We are in the final countdown to our 2025 Convention registration! Everyone on the team at NDSC is so excited to get to see you all in person. Set your alarms, flex your typing fingers, and get ready to book! |
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Hilton Anatole Dallas, Texas
July 24 - 27 |
| | Registration opens March 11, 2025 12:00 PM EST |
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Youth & Adult Conference Call for Speakers! NDSC Youth & Adult Conference workshop proposal submission form is now open!
Our Youth & Adult Conference (Y&A) brings together 300+ individuals with Down syndrome between the ages of 15 - 70+
to build friendships, attend conference sessions, and to have fun. Conference sessions cover topics including self-advocacy, marriage and relationships, job and career pathways, and physical and mental wellness. Deadline: February 23 11:59 PM EST |
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| 2025 Convention Registration 101 - Free tutorial! Join us for a quick tutorial on our new registration system! Q&A included after the tutorial. This webinar will be recorded and posted to our YouTube account and emailed to all registrants. Spanish version will be available via YouTube. Hosted by our Convention Director, Stephanie White.
Thursday, March 6 7:30 PM EST / 6:30 PM CST / 5:30 PM MST / 4:30 PM PST |
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2025 NDSC Convention Award Nominations are now open!
National Down Syndrome Congress is proud to recognize individuals and organizations who are doing exceptional work for the Down syndrome community. Our Celebrating All Awards Banquet at the NDSC 2025 Annual Convention is a night to honor these outstanding award winners.
Please fill out our nomination form to the fullest of your capability. If there are any questions or concerns, please reach out to Stephanie White at swhite@ndsccenter.org.
Deadline: March 3, 2025 |
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We'd like to thank everyone in our Down syndrome community who has spoken out in support of our recent statements. We understand that there can be a lot of confusion and fear when the policies that protect our loved ones are at risk, and we understand that it can be hard to keep up in a rapidly changing political climate. Below you will find a blog post summarizing all the recent statements that NDSC has made. In addition, we have included "5 Ways to Advocate," one of our resources that gives easily implemented ways to connect with your local legislators and community. |
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Call TODAY to Protect Medicaid as Part of Nationwide Medicaid Day of Action
NDSC is advocating on many fronts for people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. One area of high priority for NDSC is preserving and strengthening Medicaid. NDSC firmly opposes all caps, cuts, and work requirements (which are essentially additional cuts) for Medicaid. Today is Medicaid Day of Action that NDSC is participating in with our coalition partners.
Medicaid is a vital joint federal and state program that provides health insurance and access to long term services and supports in home and community settings for people with disabilities. It covers 72 million people in the United States, including 17 million people with disabilities. It is often the only health insurance that can meet disabled people’s needs because it covers many services not covered by private insurance or Medicare. It also provides funding for early intervention programs and to schools for items such as behavioral health supports and therapies. At the state level, Medicaid funding provides access for people with disabilities to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), which help 4.5 million people with disabilities to live, work, and engage in the community. HCBS are critical to people with disabilities as they provide services such as in-home health care, job training, coaching, and placement, personal supports, and other services that are critical to people with disabilities.
Medicaid is on the chopping block in Congress, and any cuts to Medicaid at the federal level will have a ripple effect on the States, which will be forced to cut “optional” services for people with disabilities such as HCBS. Many states already have long waitlists for people to access HCBS supports through their waiver systems, and cuts at the federal level will make these waitlists even longer.
It is important to call your Members of Congress TODAY to let them know that Medicaid is a vital lifeline for people with disabilities and any cuts, caps, or work requirements will significantly hurt people with disabilities and their families. In the coming weeks, NDSC will be collecting Medicaid impact stories from people in the Down syndrome community and preparing our own Medicaid advocacy campaign. In the meantime, we encourage you to use this Action Alert prepared by our colleagues at The Arc of the United States:
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Love Without Penalty: Support the Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act (S. 73)!
The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) celebrates the introduction of the Eliminating Marriage Penalty in Social Security Act (EMPSA) (S. 73) by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). This critical bipartisan bill would end the unfair Supplemental Security Income (SSI) marriage penalty, ensuring that adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) can marry without losing vital benefits. |
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Currently, people with disabilities who rely on SSI face severe financial penalties when they marry, often forcing them to choose between love and economic security. EMPSA would eliminate this outdated rule and protect the rights of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to build their lives without fear of losing critical support.
