National Down Syndrome Society

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.

Join us on May 28 at 6 PM ET by registering at https://ndss.org/ndss-webinars

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

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 www.forbes.com/lists/accessibility

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.

🚨 Find an NDSS scholarship that's right for you or someone you know and 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 at ndss.org/scholarships.

🚣‍♂️ 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 [email protected] 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.”

Register for free at https://ndss.org/ndss-webinars

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 this community.

Didn’t get to join us in person but still want to use your voice and make a difference? Visit ndss.org/ndss-action-alerts to learn about the policies we advocated for on Capitol Hill and write to your members of Congress about them!

The National Down Syndrome Society Bright Future Fund Scholarship is here to support individuals with Down syndrome as they pursue college and job training. Whether you’re taking the next step in post-secondary education or building new job skills, this opportunity is for YOU!

Applications will close on May 22nd at 11:59 PM. Apply at https://ndss.org/bright-future-fund