Mission Moment
with NDSC Executive Director Jordan Kough
Early Bird Pricing Extended through June 1st
NDSC has decided to extend Early Bird registration pricing through June 1st, when registration closes. This decision was made in an effort to offset the high cost of flights and hotels. We hope this change will allow our families to make the decision that is right for them. If you or your family have any questions regarding this change, please let us know.
US Department of Education OSEP Director Valerie C. Williams to Speak At 50th Annual National Down Syndrome Congress Convention
Valerie C. Williams, Director of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), will present at the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) plenary convention to be held on June 24 in New Orleans. Director Williams, formerly the NDSC Vice President, is the parent of a son with Down syndrome and has a distinguished career in senior positions in government and non-profit organizations as well as working with Members of Congress and staff on Capitol Hill.
Mission Moment
with NDSC Executive Director Jordan Kough
Donate to prioritize people with Down syndrome. Your gift will help ensure that NDSC’s top Down syndrome self-advocates are headline sponsors of the 2022 convention.
Disability Scoop Feature: CDC, WHO Criticized for Perpetuating Down Syndrome ‘Misinformation’
Congress Passes Spending Package
Nearly halfway through the fiscal year, Congress has finally passed, and President Biden has signed, a $1.5 Trillion omnibus spending package for the fiscal year 2022, as well as a four-day stopgap measure (continuing resolution) extending current funding levels through March 15 to ensure there’s no government shutdown. Although a $22.5 billion measure to provide more COVID relief was removed last-minute over disputes regarding how it would be funded, the appropriations package does include increases for special education, respite care, and home and community-based services. Some noteworthy increases include:
Mission Moment
with NDSC Executive Director Jordan Kough
The NDSC Statement Regarding the Situation in Ukraine
Mission Moment
On January 3, NDSC welcomed Jordan Kough as our new Executive Director. Jordan has had a busy few weeks working with the Board of Directors and staff and meeting with other leaders in the community. Hear from Jordan in his first NDSC Mission Moment.
Looking Toward Lagniappe in the Big East
Mission Moment
Over the last few months, our staff has been working harder than ever to support your family with the critical information
and advocacy you need. Last week, in conjunction with our national partners, we released the third iteration of our Q&A on COVID-19 and Down syndrome in both English and Spanish. We have increased our virtual learning opportunities to prepare parents for uncertain times – most recently, a webinar to help parents navigate back-to-school options without unintentionally voiding their child’s IDEA rights. We are developing more free webinars, as well as a low-cost Fall Learning Series and virtual Educators Conference. Our Policy Team is working hard on COVID-related issues ranging from financial remedies for self-advocates to educational protections for children with IEPs.
Mission Moment
with Executive Director David Tolleson
Disability rights are civil rights. As an organization that promotes equal opportunity, access and treatment for all people, the NDSC stands with the Black community in rejecting the systemic racism in our society. We also recognize that, as an organization, we have fallen short in our outreach to underserved communities and pledge to do better.
As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We all have a role to play, both in rejecting injustice and in finding solutions. To that end, NDSC will host a Town Hall on Race Relations: How do we all do better?, Monday, June 15th, at 7:00 PM ET. I hope you will join us as we listen, learn and explore actions that will make a difference in our organization and beyond.As our community knows, inclusion means breaking down barriers and welcoming everyone. We’re better all together and all together better.