This Valentine’s Day, February 14th, join NDSC’s Call-In Campaign to urge your Senators to support EMPSA (S. 73). Watch for social media and NDSC action alerts next week so you can join us on Valentine’s Day by calling your elected officials and asking them to support the Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI bill. |
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National Down Syndrome Congress provides easy and accessible ways to engage your elected officials. When new and important legislation is introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate or more support is needed for existing bills, we will notify you and request that you contact your Members of Congress. One simple way you can advocate is to register for NDSC’s Action Alerts. Action Alerts are template emails with information about the legislation and talking points that you can forward directly to your Members of Congress.
Sign up for Action Alerts today and take action to raise the voices of those in our community. |
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The U.S. Department of Education is in imminent danger of being weakened and dismantled
The U.S. Department of Education is in imminent danger of being weakened and dismantled by the Administration through proposed Executive Orders, actions by Elon Musk and his DOGE team, and through legislation in Congress to abolish it. Such actions would have dire consequences for students, educators, and the future of our education system, and especially students with disabilities. These actions could result in the loss of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and civil rights protections under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as the loss of billions of dollars in funding for special education services and programs.
Disability laws and special education have always had strong bipartisan support. We call on the Administration and Congress to step back and discuss ways to improve the U.S. education system and best serve students with disabilities in a bipartisan manner before it’s too late. TAKE ACTION TODAY! CLICK OUR ACTION ALERT BELOW |
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Get ready for the 9th Annual NDSC Golf Classic on May 6th at Windermere Golf Course! If you can’t join us in Atlanta, don’t worry! This year, we're thrilled to introduce a brand-new way to participate:
Tee Up in Your Hometown for Down Syndrome!
This exciting initiative lets you support NDSC and individuals with Down syndrome by playing golf at your local course. It's perfect for those who can't make it to our Atlanta event.
How it Works: - Play Your Way: Organize a round with friends and family anytime between April 25th and May 6th, 2025.
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Register: Sign up as an individual or foursome on the NDSC website after registration opens on February 10th.
- Support NDSC: Donate a minimum of $100 per golfer to support NDSC's vital work.
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Exclusive Gift: Register and donate before April 1st to receive a limited-edition NDSC Golf Classic hat! Wear it during your round and share your photos on social media to show your support for NDSC's year-round mission.
Player registration opens Monday, February 10th! Interested?
Learn more and register by clicking the button below. |
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Do you want to be a part of impacting lasting change for people with Down syndrome? Then, NDAC is for you! Find more information and an easy online application by clicking the button. |
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NDAC Members get exclusive access to the NDAC newsletter, which includes The Policy Pulse. The Policy Pulse is where our policy team shares important news and articles dealing with the current political issues and initiatives. |
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NDSC recently released two NDSC Policy Briefs with tips for using provisions from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for IEP development. |
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Top 5 Things To Know About The Every Student Succeeds Act For IEP Meetings (short version) |
| Every Student Succeeds Act: Frequently Asked Questions and IEP Tips |
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In our lifetime, the single most dramatic change effected by our community has been the astounding improvement of the health of people with Down syndrome. Through the caring innovation of medical professionals, the typical lifespan of an individual with Down syndrome now approaches 60 years of age, the average for all people. Equally important, advancements in cardiology, nutrition, the behavioral sciences, and more have opened a high quality of life for people with Down syndrome. The NDSC Medical and Scientific Review Committee review medical information and research announcements that have been presented to the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) to ensure that they are scientifically sound. |
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As a national organization, NDSC has employees, volunteers, partners, board members, self-advocates, friends, and family from all over the country.
WHO WILL WIN ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY?
Tag us on social media in your Super Bowl Sunday celebration photos! We want to see all of our friends with Down syndrome engaging in some friendly competition.
Put a green heart emoji in your post to vote for the EAGLES Put a red heart emoji in your post to vote for the CHIEFS
#NDSCSuperBowlSunday If you want to go the extra mile, challenge your losing friends to donate the final score of the winning team to NDSC! Stay safe, eat lots of buffalo chicken dip, and get ready to go! |
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Support the NDSC!
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