North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance

05/30/2026

We know "a lot depends on a helping hand from a few good friends" and hope you'll joins us at this year's 2026 NCDSA Buddy Walk!

Whether you register as a team captain, join a team, become a sponsor, or make a one-time donation, your contribution helps build brighter futures and stronger communities across the state.

Teams that register by June 30th will get a free:
- custom team QR code yard sign (new teams)
- Walk of Fame route marker (returning teams)

Learn more and register at https://charity.pledgeit.org/NCDSABuddyWalk

05/28/2026

Thank you to Youth Growth Stock Trust for your generous support, which allowed us to hire a Fayetteville Regional Coordinator to further advance our programming in the area. The new coordinator will facilitate local programs, help new families, and connect existing families to local resources! Thank you to United Way of Cumberland County's Youth Growth Stock Trust!

05/28/2026

Please join is in thanking Knights of Columbus Council 9709 for their generous contribution in supporting our mission: To empower, connect, and support the lifespan of individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community through outreach, advocacy, and education in North Carolina.

05/27/2026

Join us in wishing Assistant Director and outreach and advocacy extraordinaire Christy a very happy birthday! We are so grateful for all of the passion you pour in to all that you do!

We hope your day is filled with happiness, laughter, and coffee at exactly the right temperature all day long ☕!

05/26/2026

Last week was a busy one for our organization! 😅😮‍💨

Assistant Director Christy presented two sessions with First Call Committee member Sarah Buesching at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute’s 2026 International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute. Sarah and Christy — along with Kim Tizzard of the Autism Society of NC — were part of a parent panel sharing their experiences with finding their inclusion North Star. The next day, they teamed up with NCDSA Education and Inclusion Specialist BetsyJohn Lane and therapists to discuss collaborations between families and specialists.

Executive Director Amy attended the Triangle Business Journal’s Empowered Women’s Forum to represent us as TBJ’s nonprofit of the year!

Autism Society of North Carolina

05/25/2026

Don’t forget, the registration deadline for accessing the aquatic area during the annual NCDSA Family Picnic is June 2nd! If you and your family plan to join in the water fun, be sure to register this week!

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ncdsafamilypicnic/event/ncdsafamilypicnic2026/?fbclid=IwZnRzaASBWRxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEePj6cMlYvE5tCNxwBNm2jw_NNWgUgnS5srlQnWBVjAIvCXgRUuN3c9nGrWLI_aem_Bp9_OzLGmqNfKm3KDoTtVw&utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo0jyl0r6s

Join us for our annual picnic at the Wake Forest Community House and pool! This will be a potluck event—families with last names A–M are asked to bring a side dish, and N–Z to bring a dessert. NCDSA will provide the main dish.

05/21/2026

Come along with NCDSA Program Coordinator, Micah, as she makes the magic happen for one of our mom’s events! NCDSA provides monthly programming events for the entire family, including individuals with Down syndrome, their parents, caregivers and siblings! We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events!

05/20/2026

Thanks to the hard work of our Advocacy Champs and our friends at the National Down Syndrome Society, two of our federal legislators representing NC have agreed to cosponsor bills that benefit our community!

Congresswoman Deborah Ross will cosponsor the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act and Senator Ted Budd will cosponsor the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Antidiscrimination Act.

🇺🇸 The SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act will raise the asset limits on our loved ones before they lose benefits. The current asset limit of $2,000 (and $3,000 for couples) was set in 1984. 🤯

🇺🇸 The Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Antidiscrimination Act will protect people with Down syndrome from being denied vital organ transplants because of their extra chromosome.

We’re still talking with our federal and state representatives—just had another meeting today!—so there’s more work to do. 💪

If you have Down syndrome or your child/grandchild/sibling does and you want to learn more about public policies that impact people with Ds and opportunities to advocate for them, email christy@ncdsalliance.org to join NCDSA Advocacy Champs.