Advocacy Committee Update May

May 5, 2025 -- An update from The Chair of Advocacy for The Rio Grande Down Syndrome Society and Ambassador to New Mexico for The National Down Syndrome Society.

On April 30th, Aleeya Strober and I had the honor of going to represent New Mexico at Capital Hill with The National Down Syndrome Society.  Our day consisted of meeting with state representatives and advocating on the following legislative priorities on a federal level:

1. Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act.
2.  Ensuring Nationwide Access to a Better Life Experience.
3.  Protecting and Strengthening Medicaid
4.  Protecting Special Education.
5.  Inclusion of the Down Syndrome Community in Alzheimer's Disease
Initiatives.
6.  Comprehensive Public Benefits Reform for the Disability Community.

Some of the local and personal issues we had the opportunity to bring to our local representatives attention were:

1.  Strengthening special education and training/support for staff and
teachers.
2.  The importance of maintaining medicaid.
3.  Continuing the discussion and need for reform on seclusion and restraint practices to be one of de-escalation and understanding.

Aleeya is already growing to be an incredible self advocate and enjoyed her time in DC.

We were so fortunate to be joined by others from Torreon, New Mexico of the Navajo Nation.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or requests for action.  In the meantime, we are still building our committee so please reach out if you're interested.

Best,
Lena Armstrong-Strober
Advocacy@rgdsn.org