T21 Research Society Conference — Sitter Operations

Arrival

All sitters must arrive by 8:15 AM — no exceptions. Parents begin drop-off at 8:30 AM. Be set up, in position, and ready to receive children before they walk in. Go directly to Mount Elbert B on the meeting room level. Check in with Arezou on arrival. Do not go to the hotel lobby or front desk first.

Dress code

Comfortable and sensible — you will be active all day. No ripped jeans, no revealing clothing. Closed-toe shoes required (sneakers or similar). Layers recommended — hotel meeting rooms can be cold. Full policy: callemmy.com/sitter-faq

Lunch

Bring your own. No meal breaks are scheduled — plan to eat during children's rest/quiet time (~1:00–1:30 PM). Pack something quick. No food provided on-site for staff.

Parking

You arrange your own parking. Call Emmy reimburses a one-time flat $20 for the full engagement (not per day). Keep your receipt and submit to Arezou on Friday. Self-parking is available in the Grand Hyatt garage; street parking or nearby lots are also fine. Do not valet — valet rates are not reimbursed.

All Call Emmy sitters are required to be certified in First Aid and CPR before working any event. Complete the American Red Cross Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED online course (~2 hours, available 24/7): redcross.org/take-a-class. Prefer in-person? Find a local class at the same link. Have your certificate ready to show Arezou before your shift begins.

• No child is to be alone with a sitter at any time — always two sitters accompany a child to the restroom or for a diaper change
• No child over the age of 36 months is to sit on the lap of a sitter
• For bathroom assistance, guide the child in how to clean themselves — talk them through it rather than doing it for them
• Phones are for emergencies and communication with Arezou only during program hours — no personal scrolling in front of children or parents
• Be warm, engaged, and child-led — this is a T21 (Down syndrome) research conference; approach every child with patience and joy
• You are a professional — when a child is upset or escalating, use your training to de-escalate calmly and child-led. Only involve Arezou if the situation is beyond routine de-escalation (safety concern, sustained distress, medical, or behavioral emergency).
• Parents are at the conference — text Arezou first; she will loop in parents as needed
• Keep the room tidy and welcoming at all times
• End-of-day cleanup is part of your role — don't leave until the room is reset

Arezou Zarafshan (office): (303) 276-5752

Grand Hyatt Denver Front Desk: (303) 295-1234

Emergency: 911

20 children. 13 sitters. 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. All activities at the hotel. This is the biggest day of the conference. Stay in your assigned pod at all times. All direction comes from Arezou.

• Melissa Sapien — 720-413-8108 · melissa.sapien2000@gmail.com · Pod A (Infant) + Art Lesson Lead
• Maddy Chavez — 720-586-1558 · maddychavez111924@gmail.com · Pod B (Toddler)
• Vicky Ramsden — 720-212-1657 · trickyvipp@hotmail.com · Pod B (Toddler)
• Eunice Shih — 303-801-7024 · eunice216506@yahoo.com.tw · Pod D (Older Group)
• Seena Karki — 303-960-0270 · seena.karki@gmail.com · Pod D (Older Group)
• Meron Damtew — 720-936-7164 · medamtew@gmail.com · Pod D (Older Group)
• Lynda Gernhard — 303-356-7534 · lyndadiane2022@gmail.com · Pod C (Neurodiverse 1:1)
• Deborah McCorkle — 303-319-4632 · annlendsey@yahoo.com · Pod C (Neurodiverse 1:1)
• Vonda Hack — 720-394-9630 · genius8485.vh1@gmail.com · Pod C (Neurodiverse 1:1)
• Rebecca Markel — 303-835-2123 · rkm123r@yahoo.com · Pod C (Neurodiverse 1:1)
• Hilda Munoz Buitrago — 720-421-9412 · esperanzamz8@gmail.com · Pod C (Neurodiverse 1:1)
• Roxana Gonzalez — 720-713-0466 · groxana191@gmail.com · Pod C (Neurodiverse 1:1)
• Jaime Ochoa — 806-507-1737 · bonilla07.jb@gmail.com · Pod C (Neurodiverse 1:1)

• Pod A — Infant (1:1, 1 child): Melissa S. (also leads art lesson 10:15–11:30 AM while Maya naps)
• Pod B — Toddlers (2:4): Maddy C., Vicky R.
• Pod C — Neurodiverse (1:1, 7 children): Lynda G., Deborah M., Vonda H., Rebecca M., Hilda M., Roxana G., Jaime O.
• Pod D — Older Group (3 sitters / 8 kids): Eunice S., Seena K., Meron D.

Sitter: Melissa S. NOTE: Melissa leads the art lesson 10:15–11:30 AM while Maya naps. If Maya wakes early, the nearest available sitter covers — Melissa finishes the lesson.

• Melissa S. → Maya Iobst (7 months) — Breast milk only (parent provides). Naps at 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM. Never leave unattended.

Sitters: Maddy C. + Vicky R.

• Maddy C. / Vicky R. → Ezekiel (2) — Diapers. Not potty trained.
• Maddy C. / Vicky R. → Zara (2) — Diapers. Naps ~1 PM — needs an adult nearby.
• Maddy C. / Vicky R. → Greyson Harsch (3) — Potty training — bathroom every 30 min; does not always give cues.
• Maddy C. / Vicky R. → Mylo Dennis (4) — Neurotypical. No flags.

