National Down Syndrome Society Promotes DS Acceptance

The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) was created by parent’s love – Barton and Betsy Goodwin, parents to Carson Goodwin who was born with Down syndrome in 1978 – but it has grown as one of the best resources for individuals with the genetic disorder as well as their family and friends. Established in 1979, the non-profit organization advocates for the promotion of the acceptance, value and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and, in the process, be able to provide them with a stronger voice in society.

The NDSS has several programs and projects for the achievement of its primary goal. Created in 2012, the DS-Ambassador program encourages individuals of all abilities to become volunteer advocates and liaisons between the organization and their congressional delegations. With stronger relationships between NDSS and the US legislators, the organization hopes to raise public awareness, education and advocacy for public policy solutions for the community.

Starting in 2014, the non-profit organization became a member of DS-Connect: The Down Syndrome Registry, which is hosted by the Down Syndrome Consortium and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a member, NDSS hopes to become an active participant in gaining a better understanding of the genetic disorder including new treatments, improved care practices, and increased knowledge about the health issues associated with it.

One of the most recent notable achievements of NDSS is the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act in 19 December 2014; the bill was its foremost legislative priority. The act will enable people with Down syndrome to live productive lives in their communities while also enjoying the benefits provided by private and public sector programs, such as Medicaid, private insurance, and beneficiary employment.

Today, NDSS has four pillars of programming, namely, the National Policy Center for legislation; the National Buddy Walk Program for honoring and celebrating people with Down Syndrome; the Public Awareness Initiatives for bringing positive presentations into the community; and the Community Programs for information dissemination.