Family Shade director Karen Marsh

Karen Marsh, a longtime advocate for people with Down syndrome and their families, joined CDS yesterday as project director of Family Support and Healthcare Alliance Delaware (Family SHADE). The project seeks to connect families of children with disabilities with service providers, primarily through the Family SHADE website and in-person networking events.

Marsh brings a history of organizational leadership and collaboration to her new position. Sixteen years ago she created the Down Syndrome Network of West Virginia, whose membership grew from two families to 200 in three years. After moving to Delaware, she joined the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware, starting the tradition of annual Buddy Walks and serving as president for five years. She also spent seven years on the Delaware Inclusion Conference Planning Committee.

As Family SHADE project director, Marsh intends to provide the community as complete a picture as possible of Delaware’s network of disability organizations. That, she notes, will ensure families of children with disabilities receive the resources and support they need.