Public Awareness & The Buddy Walk

The purpose of the public awareness at NDSS is to ignite a new way of thinking about people who have Down syndrome. Over the past decade the Buddy Walk has served as a national portal for disseminating positive messages and inspirational stories within the Down syndrome community to the general public. It has attracted the attention of national and local media outlets, and each year its visibility has elevated significantly. The Buddy Walk is an essential platform for bringing the community together at the same time, attracting new constituents and members.

Buddy Walk PSA’s: Every year NDSS partners with its celebrity Ambassadors in an effort to unify the messages of acceptance and inclusion by inviting the general public to attend a Buddy Walk. These messages are crafted in the form of public service announcement which includes a 30-second TV and radio spot, as well as print ads. NDSS partners with national and local media outlets to disseminate these materials.

Buddy Walk PR: The NDSS Marketing & Communications Department works with national and local media outlets to obtain editorial coverage for local Walks, individuals Walk organizers, self-advocates, and the overall Buddy Walk program. Comprehensive PR and Marketing tools are provided to each affiliate so that local communities can generate their own media activity.

My Great Story- Buddy Walk Section: In September of 2009, NDSS launched a new public awareness campaign, My Great Story, in an effort to honor and celebrate the 400,000 Americans with Down syndrome by telling and sharing their stories in an online storybook. The book is broken down into several sections which highlight different aspects of life. NDSS created a ‘Buddy Walk’ section as a way to collect and showcase the remarkable stories about the Buddy Walk program. The goal is to use local Walks as a stage to invite the general public, and members of the Down syndrome community, to get involved. Walk organizers can use the MGS campaign to engage with local communities, schools, recreational programs, etc.