Please join NDSS and D.A.D.S. National for our May webinar, “How You Can Help Us Pass the ABLE Act Today”
Tuesday, May 22nd @ 7 PM EST
Click here to register for the webinar
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (S. 1872/HR 3423), when passed into law, will provide individuals with Down syndrome and their families the same types of flexible savings tools that all other Americans have through college savings accounts, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The Down syndrome community has a real chance at getting the ABLE Act signed into law this year but we still need your help!
Please join us for this webinar and learn how you can do your part as an advocate and Down syndrome organization to help NDSS, D.A.D.S. National, and many more organizations pass this important bill. Your participation in this webinar will prepare you with the following:
1) Understand the importance of the ABLE Act for the Down syndrome community
2) Learn three actions you can do right now to help us pass the ABLE Act
3) Learn you can encourage others to act to pass the ABLE Act
Feel free to share this email with anyone you feel may be interested in the presentation.
Webinar Speakers:
Steve Beck, Board Member, NDSS; Vice President, Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia
Steve has worked on the ABLE Act for over five years over three Congresses. Beck is leading a national effort of more than ten national organizations to pass the ABLE Act into law. Beck is the father of 12 and 14 year old daughters, Natalie and Mary Rose. 10 year old Natalie has Down syndrome.
Joe Meares, Chair, D.A.D.S. National
Joe is an involved (and outnumbered) father of four girls. The youngest, Peyton, 14, has Down syndrome. Meares believes certain responsibilities naturally fall on the shoulders of fathers and advocacy IS one of those responsibilities. Meares organized the first D.A.D.S. meeting in 2002 and anticipates reaching 60 D.A.D.S. groups in 2012; all built on support, fellowship and action.
Sara Hart Weir, Vice President, Advocacy & Affiliate Relations, NDSS
Sara represents NDSS on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Weir also leads the work of the NDSS advocacy and affiliate program. Sara’s passion of advocating for all people with Down syndrome and their families stems from her friendship with a young woman from Kansas.
Darin Yoder, National Public Policy Advisor, D.A.D.S. National
Darin serves at the D.A.D.S. National public policy advisor. Yoder is also the Executive Director of one of the most progressive agencies in the United States serving people with Developmental Disabilities. Darin is from Syracuse, New York and lives with his wife, Amy, and three of their five children. Darin’s two youngest children, CJ, 13, and Grace, 10, have Down syndrome.
For more information about the ABLE Act, please use the following resources:
- ABLE Act Action Alert
- ABLE Act one-pager
- The ABLE Act – The 112th Congress
- ABLE Act Gains Support from 49 National, State, and Local Advocacy Organizations
Contact Vanessa Quick, Manager of Education & Programs, at vquick@ndss.org or 212-763-4364 or Sara Weir, Vice President, Advocacy & Affiliate Relations, at sweir@ndss.org or 202-680-8867, with any questions about the webinar.