Celebrate All Month Long:

• 3/7 through 3/21 Penn Station is once again hosting the Round Up for Down Syndrome campaign! ALL Penn Station locations participate! Grab a bite to eat and make a difference in the lives of people with Down syndrome. Customers will have the opportunity to round up their purchase! Additionally, Penn Station will provide a BOGO small sandwich coupon for a future visit to customers who round up $2 or more.
• 3/16 World Down Syndrome Day Sock Hop (Greenville): Join the NCDSA Greenville Community at a World Down Syndrome Day Sock Hop! Wear your craziest mismatched socks and come ready to boogie. Snacks and activities included.
• 3/21 Rock Your Socks: Every year on March 21, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. Show us how you celebrate by emailing communications@ncdsalliance.org
• 3/24 Paint the Zoo Yellow and Blue (North Carolina Zoo): Spend the day with your family and friends at the NC Zoo to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. Dress in Blue and Yellow to raise awareness for Down syndrome. NCDSA will be sponsoring one ticket for each person with Down syndrome. Additional tickets for family members are being sold at a discounted rate.

What to Expect:

• Sessions Presented in Spanish
• Full Day of Interactive Learning for Teens (16 and older) and Adults with Down Syndrome (including free registration)
• Breakout Sessions INTENTIONALLY Selected for Their Relevance to All Ages and Stages, Including:
• Sleep Disturbances in Individuals with Down Syndrome - An Overview
• Is It Sensory or Behavior and Can I Change It?
• Advocacy Skills Big and Small, Come Learn About them All!
• Supporting People with Down Syndrome in Living a Healthy Lifestyle
• Feeding Your Infant & Toddler with Down Syndrome: Advocacy and Action
• Finding a Dental Home: Strategies to Promote Positive Experiences for Children and Youth with Down Syndrome
• ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts

Conference Funding:

There are several resources to assist with the cost of attending the 2024 North Carolina Down Syndrome Conference:

• Conference Scholarship Application – deadline to apply Friday, March 15th
• North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) Jean Wolff-Rossi Fund for Participant Involvement Fund
• First in Families North Carolina (FIFNC)
• NC Innovations Waiver recipient family members may apply for Natural Support Education funding through their Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO)

Qualified charitable distributions allow eligible IRA owners up to $100,000 in tax-free gifts to charity

Did you know...?

Individual retirement arrangement (IRA) owners age 70½ or over can transfer up to $100,000 to charity (such as NCDSA) tax-free each year.

These transfers, known as qualified charitable distributions or QCDs, offer eligible older Americans a great way to easily give to charity before the end of the year. And, for those who are at least 73 years old, QCDs count toward the IRA owner's required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year."

NC Medicaid Accepting Federally-Facilitated Marketplace Eligibility Determinations - Effective Feb. 1, 2024

This change means NC residents who apply for Medicaid through the Federal Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) and are determined fully eligible for Medicaid by the FFM will no longer require an eligibility determination by the local Department of Social Services (DSS) caseworker.

Once NC Medicaid receives notification of eligibility, NC FAST will review the case to determine which full MAGI benefit program the individual qualifies for and will send the appropriate final notice of eligibility to the individual. 

NC Medicaid comenzó a aceptar las determinaciones de elegibilidad del mercado facilitado por el gobierno federal 1 de febrero 2024  

Este cambio significa que los residentes de NC que solicitan Medicaid a través del Mercado Federal (HealthCare.gov) y se determinan completamente elegibles para Medicaid por el FFM ya no requerirá una determinación de elegibilidad por parte del trabajador social del Departamento de Servicios Sociales (DSS) local.

Una vez que NC Medicaid reciba la notificación de elegibilidad, NC FAST revisará el caso para determinar para qué programa de beneficios completos de MAGI califica la persona y le enviará la notificación final de elegibilidad correspondiente. 

Infant Brain Imaging Study

Research Study on Down Syndrome & Alzheimer's Disease

Research Opportunity for People with Down Syndrome and Immune Skin Conditions

Research Opportunity to Investigate Potential Therapies for Down syndrome Regression Disorder

Save the Date 2024

• March 9 and May 11: Parent Mentor Training
• March 10: Sunday Funday Family Social
• March 24: 2024 World Down Syndrome Day at the NC Zoo
• April 27: 2024 North Carolina Down Syndrome Conference

The 2024 NCDSA Inclusion Gala is officially SOLD OUT, however there are still ways to participate and support fostering an inclusive future for individuals with Down syndrome!

• Join us virtually for the Silent Auction (live through Feb 24th at 9:30pm)!
• Purchase a Golden Ticket for your chance to choose one of five incredible destination adventures (less than 30 left)!
• Sponsor an NCDSA program!

Calling all NCDSA moms!

•  Help connect moms in our community!
•  Support your favorite local restaurant or business!
•  Find other NCDSA moms in your area!

We are looking for volunteers to host Moms Night Out events! It doesn't just have to be an evening event, daytime and weekend events are encouraged as well! 

Looking to get involved? Consider giving your time or expertise! We have in person and virtual opportunities available.

No commitment is too small!