November 5, 2025
NDSC Insider | November 2025
Leaves are falling, clocks turned back, and the wind is chillier! Our November is packed with 30+ Caregiver virtual meetings, a reminder for the 2026 Convention Call for Speakers, Ages & Stages in both English and Spanish, and a very special Policy & Advocacy announcement! |
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Introducing…. The National Down Syndrome Congress Down Syndrome Policy Summit and Hill Day!
NDSC is proud to announce that September 29 - 30, 2026 we will be hosting the Down Syndrome Policy Summit at the Omni Hotel in Washington, DC! This event will feature one full day of advocacy training, where advocates will take crash courses on policy and speaking with elected officials and their staff. The next day is a Hill Day. Advocates will take to Capitol Hill where they will meet with their elected officials and staffers to advocate for policy that directly affects people with Down syndrome.
Mark your calendars! Registration opens this May 2026.
We cannot wait for you to #AdvocateWithUs!
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The driving force behind our hard work and dedication is our passion for all the children and adults with Down syndrome across the country that we serve. Our belief that we are making a difference in numerous lives keeps us energized and motivated to continue our efforts. |
Final NDAC Quarterly Call of 2025 Wed. November 12 at 2 PM EST
Calls are NDAC member exclusive. Become an NDAC member today! |
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U.S. Department of Education |
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NDSC, alongside other national disability advocacy organizations, has been actively leading efforts to push back against the sweeping Reductions in Force (RIFs) -- firings - at the U.S. Department of Education that occurred on October 15, 2025, when most staff in the key offices essential to supporting students with disabilities were fired, with the RIFs set to become permanent on December 9, 2025. Since then, multiple legal challenges have slowed the firings from taking effect, but much uncertainty remains - highlighting the critical need for continued advocacy by NDSC and its partners. A related concern is the apparent plan to move the Office of Special Education Programs from the U.S. Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NDSC has created and widely distributed informational materials about Why Protecting IDEA and the U.S. Department of Education is Essential for Students with Disabilities and, most recently, to address Frequently Asked Questions: What’s Happening at the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and What It Means for Students with Disabilities. We also regularly provide background and conduct interviews with journalists on this issue, and NDSC Policy Co-Director Stephanie Smith Lee has recently been quoted in Disability Scoop (“Ed Department Making Plans To Offload Special Education”) and a National Public Radio (NPR) interview on “Hear and Now".
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NDSC has issued an Action Alert, and we have been actively working with our National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition (NDAC) members to contact all Senators on the HELP Committee and Representatives on the Education and Workforce Committee in order to request a bipartisan oversight hearing on the Department of Education firings and the apparent plan to move OSEP. Many NDAC Members have sent personal emails to staff; some have even had virtual meetings for which the NDSC Policy Team has helped them prepare. Thank you to NDAC Members for answering our call to action!
NDSC regularly collaborates with and coordinates strategy alongside a handful of other leading disability education groups. On November 4, 2025, NDSC jointly planned and co-hosted a Virtual Town Hall to Protect Children with Disabilities along with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the Arc of the United States, the Center for Learner Equity, the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Over 2000 registered for this Town Hall!
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In the Media
Stephanie Smith Lee, NDSC’s Policy & Advocacy Co-Director and former Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), has spent her career protecting the rights of students with disabilities. In this WCNC story, she joins the Leyton family from Charlotte in voicing concern about threats to special education funding and oversight. Their shared message is clear: every child with a disability deserves a strong, fully funded education system and the protections guaranteed under IDEA.
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Orlando, Florida | Hilton Signia July 23 - 26, 2026 Now featuring the DSAIA Pre-Con
July 22 - 23, 2026 Registration opens: March 10, 2026 CALL FOR SPEAKERS IS NOW OPEN! Portal closes: Nov. 24 |
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Gifts & Challenges Exchange - caregiver conversations and support for those supporting adults with Down syndrome age 30+
Family engagement sessions for parents and caregivers of adults with Down syndrome 30 and older. These are facilitated group discussions led by Dr. Dennis McGuire, covering a range of relevant topics.
Each session will emphasize shared conversation and peer support. November session: Nov. 20 at 1 PM EST
December session: Dec. 4 at 1 PM EST Attendance for each Zoom conversation will be limited to 50 people. |
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Join the mailing list to receive the link to register for the Zoom meeting. If you have questions, reach out to info@ndsccenter.org. |
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| Join us for our next Ages & Stages!
November 19 at 1:00 PM EST When Memory Changes: Guidance for Families of Adults with Down Syndrome Hosted by Kathryn Pears, MPPM, Chief Operating Officer, National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) |
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Edades y etapas
Descubrimientos científicos importantes que benefician a las personas con síndrome de Down Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, Universidad de Colorado Anschutz Miércoles 10 de diciembre 2025 12 PM EST, 11 AM CST, 10AM MST, 9AM PST Seminario GRATUITO de NDSC |
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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 driving force behind our hard work and dedication is our passion for all the children and adults with Down syndrome across the country that we serve. Our belief that we are making a difference in numerous lives keeps us energized and motivated to continue our efforts. |
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As you thoughtfully consider giving to our annual campaign, please know that your generosity is tied to who we serve, and they are why we do what we do.
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