National Down Syndrome Society

?? Meet this year’s Brandon Gruber Scholarship recipients: Joel Jamensky and Blake Edwards! The Gruber family is excited to support these talented individuals as they chase their dreams in the arts. ?? Joel, the creative mind behind Art By J Positive, will use his scholarship to stock up on supplies and keep making a positive impact through his visual art. ?? Blake is one step closer to her dream of opening her own Arts Academy! Thanks to this scholarship, she’ll continue her mentorship with a dance studio owner and work towards obtaining her business license. Congratulations to Joel and Blake - your passion is inspiring!

Are you familiar with Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD)? ?? It's an emerging condition where individuals rapidly lose language, communication abilities, and developmental skills over a period of weeks to months without a clear cause. ???? Join our webinar with Dr. Santoro on Tuesday, September 17 at 7 PM ET to learn the signs and symptoms of DSRD, the recommended workup for the condition, and treatment options. ?? The webinar will be recorded and sent out to registrants. Register at https://lnkd.in/dugCPybM. #DownSyndromeRegressionDisorder #DownSyndrome #Webinar

Mark your calendars and join us for next year's NYC Buddy Walk? on September 6, 2025! ?? ?? The applications to submit a photo for the Times Square Video presentation will open spring 2025! Keep an eye on our social media and sign up for our newsletter at the link below to make sure you don't miss the application deadline. ndss.org/ndss-newsletter

Happy disability voting rights week! Are YOU registered to vote?! Individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities have the right to vote for their candidates of choice in local, state, and federal elections. Check out our voting resources at the link below and don't forget to register to vote before your state's voter registration deadline. The votes of the disability community matter! ndss.org/voting-resources #DisabilityVotes #DisabilityVotingRightsWeek

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Voya Financial (Voya Cares) for being the Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 NYC Buddy Walk?. ?? Your support was instrumental in making this event a success and in celebrating individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our community! ????

Yesterday, NDSS team members and members of the Down syndrome community attended a reception in honor of the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We are grateful for the White House for including individuals with Down syndrome in this celebration.

We’ll be reliving the 30th NYC Buddy Walk until it’s time for the next one! ?? Thank you, again, to our community that came out to educate, advocate, and celebrate with us and to everyone who helped make this day a reality. ?? Don’t forget to mark your calendars for next year’s NYC Buddy Walk on September 6, 2025! ?? A huge thank you to our incredible videographer, Ryan Gallagher! We love having these videos to remember the weekend. Check out Ryan’s work at www.ryangallagherphoto.com.

Educate | Advocate | Celebrate ???? THANK YOU to the over 2,500 of you who showed up to the 30th NYC Buddy Walk to do just that! It is always an impactful and FUN time when we celebrate with each other. Let’s keep this party going! ?? We’re headed to the Mets game today and are so close to hitting our fundraising goal. Donate $30 or more at the link below in honor of our 30th NYC Buddy Walk! Your support helps make this incredible event a reality year after year. ?? https://lnkd.in/extadCXM

Don't miss your chance to attend an NDSS event while we're on the west coast! ?? ?? The NDSS Adult Summit will provide information and practical resources for adults with Down syndrome, families, caregivers, and professionals on topics like financial wellness, Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, mental health, and more! ?? A modified track, ideal for teens and adults with Down syndrome and others who prefer an environment with more guided supports, accommodations, and experiential learning opportunities will be provided. Register at ndss.org/adult-summit. #DownSyndrome #California

?? Did you know that NDSS & Voya Cares? have teamed up to give two individuals with Down syndrome $10,000 grants to start their own businesses or grow their companies? The deadline to apply has been EXTENDED to Friday, September 6 at 11:59 PM ET! ?? Apply at https://lnkd.in/e_Bnamw2!