Dear NDSC Friends, Families, and Supporters,
Tomorrow marks one year since I began my role as the Executive Director of the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC). Saying I hit the ground running would be an understatement. I attended the NDSC Convention last July in Phoenix and cherished the opportunity to connect with many families, speakers, volunteers, thought leaders, and supporters of the NDSC in just a few days. While there, I communicated a theme for the year: “Together, we wanted to be better to do better.”
As I reflect on the year, here are just a few ways in which NDSC has improved, positioning us to perform even better as we strive to fulfill our mission. From an operational perspective, we have revamped our accounting processes, upgraded our insurance coverage, updated our bylaws, enhanced our technological systems, and closed our Atlanta office. This has allowed us to save significant amounts of money each month as we transition to a remote operation with staff members located across the country. Additionally, coming soon, you will see a new NDSC WEBSITE! If you’re in Dallas for the Convention, you’ll get a sneak peek.
I couldn’t be more pleased with how our staff team has developed over the past year. We’ve made several significant hires, including a new Convention Director and Administrative Coordinator, to name a few. Our Policy Team, which brings decades of collective experience and knowledge, stands out as one of NDSC’s greatest strengths. I have focused on supporting and learning from this team, as we are fortunate to have them leading our policy and advocacy efforts. Regarding our staff culture, we have fostered a spirit of mutual respect, a willingness to embrace new ideas, collaboration, adaptability, passion for our mission, and a cohesion that will position us well as we move forward in the coming years.
In just over a month, we will head to Dallas for our Annual Convention. Our numbers have increased since last year, and planning is progressing well for the various aspects that contribute to the Convention. This event is the highlight of the year for NDSC and sets the stage for the next year of impact as we provide information, advocacy, and support concerning all aspects of life for individuals with Down syndrome and those who support them.
The last major positive development I want to highlight in this note is the merger of another nonprofit organization, the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action (DSAIA), with the operations of the NDSC. DSAIA’s mission has been to create a network of Down syndrome organizations and empower them with resources to better serve their communities. Our Board and Staff Team are excited about this opportunity, as it will enhance our connections and enable us to serve local affiliates and, indirectly, the families they support in a meaningful way. We recently hired a DSAIA Program Coordinator to lead these efforts, who will start next Monday. Follow NDSC in the coming days to stay updated on this initiative.
One year into my role as Executive Director, I feel even more energized about our future, the lives we will touch, and the greater impact we will have in the years to come. If you have supported us financially in the past, we would like to express our sincere gratitude. If you would like to make a gift to support NDSC in 2025, you can easily do so by clicking the DONATE button below. If you would like to schedule a meeting with me to discuss our needs and opportunities in the coming years, please feel free to email me at jim@ndsccenter.org, and we can arrange a time on the calendar.
With Appreciation,
Jim Hudson
NDSC Executive Director