• Lynda G. → Leia (9) — ADHD. Keep her engaged; give her jobs and active roles during activities.
• Deborah M. → Hazel Harsch (6) — Mosaic Down Syndrome. Extra patience; calm, steady engagement.
• Vonda H. → Maggie (11) — DS + Apraxia. Functions at ~6yo level. STRICT diet — see below.
• Rebecca M. → Remy (8) — Mosaic Down Syndrome.
• Hilda M. → Ella Moore (7) — Mosaic Down Syndrome. May need potty reminders.
• Roxana G. → Matilda Dennis (8) — Mosaic Down Syndrome (mDs). Pending parent confirmation.
• Jaime O. → Mark Iobst (4) — Autism + Hearing Impairment + Mosaic T21. Diapers — no cues. Parent provides lunch.

Maggie's diet — strict. ALLOWED ONLY: pizza, fries, steak, chicken nuggets, pasta, mac & cheese, spaghetti, quesadillas, string cheese, milkshakes, pudding, vanilla ice cream. Nothing crunchy or crumbly. Do NOT offer anything not on this list. Her mom will provide food.

Sitters: Eunice S. + Seena K. + Meron D.

• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Anna Smith (6) — No flags.
• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Zoe Miller (6) — No flags.
• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Lilly Smith (8) — No flags.
• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Xavier Miller (8) — No flags.
• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Ethan Harsch (9) — No flags.
• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Hayat Tawil (9) — No pork. Special needs flag — confirm with Arezou at start of day.
• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Zahara Tawil (13) — No pork.
• Eunice S. / Seena K. / Meron D. → Kinley (11) — No flags.

9:00–10:00 AM · Older Group only · Eunice, Seena, Meron.

Setup (before 8:30 AM): cut butcher paper into one section per child; pre-draw 4–6 panel borders; set markers, crayons, colored pencils at the older group tables.

Prompt (read aloud at 9:00 AM): "You are a superhero. Create a comic strip that tells your origin story — how you got your powers and the first time you used them to help someone."

Rules every strip must follow: minimum 4 panels (max 6); hero name written at the top as the title; at least one speech or thought bubble; one panel shows the problem, one shows the solution; color at least 3 panels; kids 9+ also write a 1-sentence hero bio across the bottom.

Age accommodations: ages 6–8 — sitter may help write words if needed (drawing is the focus); ages 9–13 — encourage detail, dialogue, and the hero bio.

At 10:00 AM: each child has 30 seconds to share their strip with the group. Tape every finished strip to the Mount Elbert B wall — they stay up all day as the Pod D gallery.

Lead — Lynda Gernhard (303-356-7534, lyndadiane2022@gmail.com): primary contact, owns daily logistics, leads off-site excursions Wed/Thu/Fri.

Infant/Toddler Lead — Melissa Sapien (720-413-8108, melissa.sapien2000@gmail.com): stays at hotel with infants/toddlers; runs morning play, sensory, naps.

Support Sitter — Maithri Bhargava (720-518-6196, maithribhargava@yahoo.com): floats between groups; covers breaks; assists Melissa with infants/toddlers and Lynda on excursions as needed.

1:1 Sitter — Jaime Ochoa (806-507-1737, bonilla07.jb@gmail.com): assigned 1:1 to Matilda Dennis Wed–Fri (no off-site until parent confirms neurotypical).

• Lilly Smith (8) — Neurotypical
• Anna Smith (6) — Neurotypical
• Celeste (8) — Neurotypical · Thu/Fri only · walk-in, forms collected at drop-off
• Matilda Dennis (8) — Possibly neurodiverse (awaiting parent confirmation) · 1:1 sitter (Jaime) · no off-site until confirmed neurotypical
• Mylo Dennis (4) — Neurotypical · hotel all days · no off-site
• Maya Iobst (7 months) — Infant
• Mark Iobst (4) — Autism + Hearing Impairment + Mosaic T21 · diapers (no cues) · parent provides lunch · hotel all days

Off-site (Lynda + Lilly, Anna)

9:15–11:15 AM. Walk to 16th Street Mall (~9 min). Scavenger hunt + free MallRide shuttle. Return by 11:30 AM.

At hotel (Melissa + Maithri, Jaime assists)

morning play, sensory activities, age-appropriate crafts, quiet music, books, soft toys.

Off-site (Lynda + Lilly, Anna & Celeste)

9:15–11:15 AM. Walk to Denver Art Museum (~12 min). Family studio drop-in art-making. Children under 18 free. Return by 11:30 AM.

At hotel (Melissa + Maithri, Jaime assists)

infant play, sensory bins, music, tummy time. Also present Thu–Fri: Matilda Dennis (8) — possibly neurodiverse (awaiting parent confirmation), 1:1 support, no off-site; and Mylo Dennis (4), no off-site.

Off-site (Lynda + Lilly, Anna & Celeste)

9:15–11:15 AM. Walk to Union Station (~11 min). Historic main hall + outdoor fountain plaza. Parents were asked to pack a change of clothes — Lilly, Anna, and Celeste will likely get wet.

At hotel (Melissa + Maithri, Jaime assists)

infant play, sensory bins, music. Also present: Matilda Dennis (8) — possibly neurodiverse (awaiting parent confirmation), 1:1 support, no off-site; and Mylo Dennis (4), no off-site.

Signed consent form required for Lilly and Anna before any excursion. Arezou will confirm receipt before Wednesday morning — do not depart without her verbal confirmation.

• Keep children together and in direct line of sight at all times
• Carry the emergency contact sheet for Lilly and Anna (Arezou provides)
• Carry Arezou's cell and the hotel front desk number
• If a child is injured, call Arezou immediately — do not wait
• No photos of children on personal social media
• Return to hotel no later than 11:30 AM — text Arezou when you leave each location