Worcester, MA, March 29rd, 2025. Celebrate MDSC’s 41st Annual Conference on March 29, 2025. This event brings together self-advocates with Down syndrome, parents and caretakers, grandparents and siblings, health care professionals, educators and others — to hear the latest research findings and timely information from regional and national experts on the full range of topics as it relates to Down syndrome.
* 2025 Theme – On My Way! “After 40-plus years of steadfast advocacy and innovative programs, the MDSC is well ON OUR WAY to building a brighter future for ALL our loved ones with Down syndrome. We envision a present and a future in which all our loved ones with Down syndrome can confidently say “I am ON MY WAY” to a full, rich life in their community, with access to high quality education, medical services, research and employment opportunities.
And at MDSC, we will be fighting to ensure we’re ON OUR WAY to making the world a better, more inclusive place for our loved ones with Down syndrome — providing critical programs and services and raising awareness and expectations in our neighborhoods, hospitals, schools and society at large.”
Conference Topics and Speakers are listed below.
Fees apply, registration is required to the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress https://mdsc.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/mdsc/event.jsp?event=6& or contact 781-221-0024. 
2025 CONFERENCE Workshop Topics include:
- New Parents: Sharing Our Stories
- Behavior News You Can Use
- Current State of Health Equity in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease (DS-AD) Therapies and Beyond
- Supporting Individuals and Families During Transition Planning
- Belonging Is The New Inclusion: Understanding the Dimensions of Authentic Belonging In Community Groups
- SELF-ADVOCATE WORKSHOP: On My Way to Make Music!
- BROTHERS & SISTERS WORKSHOP: Sibling Meet & Greet
- Navigating the Down Syndrome-Autism Spectrum Disorder (DS-ASD) Journey
- Toilet Training Tips and Tricks
- Toddlerhood to Transition: Top 10 Tips for an Amazing Future
- Women’s Health and Down Syndrome: What You Should Know
- Understanding the Current Landscape of Clinical Trials in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease
- Grandparents: Sharing and Caring
- Keeping Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome Healthy: All the Medical Updates that Parents Need to Know
- “What If?” & “Now What?”: Navigating Aging and Dementia Care Needs for Adults with Down Syndrome
- Pathways to Employment Through Self Direction
- Make It Visual: A Hands-On Workshop for Creating Choice Boards, Visual Schedules, and Personalized Books.
- The Time is NOW: Your Guide to Powerful Advocacy!
2025 Speakers include:
- Sarah Cullen, Family Support Director, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
- Emily Jean Davidson, MD, MPH, RYT, Developmental Pediatrician, Boston Children’s Hospital;\
- Angela Lombardo, MSW, Program Manager, Down Syndrome Program, Boston
- Children’s Hospital; Tatiana Salinas, Bilingual (Spanish) Family Support Specialist
- Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress; Brian Young, Leader, MDSC DADS Group
- Dr. Stacy Taylor, BCBA-D, President/Clinical Director, Advance Behavior & Learning
- Anna Fedewa, Senior Manager of Government Relations, National Down Syndrome
Society; Hampus Hillerstrom, President & CEO, LuMind IDSC Foundation; - Matthew P. Janicki, Co-President of the National Task Group on Dementia and Intellectual
Disabilities - Anna Fedewa ,Senior Manager of Government Relations for the National Down Syndrome Society.
- Hampus Hillerstrom is President and CEO of LuMind RDS Foundation
- Victor Hernandez, EdM, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services
- Lisa Drennan, Founder, MERGE Inclusion Consulting Journey
- Jeanne Doherty, President, Down Syndrome-Autism Connection
- Charlotte Gray, Executive Director, Down Syndrome-Autism Connection
- Dr. Stacy Taylor, BCBA-D , President/Clinical Director, Advance Behavior & Learning
- Emily Jean Davidson, MD, MPH, RYT, Developmental Pediatrician, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Angela Lombardo, MSW, Program Manager, Down Syndrome Program, Boston Children’s Hospital
- Hannah Graham, MD, Physican, Advocate Medical Group Adult Down Syndrome Center
- Charlotte Woodward, Program Associate, National Down Syndrome Society
- Hampus Hillerstrom, President & CEO, LuMind IDSC Foundation
- Sue Laing, Co-Leader, MDSC Grandparents Support Group
