NDSS Holds First Post Pandemic Conference

The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) held its first Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference since 2019 in April. More than 350 advocates from across the country joined in for three days of connection and education on legislative priorities that impact the Down syndrome community.

The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities’ (OPWDD) inadequate emergency management coordination left people living in group homes at risk during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new audit released recently by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Hundreds of organizations and individuals from across the United States have issued a joint statement opposing New York Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to sweep New York’s streets and subways of people with mental disabilities. Last month, Adams announced a new directive to New York’s police officers, EMTs and street outreach workers to transport individuals to psychiatric hospitals involuntarily when it appears that they cannot “meet their basic needs.”

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) recently issued a statement regarding the implementation of the home and community-based services (HCBS) settings regulation. All states now must be fully compliant with the regulation’s requirements to uphold specified basic rights and may, through time-limited corrective action plans, have additional time to fully comply with the remaining criteria impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

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