March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAKING CONNECTIONS NORTH TARRANT

Saturday, February 22, 2025
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Medicaid Waivers, Social Security, Guardianship/Supported Decision-Making, Behavioral Health, Transition & Employment Services, College Programs and more
EVENT DETAILS

Dallas-Fort Worth VisionWalk

Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, 9:00 AM (CST)
Since its inception in the Spring of 2006, VisionWalk has raised over $71 million to fund sight-saving research. Join your VisionWalk community! Together, we step closer to fighting blinding diseases.
EVENT DETAILS

Empowerment Starts Here

April 11-12, 2025
Levitt Pavilion, a vibrant hub for culture in Arlington, will host the Empower Challenge Festival—an exciting event designed for participants of all ages. Everyone is invited to join in and discover the mission and impact of Autism Speaks through a range of interactive activities.

BEST BUDDIES FRIENDSHIP WALK

April 12, 2025
The Best Buddies Friendship Walk is the leading walk in the country supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (also known as IDD). Join 50,000 participants at 80 Walks across the globe to support the Best Buddies programs in schools, workplaces, and communities. You’ll be making the world more welcoming to people with IDD — one friendship, one job, and one life-changing connection at a time

GiGi's Educator Symposium

Saturday, March 8, 2025
8-12:45 PT / 9-1:45 MT / 10-2:45 CT / 11-3:45 ET
Virtual Presentation
GiGi’s Playhouse is the ONLY international network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers created to provide FREE, life-changing therapeutic and educational programs for all ages of development and for the unique needs of individuals with Down syndrome.
EVENT DETAILS

Racing 3.2.1

Join us on March 21, 2025, to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with our 9th annual virtual Racing for 3.21 event! You can run, walk, bike, hike, swim, or anything else for 3.21 miles at any time, any place, and at any pace. We have registrations for everyone and every level!   
EVENT DETAILS

runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend

Thursday, Apr 03, 2025 - Sunday, Apr 06, 2025
All runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend races registered through #TeamNDSS require a $50 registration fee per race except for the Springtime Surprise Challenge, which is a $100 registration fee per race. The registration fee is due at the time of registration and does not count toward your fundraising total. 
EVENT DETAILS

Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris

Sunday, Apr 13, 2025
NDSS has been chosen as an official charity partner for the first time and we are thrilled to be part of the marathon in the most beautiful city in the world!
Run 26.2 miles with over 50,000 athletes from 110 countries. Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris is one of the biggest marathons in the world, second only to the TCS New York City Marathon. 

Independence Dragon Boat Regatta

Date: June 7, 2025 
Location: Philadelphia, PA 
Please complete the application form with your participant information to be considered for the NDSS Dragon Boat Team. Upon review and acceptance, you will receive the Team NDSS registration link and agreement to the fundraising commitment. You will submit payment of your non-refundable registration fee through the link provided.
EVENT DETAILS

GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge

The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge is a 5k fun run, 1-mile walk, or other fitness format — that brings people together to raise awareness, acknowledge, and support the challenges in the Down syndrome community.
EVENT DETAILS

NYC Buddy Walk and Times Square Video

Since 1995, the Buddy Walk® has been the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome in the United States. It is also the world’s most widely recognized public awareness program for the Down syndrome community. The flagship New York City Buddy Walk® attracts participants from coast to coast each year.
Save the Date for our 2025 New York City Buddy Walk and Times Square Video Presentation- September 6, 2025, in New York City!
EVENT DETAILS

Chicago Marathon

Sunday, Oct 12, 2025
Join #TeamNDSS for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon!  
Come run one of the largest and most exciting marathons in the world. With over 45,000 runners, hundreds of thousands of spectators, and pancake-flat course, it is also one of the fastest courses in the world. 
EVENT DETAILS

2025 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

Thursday, Oct 23, 2025 - Sunday, Oct 26, 2025
Run for Down Syndrome and Add Gratitude to Your Miles!
With your commitment to participate in the 2025 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, you will be helping to support and share our mission to empower individuals with Down syndrome and their families by driving policy change, providing resources, engaging with local communities, and shifting public perceptions.
EVENT DETAILS

GIGI'S ANNUAL LEADERSHIP

Save the Date for 2025:  November 5-9
Renaissance Convention Center Hotel
Schaumburg, IL 60173
EVENT DETAILS

50th Annual Marine Corps Marathon

Sunday, Oct 26, 2025
With your commitment to participate in the 2025 Marine Corps Marathon, you will be helping to support and share our mission of empowering individuals with Down syndrome and their families by driving policy change, providing resources, engaging with local communities, and shifting public perceptions.
EVENT DETAILS

TCS New York City Marathon

Sunday, Nov 02, 2025
NDSS has been chosen as an official charity partner for the sixth time, and we are thrilled to be part of the world’s largest marathon!
Run 26.2 with over 50,000 athletes from all 50 states and more than 140 countries. The marathon takes you through all 5 boroughs of New York City with over 1,000,000 spectators cheering you on.

2026 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend

Thursday, Jan 08, 2026 - Sunday, Jan 11, 2026
Do you want to run in the most magical place on Earth with #TeamNDSS? If you are interested in running in support of NDSS and the Down syndrome community, apply today in hopes that you’ll get your chance to make a difference by running in the 2026 Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend presented by State Farm!  
EVENT DETAILS