. For more information, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form below. For additional information and questions, please contact Ava Burns.

Individual & Event Specific Volunteers

Individual volunteers not interested in one-on-one opportunities may serve on their own at a larger event (i.e. Buddy Walk). Volunteers will often perform behind the scenes tasks like setting up and tearing down for the event or assisting in a group setting. To request more information and to be notified of upcoming opportunities, please contact Ava Burns.