Registration for the 2026 NDSC Convention in Orlando, Florida, opens this week! We are so excited to see all of you at the largest Down syndrome family reunion in the country!
Below you will find everything you need to know about our Convention, but be sure to keep reading for information on our upcoming National Down Syndrome Golf Classic, our World Down Syndrome Day Dance Party, our brand-new DSAIA microsite, and the new date for our rescheduled Ages & Stages webinar. Plus, a really awesome super cool NDSC giveaway!!! |
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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 |
Sign up for Convention Registration 101!
Thursday, March 5
7:00 PM EST 6:00 PM CST / 5:00 PM MST / 4:00 PM PST
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. |
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| Exhibit Hall Registration now open!
Our exhibit hall is where your products and resources will get noticed! The Exhibit Hall showcases a variety of different products, organizations, and services that our community has to offer. Convention attendees will be able to browse all the different booths, collect information, check out the samples, and make important connections.
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| Exhibit your college at the NDSC College Fair! Exhibit your inclusive postsecondary program at this year’s NDSC College Fair, sponsored by Think College!
With approximately 3,500 in attendance, including over 400 self-advocates, the NDSC College Fair event perfectly showcases inclusive postsecondary programs for individuals with intellectual disability.
*College Fair Exhibitors must be part of an accredited community college, college, or university. |
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| Attend Advocacy Training Boot Camp Hey advocates! It’s back and better than ever! Advocacy Training Boot Camp is hitting the 2026 NDSC Convention in Orlando. And guess what? It’s totally FREE with convention registration!
Whether you're just beginning your advocacy journey or you're a seasoned pro, ATBC is your go-to spot for powerful tools, insider tips, and maybe some of what not to do. Hear from rockstar self-advocates, parents, policymakers, and the expert NDSC Policy & Advocacy Team. It’s all about leveling up your skills and making real change happen, with some fun along the way. Don’t miss your chance to be part of something impactful. Add ATBC to your Convention schedule when you register for the annual convention! Registration is encouraged, but not required. |
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| Sign up for our Educators Conference at the 2026 Convention! If you’re an educator, you don’t want to miss this! Our next Educators Conference will be Friday, July 24, 2026 as a part of the 2026 NDSC Convention! This unique conference offers practical, research-based strategies that general and special education teachers can immediately implement to support students with intellectual disabilities, including Down syndrome.
Registration is $150 and includes materials, breakfast and lunch, a certificate of attendance, and 0.6 CEUs for an additional $30. |
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| GIVEAWAY TIME!
Go to our Instagram and Facebook pages to enter to win! Tag a friend you want to see at the Celebration Dinner at the NDSC Convention for a chance to win some awesome NDSC swag!
Must be registered for the NDSC Convention to win. Winners will be contacted via DM on March 30th. |
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| Check out our new DSAIA website! Head to ndsccenter.org/dsaia to see all of the new things that DSAIA has to offer! We will be populating more information in here over the next few months, including the member portal. |
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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 and other guest professional experts, covering a range of relevant topics.
Next sessions: - March 25 at 1 PM EST
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April 15 at 7 PM EST
- Joan Guthrie Melden, MEd, RDN (nutrition)
- May 21 at 1 PM EST
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Terri Couwenhoven (friendships)
- June 24 at 1 PM EST
Each session will emphasize shared conversation and peer support. The sessions are not recorded and are limited to 50 attendees. |
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| Ages & Stages
The Skin is In: Skin Conditions in Children and Adults with Down Syndrome RESCHEDULED: March 19th 1:00 PM EST |
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| WDSD DANCE PARTY Wednesday, March 25 8:00 PM EST | 7:00 PM CST | 6:00 PM MST | 5:00 PM PST Join NDSC and Real Smiles Dance for a very special WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY dance lesson!
Real Smiles Dance creates inclusive dance opportunities for people with disabilities, fostering joy, confidence, and connection through movement. Real Smiles Dance offers a wide variety of dance videos for all abilities. Whether you're looking for a specific style or want to explore the latest content, Real Smiles Dance has something for everyone.
Real Smiles Dance was created by Cody Bingham, a young adult from Montana with over 14 years of experience dancing for Nickelodeon, Justin Bieber, The Greatest Showman, Dancing with the Stars, and more! Cody and his BFF, Dixon, who has Down syndrome, created Real Smiles Dance to show the world that anyone can connect just by sharing their love for dancing and moving. |
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¡Consulta nuestros Informes de Políticas Educativas ahora disponibles en español! |
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National Down Syndrome Congress
Down Syndrome Policy Summit and Hill Day!
NDSC is proud to announce that on September 29 - 30, 2026, we will be hosting the Down Syndrome Policy Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.! 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. |
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Golf Registration is now open! Click the button below to register.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Windermere Golf Club Cumming, GA Volunteer information will be available in March
If you'd like to become a sponsor, click the button below. |
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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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