OUR ROLE & IMPACT

York Area Down Syndrome Association (YADSA) is a non-profit organization that provides support to families with children and adults with disabilities with a primary focus on individuals with Down syndrome. YADSA’s goal is to bring an understanding of Down syndrome to the community and professionals.

You can count on YADSA to be supportive, informative and there for your family. We offer many activities and have monthly business and support meetings. YADSA is a great opportunity for families to share and talk to each other. Please feel free to reach out to YADSA at anytime via email at yadsagroup@gmail.com

Encourage professionals and the community to recognize the value of people with Down syndrome through medical outreach. We work together with local hospitals and physician offices in the area and have a parent who serves as our Medical Outreach Coordinator. We distribute Welcome Baskets to various hospitals for new and expectant parents.

Provide information for parents and the community through meetings, special speakers, and educational training. We work together with many local school districts and other local organizations in the area who provide supports to individuals with Down syndrome. We have meetings where speakers, such as educators and therapist come to and share information.

Promote independence and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. YADSA’s vision is to support families and provide them with tools and support to provide the most opportunities for their family member with Down syndrome. We do this by working with educators, medical professionals and local groups in the community.

We provide grants to assist families with therapy, education and medical needs. You can submit a grant application from the website. Scholarships are available to students pursuing higher education that relates to supporting individuals with disabilities.

Promote growth and development of individuals with Down syndrome through activities and programs. YADSA has several activities throughout the year. These activities are listed under our activities section on the website. They provide wonderful opportunities for growth, development and opportunities for friendship.

YADSA Board Members

Lynn Burton

President

I'm Lynn Burton and I have been a board member for several years. My son Danny will soon be 25 years old and he keeps me busy with lots of sports and activities. He has grown up with this great community of DS friends and the parents have been a never ending resource for me.

Emily Noll

Vice President

My name is Emily and I have been on the YADSA Board for several years. I enjoy working as part of a team to provide meaningful programming and resources for our membership. My husband, Mike, and I are parents to Kate (8) and Riley (2). I am currently a stay at home parent, and former elementary school teacher. We received Kate‘s Ds diagnosis at birth.

Jack Gilmore

Treasurer

Hello! My name is Jack Gilmore and my family has been involved with YADSA for about nine years--starting not long after the birth of our son Riddley who has Down Syndrome. Riddley was diagnosed with DS in utero, so my wife, my daughter, and I had plenty of time to get everything ready for him—he has definitely grown into his role as the “Ambassador” of our family as he has never met anyone who didn’t immediately become a friend or fan. This is my third year on the board, and I look forward to
many more—YADSA has been a valuable source of information and friendships over these past years, and I hope to be able to return that favor to people who are just finding our organization.

Sara Trimmer

Secretary

Hello! My name is Sara, I joined the YADSA board in 2022. I am a mom to 4 boys. Our youngest was diagnosed in utero with Down syndrome in 2020. I am a pharmacist by trade and volunteer for many organizations. I enjoy taxiing my children to all of their activities.

Crystal Christman

Activities Director

Hi! My name is Crystal Christman and I serve as Activities Director for YADSA. My husband, Bill and I have three daughters; Harper (10), Cora (9) and Charlotte (2). Charlotte was diagnosed with Down Syndrome prenatally. I teach 4th grade in York County, and in my spare time I plan weddings and events. I'm excited to bring my event planning knowledge to this position and plan some great things for our YADSA community.

Nicole Nguyen

Board Member

Hi! My name is Nicole. My husband, Pete & I have two children; Nathan (9) and Karissa (5). Karissa was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. I am a full time nurse by night and a stay at home mom by day. Our family was built through adoption and we enjoy being outdoors, playing sports and camping! I am excited to see YADSA continue to grow and look forward to supporting our members.

Liz Wedeking

Board Member

Hello! My name is Liz Wedeking and I’m so excited to be serving on the YADSA board. My husband Thomas and I have one son, Henry (2 in May), who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome when he was about 8 weeks old. I work very part time as a nutritional therapy practitioner and personal trainer but am mostly serving as Mom to our little guy. We love to spend time outdoors - hiking, mountain biking, camping, and just being with friends and family!

Wade Smith

Board Member

Hi, my name is Wade and I'm married to my best friend Ann, I am the proud father of three amazing daughters and the delighted grandfather of four. My passion for creation extends well beyond my 17 years in home renovations, a journey preceded by impactful roles as the National Sales Director for John H. Myers and Design Manager for Yorktown Cabinets.

I also love the outdoors, embracing the serenity of hiking and camping, or losing myself in the pages of a thrilling fantasy novel. A lifelong lover of classic rock, the soundtrack of my life mirrors my spirit—timeless and full of energy.

Faith and community are anchors in my life. As the Council Chair of New Creation Community Church, I channel my values into meaningful leadership. Inspired by our daughter, Cassie, myself and Ann are deeply committed to YADSA, dedicating ourselves to advocacy for children with trisomy 21. Guided by my motto, “Always the hero, never the schmuck; under-commit and over-deliver,” my hope is that my family’s journey can illuminate the path for others.

Jen Strode

Board Member

Hello! My name is Jennifer. I am a family photographer, and I am so excited to join the YADSA board. My husband, Randy, and I have four wonderful children, Charissa, Rachel, Andrew and LiliAnna. We also have one sweet little grandson Bennett (3). LiliAnna’s diagnosis came when I was 14 weeks pregnant. Though it took a while for me to process it all, I can’t imagine life without Lili. She enriches our family and brings us so much joy. We have met the most amazing people on our DS journey. I look forward to making more memories with the YASDA group and helping in any way necessary to make our group even more spectacular!