Down Syndrome
Welcome to the A2A Down Syndrome Advocacy Resource Center (ARC), an outreach project of the nonprofit Adversity 2 Advocacy Alliance, aiming to help individuals impacted by Down syndrome step into Down syndrome advocacy.
We hope you’ll be inspired by our A2A Advocates impacted by Down syndrome, and we invite you to listen to our A2A Spotlight features and A2A 1-on-1 interviews sharing powerful stories of how individuals impacted by Down syndrome are turning adversity into advocacy.
While you’re here, we hope you’ll join our Down Syndrome Messages of Hope campaign. Give hope. Get hope. All in 30 seconds. And if you’re interested in sharing YOUR story with the help of one of our professional journalists, let us know!
Oh, and please be sure to add your name to our Wall of Allies, so you can show your support for our advocates. If you’d like, we’ll also send you our free monthly e-newsletter.
Meet our A2A Advocates
Spotlight – Courageous Amputee And Cancer Survivor Soars As Competitive Climber
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Kareemah Batts, disability and diversity advocate and paraclimbing pioneer. Batts is the founder of the non-profit Adaptive Climbing Group, which provides people with disabilities accessibility to the...
Spotlight – Christy Silva’s Healthy Seven-Year-Old Son Suddenly Died
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Christy Silva, the founder of the non-profit Aidan’s Heart Foundation. The organization was created to honor her son Aidan who died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and to create heart-safe communities for...
Spotlight – Triathlete and Newsman Shares His OCD Story to Reduce Stigma
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Jonathan Clark, a triathlete, longtime newsman and mental health advocate who hid his struggle with OCD for almost 20 years. After deciding not to suffer in silence anymore, Clark went public with his...
Spotlight – Eliza Factor Created Supportive Environments for Kids with Disabilities to Play and Learn
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Eliza Factor author and founder of the non-profit Extreme Kids & Crew. Eliza was inspired to create the arts and play spaces by her son Felix who has multiple disabilities. A2A...
Spotlight – Leo McCarthy Challenges Young People Not To Drink And Drive
KCBS Radio anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Leo McCarthy, whose daughter Mariah was killed by an underage drunk driver when she was fourteen. McCarthy started the non-profit Mariah’s Challenge to reward students who pledge not to drink and drive with...
Spotlight – At 11 Connie Siskowski Was The Primary Caregiver For Her Ailing Grandfather
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Connie Siskowski, who founded The American Association of Caregiving Youth to support the over 1.3 million youth between 8 to 18-years-old who are the primary caregivers for chronically ill, elderly and...
Spotlight – Disability Advocate Candis Welch Doesn’t Let Her Wheelchair Slow Her Down
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder spotlights Candis Welch, a disability advocate and blogger. A2A Spotlight · Disability Advocate Candis Welch Doesn’t Let Her Wheelchair Slow Her Down Candis was diagnosed with SMA, a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder when...
Spotlight: Ilene Lainer Left Law And Transformed Autism Services In NYC
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Ilene Lainer, the co-founder and President of NEXT for Autism. A2A Spotlight · Ilene Lainer Left Law And Transformed Autism Services In NYC Ilene’s son Ari was diagnosed with autism over twenty years ago...
Spotlight – Duncan Campbell Finds “Friends” for Kids Who Need Them The Most
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Duncan Campbell, an extremely successful timber investment entrepreneur who grew up in poverty and was neglected by his alcoholic parents. Duncan is the founder of the non-profit Friends of the Children,...
Alex Bernadotte Helps First Generation College Students Succeed
KCBS Radio afternoon anchor and A2A founder Jeff Bell spotlights Alex Bernadotte, who immigrated to the US from Haiti when she was 8 years old. A2A Spotlight · Alex Bernadotte Helps First Generation College Students Succeed Alex, who holds a degree from both Dartmouth...
A2A Spotlight Features
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