Policy & Advocacy

Advocacy Resources

14(c) Toolkit for Advocates - In Partnership with National Down Syndrome Society

NDSC and NDSS have created this toolkit for advocates on 14(c).

On December 4th, 2024, the Department of Labor issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would phase out the practice of paying people with disabilities below minimum wage (“subminimum wage”) under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Specifically, the rule would stop employers from being able to apply for new 14(c) certificates and would help businesses that currently use 14(c) certificates have a one-time three-year extension to transition from sheltered workshops to competitive integrated employment. The public has until January 17, 2025 to submit comments to the Department to let them know whether or not they support the proposed rule and have any suggestions for its implementation.

Click here to download

Advocacy Toolkit for Self-Advocates

Click here to download the PDF – NDSC Advocacy Toolkit for Self-Advocates

Webinar Archives

Post-Election Analysis (Jan 24, 2017)

Slides – NDSC Post Election Analysis
Recording – click here to sign in

ESSA 3-Part Series ~ What You Can Do to Impact Implementation

Presented by NDSC, NDSS & DSAIA

Jan 12, Part I – recording
Jan 19, Part II – recording
Jan 26, Part III – recording

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
What YOU Can Do to Impact ESSA Implementation

Presented by Ricki Sabia, NDSC Senior Education Policy Advisor and Heather Sachs, NDSS Vice President of Advocacy & Public Policy on October 25, 2016

Slides – joint-ndsc-ndss-essa-overview-webinar-final
Webinar video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8C5f93A9_Y&feature=youtu.be

Strategies for Successful Public Policy Advocacy

Powerpoint – NDSC policy webinar 2015

Disability Law in Education

April 26, 2022, Session 3 – recording

 

Policy Documents

Education

National Down Syndrome Congress Policy Brief – What you need to know about State alternate assessments

NDSC Letter of Support Full Funding bill

Disability letter to ED_IEPGuidance_11-15-21

Final NDSC Comments on Sec of Ed grant priorities 08 21

CCD Letter Cardona priorities-July 30 Final

NDSC Comments on Equity RFI final

Final NDSC-AI comments re NAC

NDSC comments NAEP School Survey 2021

NDSC questions for Sec of Ed nominee Cardona hearing

Recommendations to the Biden U. S. Department of Education Transition Team

2021 Advocacy Info on COVID-19 Education Funds

Letter on Eskelsen Garcia Ed Sec nomination 12 16 20

ASC Parent Guide to School Reopening

NDSC SPP-APR Comments 8-5-20

NDSC CARES Act Equitable Services Comments.07.20.20

OSEP Dispute Resolution QA Part B- NDRN summary

NDSC Paperwork Reduction Pilot Comments

NDSC & Advocacy Institute info on CARES funding for SWD

NDSC comments on SPP & APR 4-20-20

Analysis of IDEA Waiver Requests

State LRE data for 2018-19

NDSC Policy Brief on Compensatory Education for Students with Disabilities 5-26-22

NDSC and Think College Comments on Title IX Regulations 9-12-22

NDSC Comments on Department of Education IDEA Determinations 9-23-22

TIES- Summary of articles on inclusion outcomes final 10-21-22

Letter to Congress on Banning Electrical Stimulation Devices 12-2-22

NDSC Comments to HELP Committee on P.L. 107-279 4-17-23

Parent briefs from the TIES Center, co-authored by Ricki Sabia
TIES Brief #1          TIES Brief #2          TIES Brief #3

IDEA Response to NDSC

NDSC comments on Annual Determinations 08-15-19

Joint Statement on Maintaining the Least Restrictive Environment Requirements

NDSC-IDEA-Implementation-Study-Comments-6-11-19

NDSC-Results-Driven-Accountability-Brief-5-20-19

First Circuit FAPE Amicus Brief

IQ-Testing-Brief

State-defined.Alternate.Diploma.Tips.for.Advocates

2017-10-05 Endrew – Amicus (as filed)

ESSA State Plan Review Guide & Advocacy Tips – June 2017 (by NDSC and The Advocacy Institute)

RM Former Officials et al amicus brief – as filed 10 30 17

ESSA-LEA advocacy 5-1-17

Analysis of Draft ESSA State Plans (by NDSC and The Advocacy Institute)
Click here to get the most updated plans for each state

ESSA State Plan Advocacy Guide

Topics for Non-Regulatory ESSA Guidance 5-17-16

Four Advocacy Tips For ESSA Implementation 2.11.16

Top 5 Things to Know about ESSA for IEP Meetings

ESSA FAQs and IEP Tips

Elementary and Secondary Education Act Summary 2001-2014

Postsecondary Education
Employment
Medicaid, Long Term Services & Supports, Health Care, and Social Security
Financial Security
Housing & Transportation
Miscellaneous