You can help shape legislative change for people with Down syndrome and other disabilities! Join NDSS on Capitol Hill this April to amplify the voice of the Down syndrome community! The 2023 Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference, formerly known as the Buddy Walk® on Washington, is a two-day event (with optional pre-conference learning sessions on April 17) that will bring hundreds together to advocate for legislative priorities that impact the Down syndrome community.

NDSS is thrilled to be holding this conference in partnership with other national Down syndrome organizations, including Advocacy Partners, the National Down Syndrome Congress, and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.

Advocates from across the country will be gathering on Capitol Hill. Read on to learn why, and how, you should join us, too!

Alexander Bolden – Self-Advocate

“I’m excited about learning about the NDSS policy priorities and how I can bring my voice to support their mission, especially around civil rights and education. I want to learn how I can have a bigger impact and help to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome,” says Alexander Bolden, a 28-year-old self-advocate. “I’m looking forward to meeting other people who want these same things.”

When asked why he thinks it’s important for him and other self-advocates to attend, he shared, “Because representation matters. In the IDD community, you tend to hear a lot from parents and family members of people with Down syndrome. When those are the only voices being heard, I think that can sometimes feed into the stereotype that adults with Down syndrome are just big children who need to be spoken for. I have a voice and an opportunity to use it here, and I think that’s really important.”

Rosemary and Bob Wall, Parents to Andrew

Rosemary and Bob Wall know just how much of an impact advocacy can make. “No letter or written testimony is as effective as direct, in-person communication from a self-advocate with Down syndrome about the issues that matter to the Down syndrome community,” they shared. “When Andrew speaks, his knowledge, understanding, and passion is obvious to any listener.”

Having attended this conference numerous times in the past, they are looking forward to joining again this year. “We first attended this event in 2019 when our son Andrew was 25,” they said. “It was such an inspiring advocacy experience that we immediately registered when the 2023 Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference was announced. NDSS staff provided training and preparation for the legislative priorities before the day of in-person Capitol Hill visits to ensure that we felt well-versed in the important legislative initiatives we were asked to discuss. We were so proud to see how persuasive Andrew was in expressing his thoughts to the legislative staff members with whom we met and how obviously impressed with him they were. He felt empowered to discuss matters in which he has both experience and a personal stake, particularly in the area of competitive employment for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Moreover, he was entirely capable of engaging in the back-and-forth discussion required in a lobbying effort. We were there to support the conversation, but he led the way.”

Priya Solomon, Sibling

Priya Solomon will be attending the conference again this year with her family. When discussing why, she noted, “I want my brother to have the same opportunities as me. He is capable of making his own decisions…and I want people to know that.”

Having attended the event in the past, Priya said that what she enjoyed was that “there were other kids there, too,” and that she really enjoyed “taking the underground train between the House and Senate buildings!” She’s also looking forward to putting her past and future advocacy work into context. “I am learning about legislation in history class. It helps me understand how my voice contributes to a bill that’s made a law.”

Maureen Gallagher, Executive Director at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC)

Maureen Gallagher, Executive Director at MDSC, shares that attending the conference is important because “Elected officials need to understand this so they can help give people with Down syndrome the same opportunities that others have and that everyone deserves.” She continues, “Each year, we bring a delegation of 10 to 15 family members, including many self-advocates with Down syndrome, who share their personal stories and their hopes and dreams for the future with legislators. At this conference, we meet with lawmakers who make far-reaching policy decisions. We know that by making meaningful connections on Capitol Hill, we can play a concrete role in moving the needle for improved disability policy for our members and for others across the country.”

MDSC has been attending this conference for years. Maureen added that “MDSC has been proud to collaborate with NDSS on their national advocacy efforts for many years. We appreciate how NDSS keeps a pulse on critical national policies that will make a positive impact on the lives of people with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

Laura Green, DS-Ambassador

Laura Green is currently a DS-Ambassador with NDSS, where she engages in advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels on behalf of the Down syndrome community. “I am especially looking forward to connecting with self-advocates and their families from all over the country,” she said. “I love any opportunity to connect with people in our community and hear their experiences. We learn so much from each other and it’s empowering to be around people who are also passionate about advocacy.”

In discussing the role that advocacy plays, Laura shared that “To me, advocacy means using my voice to help amplify the voices of self-advocates about the matters most important to them. It’s about shining a light on the most major issues and letting people in power know we are all paying attention. It means standing up for my loved ones with Down syndrome so they can live in a more equal and inclusive world that allows them to live their fullest lives, with no limits.”

There’s still time for YOU to join NDSS, NDSC, GLOBAL, and others in D.C. this spring to use your voice and advocate with the Down syndrome community. Learn more and register today at www.ndss.org/DSAC.  See you on Capitol Hill!