10/13/2026
More than 200 advocates. 27 states. More than 100 Congressional meetings. One shared mission.
On September 29–30, advocates from across the country came to Washington, D.C., for the 2026 NDSC Down Syndrome Policy Summit. Self-advocates, families, and friends learned, connected, and took their stories to Capitol Hill.
After a day of policy briefings and advocacy training, participants headed to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and share personal stories about issues affecting people with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
The Policy Summit Day on Capitol Hill began with a Congressional Breakfast Reception in the beautiful Kennedy Caucus Room. Advocates heard from Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), as well as Senior Hill staff who shared perspectives on the importance of advocacy and engaging with Congress. Participants also had the opportunity to connect with Congressional staff and share their priorities.
The impact speaks for itself! Advocates held more than 100 Congressional meetings, with 60 self-advocates sharing their stories with nearly 60 House offices and 50 Senate offices across both political parties. Since the Summit, 10 Members of Congress have already cosponsored legislation supporting people with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
This is what grassroots advocacy looks like: people coming together, sharing their experiences, building relationships, and making their voices heard.
Thank you to everyone who participated and to our generous sponsors who helped make the Summit possible!
Couldn’t attend? Read about the experience from NDSC Policy & Advocacy Assistant Adrian Forsythe and explore the Summit presentation materials.
🔗 Read Adrian’s Insights: https://bit.ly/Adrians-Insights
Advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep showing up. Keep telling your story. Keep advocating.
