NEMDSS was founded in April, 2007 by Scott & Michelle Knight of Saltillo after the birth of their 3rd son, Peyton. Realizing the need for support services & resources for new families of babies born with Down syndrome, the Knight’s joined forces with Michael & Renea Simmerman, who welcomed their 2nd son Trevor into the world 6 mos. later. Together, they formed what is today named the Northeast Mississippi Down syndrome Society, a nonprofit support organization that serves the N.E. Mississippi region. There are currently over 60 families who benefit from the meetings, programs and activities offered by NEMDSS.
Some services offered by NEMDSS include: support meetings, educational seminars, a resource library, play dates/field trips, financial aid, advocacy work, employment support, college scholarships, teacher grants, community service projects & financial assistance for families attending national Ds conventions & meetings.
NEMDSS operates on an all-volunteer staff & is governed by a Board of Directors; so there are no overhead costs and all of our funding goes directly to support our mission. NEMDSS is funded by the gifts & contributions of private individuals & businesses and through various fundraisers held each year. The annual Buddy Walk is held on the 1st Saturday in October of each year at Saltillo City Park. The NEMDSS Buddy Walk is going into its 4th year and has attracted over 3,000 participants over 3 years and raised over $80,000. Another fundraiser is the sale of the annual NEMDSS pictorial calendar, which features individuals living with Down syndrome in the N.E. Mississippi region. Nearly 1,000 calendars are sold each year to bring awareness of Down syndrome to the general public.
We rely on word of mouth, local disability resources, news media and healthcare providers to help us reach out to new and existing families. There is no membership fee and we welcome anyone who has an interest in our mission to join.
Our Mission…
NEMDSS, is a non-profit organization of families with a mission to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome. We provide support, information and education to those individuals and their families in the Northeast Mississippi Community. NEMDSS is a volunteer organization made successful by its members, parents, families, friends and supporters.
Board of Directors
| Position | Name | E-Mail/Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Executive Director | Scott Knight | nemdss@bellsouth.net |
| President | Renea Simmerman | mrsimmerman@yahoo.com |
| Vice President | Kimberly Brown Bowling | kimberlyibrown@hotmail.com |
| Secretary | Michelle N. Knight | michellenknight@bellsouth.net |
| Treasurer | Jinnie Coleman | claynjin@gmail.com |
| Immediate Past President | Jeff King | Jeff.King@communitybank.net |
General Board Members
| Michaela Compton | Stacy Flowers | Lori Guy |
| Jamie Negrete | Rachel Phillips | Annette Wilson |