In April, leaders from LuMind IDSC joined with 350 self-advocates, caregivers, and professionals to meet with federal legislators in a national, unified Day of Advocacy coordinated by the National Down Syndrome Society.
The Massachusetts contingent – 20 people in all – had meetings with congressional staffers, members of Congress, and aides from both Senator Warren and Senator Markey’s offices. Our partners at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress did outstanding work in arranging the meetings and preparing families to advocate for policies that will deeply impact the lives of people with Down syndrome.
The topics covered at those meetings included these key priorities:
1. Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (S. 533/H.R. 1263)
2. National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization (S. 133/H.R. 619)
3. Increased Funding for the INCLUDE Project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
4. Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act
Constituents meeting with Bella Edo, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Jim McGovern
Hampus Hillerstrom looking on as MDSC’s Matthew Cullen explains the community’s legislative priorities to Jessica Wong, from Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office.