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#JustEvolve #WorldDownSyndromeDay #WDSD26

Together, we can make a world like #Town21 a reality. 💪 Join NDSS as we fight for policy change, access to healthcare, fair pay, quality education, true inclusion, and more.

Visit ndss.org/town21 (link in bio) to help us drive meaningful change for the disability community. ✨ The world we dream of is the world we deserve.

Our negative assumptions about people with Down syndrome can lead us to treat them in such a way that these assumptions becomes reality. In sociology, this is called ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’. 👎

Let’s try to reverse the perspective. By having positive assumptions about people with Down syndrome, we can give them more opportunities at school, in the workplace, in sports and in social life. And maybe these assumptions will eventually become a fulfilling reality. 🙌 #AssumeThatICan

Join us this #WorldDownSyndromeDay in our efforts to #EndTheStereotypes by sharing this video from our partner @coordown! Head to the link in our bio for other ways that you can get involved in #WDSD24! 💙💛

People with Down syndrome, like everyone else, use behavior to communicate. When they can’t clearly express their needs, feelings, or discomfort, it may show up as behaviors that interrupt daily routines.

In this free webinar, Thaddeus J. Nestheide, PsyD, Bree Stepp, BCBA, COBA, and Amanda Steel, MA from the Timothy Freeman, MD, Center for Developmental Disabilities will offer parents, families, and caregivers a practical way to understand and respond to challenging behaviors. They will also share helpful tools and resources you can use along the way.

Comment "webinar" for the link to join us on May 28 at 6 PM ET.

Each year to kick of the NYC Buddy Walk, NDSS puts on the Times Square Video Presentation, where photos of 500 individuals with Down syndrome are displayed on two jumbotrons in the heart of Times Square!

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿! Applications close June 4 and applicants will be notified by July 8 if their photo has been selected or not. Find details and the application link at https://ndss.org/nyc-buddy-walk-tsv

On Tuesday, June 2 at 10 AM ET, NDSS is hosting a virtual meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s disease (DS-AD). 
 
You can:
1️⃣ Attend the meeting 

2️⃣ Submit comments before the meeting 

3️⃣ Participate during the meeting by answering poll questions, calling in with comments, or emailing responses to be read on air 
 
This meeting will give the FDA and other key decision makers the chance to hear directly form patients, their families, caregivers, and advocates about the symptoms of DS-AD, the impacts on daily lives, experience with current treatments, and hopes for future therapies. 
 
Drop a “🧠” in the comments for the link to get involved!

Thank you NBC4 Columbus (@nbc4i) for featuring Buddy Up Founding Athlete, Will Gibson, and his recognition from the National Down Syndrome Society (@ndssorg) 💙🎾

We are so proud of Will, Beth, and the impact our organization continues to make! 👏

#BuddyUpforLife #Downsyndrome #ExpectMore #Adaptiveprograms #Tennis

Exciting news! 💥 We are thrilled to announce that NDSS' Manager of Public Policy, Kayla McKeon, has made the @forbes Accessibility 200 list that honors her work as one of the biggest innovators and impact-makers in Accessibility!

We're so proud to see Kayla's fierce advocacy and unwavering dedication to the Down syndrome community recognized by Forbes for the second year in a row!

The list includes the top 200 global impact-makers in Accessibility-related fields like communication, mobility, education, software, consumer products, robotics, sports and recreation, travel, the workplace, entertainment, and more.

Read more at the link in our bio. #ForbesAccessibility200

NDSS is honored to support self-advocates with Down syndrome in pursuing their goals, whether it’s starting a business, continuing education, or following a personal passion.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 "𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽" for the link to find the scholarship that’s right for you or someone you know! 🚨 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟮!

🚣‍♂️ Paddles Up for Down Syndrome, NDSS’ Dragon Boat team, took home GOLD in their division at the Washington, D.C. Dragon Boat Festival yesterday!

Congratulations to our paddlers and THANK YOU to our incredible cheer squad!

