Welcome to our Advocacy Training and Resources Center, your go-to destination for building advocacy skills and taking action. Whether you're new to advocacy or a seasoned champion, we offer tools, guides, and training to help you make an impact. Explore resources tailored to empower self-advocates, families, and professionals working for disability rights and inclusion.
NDSC Advocacy Resources
Basic Government Processes
Self-Advocate (SA) One-Pagers
- SA One-Pager Template
- SA One-Pager Examples
Additional Advocacy Resource Documents
- Creating an Elevator Speech Template
- NDSC Advocacy Resource List
- State Advocacy Engagement Plan
- Ten Tips for Giving Effective Testimony
- NDSC Policy & Advocacy Toolkit for Self-Advocates
NDSC Advocacy Training Boot Camp
The NDSC Advocacy Training Boot Camp (ATBC), held at the annual NDSC Convention, helps parents, professionals, and self-advocates at all levels build their advocacy skills and confidence. Learn how advocacy works, hear real stories from experienced advocates, and pick up practical tips to engage with legislators effectively.
8th Annual Advocacy Training Boot Camp
- Engaging Policy Makers with Your Story
- Jawanda Mast, NDSC Grassroots Advocacy Manager - Kansas
- Hannah LaCour, NDSC Board Member, Self-Advocate, & NDAC Member - Louisiana
- Empowering Advocacy: Harnessing AI for Impact
- Julie Gerhart Rothholz, Parent Advocate & NDAC member - Pennsylvania
- Evan Rothholz, Self-Advocate & NDAC Member - Pennsylvania
- Enabling Connections: How you can build and sustain relationships with elected officials
- Tanya Chavez, Program Director, Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee
- Five Ways to Engage Diverse Populations
- Magaly Diaz, NDSC Multicultural Coordinator - Texas
- Crystal Lotterberry, Co-Founder/Vice President at Black Down Syndrome Association, Parent & NDAC Member - Texas
- Using Social Media to Advocate for People with Disabilities
- Jillian Benfield, Author, Parent, & NDAC Member - Florida
- Next Steps: Q&A
- Heather Sachs, NDSC Policy & Advocacy Co-Director - Maryland
7th Annual Advocacy Training Boot Camp
- Engaging Policy Makers with Your Story
- Jawanda Mast
- Jessie Smart
- The Nuts and Bolts of State Advocacy
- Adrian Forsythe
- Liz Zogby
- Engaging People of Color in Policy Advocacy
- Brandicus Coleman
- Steve Freeman
- Pivot: Seizing the Opportunity
- Cindy Liu
- Kelly Kulzer Reyes
- State Advocacy Case Study
- Jon Meyers
- Next Steps: Q&A
- Heather Sachs
Policy Subject Areas
Education - K-12
- NDSC Statement Condemning the Dismantling of the U.S. Dept. of Education
- House Oversight Committee Hearing Request: Impact of Dept. of Education Firings
- 60+ National Organizations Request Senate Oversight Hearing
- Department of Education Condemned for Ending Support for Students with Disabilities
- Why Protecting IDEA and the U.S. Department of Education is Essential for Students with Disabilities
- Policy Brief #1: What You Need to Know About State Alternate Assessment
- Policy Brief #2: Top 5 Things to Know About the Every Student Succeeds Act for IEP Meetings
- Policy Brief #3: ESSA FAQs & IEP Tips
- Policy Brief #4: Potential Impact of Proposed Vouchers
- Policy Brief #5: Assistive Technology (AT) Devices and Services
- TIES Brief #1
- TIES Brief #2
- TIES Brief #3
- All TIES Briefs
Education - Postsecondary
- Addressing the Policy Tangle Brief
- National Down Syndrome Congress Commends New U.S. Department of Education Transition Guidance
Employment
Coming soon!
Financial Security
Coming soon!
Guardianship & Supported Decision-Making
Housing & Transportation
Coming Soon!
Medicaid/Home & Community-Based Services (HCBS)
- Medicaid FAQ
- NDSC Medicaid Brief: What the Reconciliation Bill Means for People with Down Syndrome
- DS Groups Sign-On Letter on Reconciliation Bill
- Unintended Consequences: How the Budget Reconciliation Bill Risks Harming People with Down Syndrome
Social Security
Coming Soon!
Voting and Elections
Coming soon!
