Jennifer Johnston
Academic Specialist, English Language Institute
Jennifer Johnston is the mother of a beautiful daughter named Isabelle who has Down Syndrome. Early on, Jennifer discovered that this condition is misunderstood by both the public and the medical field, and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the myths and truths about it. She joined the Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks (DSGO) in January of 2012 and has since helped plan and recruit volunteers for their major annual fundraiser, Step Up for Down Syndrome. The event includes a family carnival, an awareness walk and a night with the Springfield Cardinals. In the fall of 2012, Jennifer joined the DSGO board of directors and serves on the New Parent and Medical Outreach Committee that visits families in the hospital, provides emotional support and steers them toward available resources. This committee also organizes new parent play groups and gives presentations to the medical community about empathic communication strategies when dealing with families with Down Syndrome.
Jennifer spearheads her own awareness campaign by distributing DSGO calendars and posting interesting Down Syndrome facts and stories on Facebook. She gets particularly busy in October during Down Syndrome Awareness Month. As November’s Public Affairs Staff Spotlight, we are proud to recognize Jennifer’s community engagement and ethical leadership through improving the lives of those with Down Syndrome, their families and their communities.