Staff

Adrian Forsythe
Policy & Advocacy Assistant
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Adrian Forsythe is the Policy & Advocacy Assistant for the National Down Syndrome Congress. He was part of one of the first cohorts of students with intellectual disabilities integrated into the general classroom in his school districts in Maryland and Argentina. Adrian graduated from George Mason’s LIFE program with concentrations in Communications and Theater. There, he developed skills to become an actor and self-advocate through coursework and his congressional internship with Representative Steny Hoyer. He received awards for Outstanding Achievement in Advocacy and for Outstanding Achievement in Employment and Career Development.

Since graduating, Adrian has worked and served in various roles with different disability rights affiliates such as the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), People on the Go, the Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition (MDAC), and the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC). He completed The Arc of Maryland’s Partners in Policy Making and has led numerous workshops to empower and inspire self-advocates to be self-determined and advocate to their communities and government for equal rights.

Adrian currently serves as a staff member and Visiting Lecturer at TerpsEXCEED, a two-year, post-secondary program at the University of Maryland for students with intellectual disabilities. He works as the Teen Hangout Leader and Project Assistant for the Community Network, a program within the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County (DSNMC) that he started for adults with Down syndrome who want to strengthen their self-advocacy skills and build community. Outside of his work roles, Adrian acts at ArtStream, serves on the Board of Directors at The Arc of Maryland, and is co-chair of the Adult Workgroup at the Maryland Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition (MDAC). Adrian is using the passion and skills that he gained over the years as an ambitious advocate.