2013 NDSS Buddy Walk® on Washington
The NDSS Buddy Walk® on Washington is an annual two-day advocacy conference that brings the Down syndrome community together to advocate for legislative priorities that impact the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families. Advocates meet with members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill to advance education, research and healthcare for people with Down syndrome.
The 2013 Buddy Walk® on Washington will be held on March 13 & 14 in Washington, DC.
Registration
Registration for the 2013 Buddy Walk® on Washington is now closed. Thank you to everyone who registered! We look forward to seeing you there.
Hotel & Location Information
The Buddy Walk® on Washington training session will be held at the L’Enfant Plaza Hotel (480 L’Enfant Plaza Hotel SW Washington, DC 20024).
Please note: Our room block at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel is full.
We have reserved an additional room block at the Capitol Skyline Hotel located at 10 'I' Street SW Washington, DC 20024. Please call (202) 488-7500 and reserve your room under our group # 4875 or the National Down Syndrome Society.
Any questions, please email NDSS VP of Advocacy & Affiliate Relations Sara Weir at sweir@ndss.org.
Advocacy Training - March 13, 2013
Our NDSS advocacy training session is an opportunity to learn from NDSS about our key priorities for the 2013 Buddy Walk® on Washington. You will have the opportunity to hear presentations on the key “asks”, participate in role play sessions with your state delegations, and network with affiliates and advocates across the country. We strongly encourage all attendees participate in the advocacy training session from 3:00 -6:00 PM on March 13.
Buddy Walk® on Washington schedule
Wednesday, March 13, L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Registration
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Self-Advocates Speak Out - an exclusive event for all self-advocates hosted by NDSS Self-Advocate Advisory Board
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM - Buddy Walk® on Washington Advocacy Training
- NDSS Host Welcome Address
- Overview of 2012 Legislative Agenda & Asks
- Advocate Role Playing
- State Practice session
- Q&A session
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - NDSS Awards Dinner & Celebration (Renoit/Monet Ballrooms)
Thursday, March 14, Capitol Hill
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM Depart Hotel (via Metro) for Capitol Hill (NDSS will provide metro cards)
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM - NDSS Capitol Members of Congress Breakfast Reception
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Capitol Hill Visits (Meetings will be scheduled for each advocate)
Scheduling Your Congressional Visits
This year, we are working with Soapbox Consulting to schedule your Congressional meetings for you. All participants will recieve their final Congressional schedule during the advocacy training on March 13. If you have any questions about your schedule, please contact NDSS VP of Advocacy & Affiliate Relations Sara Weir at sweir@ndss.org.
Buddy Walk® on Washington & Self-Advocates
Self-advocate participants of the Buddy Walk® on Washington are invited to join the NDSS Self-Advocate Advisory Board for a panel discussion and Q&A at 2:00 pm on March 13 (before our advocacy training). The Board will share their expertise as seasoned self-advocates in this presentation for self-advocates by self-advocates. Please note, this event is for self-advocates only.
Each self-advocate should make a brief one-page bio (see template) to be left at all your congressional visits, so bring at least five copies with you. This is a great way to leave an impression - even on people you don’t meet in person! Bios should include a photo, contact information, a few sentences about yourself (where you work, go to school, interests), why you have come to the Buddy Walk® on Washington, how the ABLE Act will impact you and your family, and an ask to cosponsor.
For more information, please contact NDSS Director of Educational Programming Vanessa Quick at vquick@ndss.org.
Advocacy Training Webinars
NDSS facilitates several advocacy training webinars to help prepare you for your advocacy experience, what to expect on Capitol Hill, and discuss the 2013 key legislative priorities. You can find the slides from the first webinar, Buddy Walk® on Washington 101 – Everything You Need to Know, here.
You can find the slides from the second webinar, Buddy Walk® on Washington 201 – Ins & Outs of the NDSS 2013 Legislative Agenda/Asks, here and the video, here.
Getting Around Washington
For more information, please contact NDSS VP of Advocacy & Affiliate Relations Sara Weir at sweir@ndss.org.