🐉 We have two spots available for the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta in Philadelphia on June 6! Email Misty Adams at madams@ndss.org to claim the spots!

🚣‍♂️ Paddles Up for Down Syndrome, NDSS’ Dragon Boat team, took home GOLD in their division at the Washington, D.C. Dragon Boat Festival yesterday!

Congratulations to our paddlers and THANK YOU to our incredible cheer squad!

🐉 We have two spots available for the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta in Philadelphia on June 6! Email Misty Adams at madams@ndss.org to claim the spots!

🚣‍♂️ Paddles Up for Down Syndrome, NDSS’ Dragon Boat team, took home GOLD in their division at the Washington, D.C. Dragon Boat Festival yesterday!

Congratulations to our paddlers and THANK YOU to our incredible cheer squad!

🐉 We have two spots available for the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta in Philadelphia on June 6! Email Misty Adams at madams@ndss.org to claim the spots!

Join us on May 21 at 1 PM ET as Helen Genova, associate director of the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation, walks attendees through the web-based program, KF-Stride™.

🔵 This program is backed by research and designed to help teens and adults identify their personal strengths and express them to achieve their goals.

🔵 Created with neurodiverse learners in mind, the KF-Stride™ curricula cover a range of topics such as employment readiness and wellness. KF-Stride offers key advantages over existing programs, which have focused on fixing what someone is doing “wrong.” Instead, KF-Stride focuses on what someone is doing “right.”

Comment "webinar" and we'll send you the link to register for free!

The 2026 NDSS Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference concluded yesterday with 125 meetings on Capitol Hill to talk about policies impacting the Down syndrome community!

We’re so grateful to everyone who made this event possible, for attendees who showed up to help move the needle, and for everyone who took action on our policies priorities from home! We’re proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of the Down syndrome community.

Didn’t get to join us in person but still want to use your voice and make a difference? Comment “action” and we’ll send you a link to message your members of Congress about the policies we advocated for on Capitol Hill!

📸: @rebeccakouvasphotography

The 2026 NDSS Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference concluded yesterday with 125 meetings on Capitol Hill to talk about policies impacting the Down syndrome community!

We’re so grateful to everyone who made this event possible, for attendees who showed up to help move the needle, and for everyone who took action on our policies priorities from home! We’re proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of the Down syndrome community.

Didn’t get to join us in person but still want to use your voice and make a difference? Comment “action” and we’ll send you a link to message your members of Congress about the policies we advocated for on Capitol Hill!

📸: @rebeccakouvasphotography

The 2026 NDSS Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference concluded yesterday with 125 meetings on Capitol Hill to talk about policies impacting the Down syndrome community!

We’re so grateful to everyone who made this event possible, for attendees who showed up to help move the needle, and for everyone who took action on our policies priorities from home! We’re proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of the Down syndrome community.

Didn’t get to join us in person but still want to use your voice and make a difference? Comment “action” and we’ll send you a link to message your members of Congress about the policies we advocated for on Capitol Hill!

📸: @rebeccakouvasphotography

The 2026 NDSS Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference concluded yesterday with 125 meetings on Capitol Hill to talk about policies impacting the Down syndrome community!

We’re so grateful to everyone who made this event possible, for attendees who showed up to help move the needle, and for everyone who took action on our policies priorities from home! We’re proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of the Down syndrome community.

Didn’t get to join us in person but still want to use your voice and make a difference? Comment “action” and we’ll send you a link to message your members of Congress about the policies we advocated for on Capitol Hill!

📸: @rebeccakouvasphotography

The 2026 NDSS Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference concluded yesterday with 125 meetings on Capitol Hill to talk about policies impacting the Down syndrome community!

We’re so grateful to everyone who made this event possible, for attendees who showed up to help move the needle, and for everyone who took action on our policies priorities from home! We’re proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of the Down syndrome community.

Didn’t get to join us in person but still want to use your voice and make a difference? Comment “action” and we’ll send you a link to message your members of Congress about the policies we advocated for on Capitol Hill!

📸: @rebeccakouvasphotography