Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut
DS ACT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1986, serving approximately 3,000 Connecticut families affected by Down syndrome through peer support, IEP advocacy, literacy tutoring, grants, and community events, supported by a $35 annual membership and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersPawcatuck, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut does
The Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut (DS ACT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Pawcatuck, CT, that serves approximately 3,000 Connecticut families affected by Down syndrome. The organization delivers a portfolio of programs spanning peer support, educational advocacy, literacy tutoring, and direct financial assistance, including the First Call support hotline (888-486-8537), IEP Mentoring, the DS ACT Literacy and Education Center, Advocacy Avengers, and a family of grants (Mini-Grants up to $500, Summer Camp Grants, and Sunshine Grants). Signature events include the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walks (New Britain Stadium and Norwich Mohegan Park Pavilion), the annual World Down Syndrome Day Gala, and the members-only Summer Picnic at Camp Harkness. Operations are supported by a nine-person staff led by Executive Director Shanon McCormick.
DS ACT's business model is membership-supported and donation-driven. Annual membership is priced at $35 and unlocks access to the IEP Mentoring program, priority enrollment in literacy services, eligibility for grants, and reduced or free admission to events; complimentary one-year memberships are offered to expectant parents, new parents, and returning members. The technology footprint is modest: a WordPress-based website with calendar subscription feeds (iCalendar, Google Calendar, Outlook) and event livestreaming integrations (Zoom, YouTube Live, Facebook Live) supporting hybrid programming. Distribution is community-led, relying on healthcare provider referrals into the First Call Program, regional support groups across Connecticut, word-of-mouth within the disability community, and a network of formal resource partnerships with national bodies including the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, National Down Syndrome Congress, National Down Syndrome Society, NIH DS-Connect, Linda Crnic Institute, and The Arc. The organization is governed by a board of directors, holds no parent company, and is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026.
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut
- Legal name
- Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut
- Website
- https://mydsact.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- DS ACT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1986, serving approximately 3,000 Connecticut families affected by Down syndrome through peer support, IEP advocacy, literacy tutoring, grants, and community events, supported by a $35 annual membership and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Advocacy and Family Support Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)
Keywords
Where Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pawcatuck
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership dues at $35 per year, with complimentary one-year membership offered to expectant parents and new parents of children with Down syndrome, as well as those returning after many years.
- Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations and holds third-party fundraising events to support programs and services.
- Third-Party Fundraising Events: Third-party events require advance permission and must comply with 501(c)(3) fiduciary guidelines.
- Event Admission: Reduced or free admission to educational and social events for members; special members-only events like summer picnic.
- Gala and Sponsorships: Annual World Down Syndrome Day Gala with sponsorship opportunities, such as the 40th Anniversary Gala in March 2026.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Annual Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DS ACT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers advocacy and direct family support services to nearly 3,000 Connecticut families affected by Down syndrome. Core deliverables include the First Call peer support hotline, IEP Mentoring, the DS ACT Literacy and Education Center, Regional Support Groups, advocacy training (Advocacy Avengers), and direct financial assistance through Mini-Grants, Summer Camp Grants, and Sunshine Grants. Programs are gated by a $35/year membership, with signature annual events (Step Up Walk, Gala, Summer Picnic) used for both community engagement and fundraising.
Product overview
The Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut (DS ACT) is a nonprofit organization providing advocacy and family support services, not a software product company. Its offering consists of a portfolio of community programs, educational resources, and awareness events centered on supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The core programs include the First Call support hotline, Advocacy Avengers advocacy training, the DS ACT Literacy and Education Center with IEP Mentoring, and Regional Support Groups. Financial support programs include Mini-Grants (up to $500 for organizations), Summer Camp Grants, and Sunshine Grants for members. Signature events include the Step Up for Down Syndrome Walks (held at New Britain Stadium and Mohegan Park in Norwich), the World Down Syndrome Day Gala, and the Annual Summer Picnic at Camp Harkness. DS ACT Membership ($35/year) provides access to all programs and events, with free membership available for expectant parents and families with children under one year. Additional resources cover medical information, prenatal testing guidance, guardianship and estate planning, and financial planning for families.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- DS ACT Membership Annual $35 membership that provides e-newsletter subscription, reduced or free admission to educational and social events, access to members-only events like the summer picnic, IEP Mentoring program access, first priority for Literacy and Education Center programs, and eligibility for Summer Camp Grant and Mini-Grant programs. Complimentary one-year membership is offered to expectant parents and new parents of children with Down syndrome, as well as returning members after long absences, with fee waivers available for financial hardship.
- First Call Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 3,000 families served across Connecticut
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Global Down Syndrome FoundationcoreNational organization providing COVID-19/Down Syndrome resources and prenatal testing information. DS ACT supports Global's COVID-19 resources and shares their educational materials with Connecticut families.
- National Down Syndrome CongresscoreNational organization providing family toolkit, prenatal testing resources, and advocacy support. DS ACT provides their materials to Connecticut families.
- National Down Syndrome SocietycoreNational organization offering 'A Promising Future Together' resources for families.
- Down Syndrome Medical Interest GroupminorProvides healthcare guidelines and checklists for individuals with Down syndrome that DS ACT shares with families and medical providers.
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down SyndromeminorFirst organization in the US with mission to eradicate medical and cognitive ill effects of Down syndrome through research and clinical care. Associated with Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children's Hospital Colorado.
- Dr. Brian SkotkominorAuthor of best practices for health care professionals delivering prenatal/postnatal diagnosis, recommended by DS ACT.
- Connecticut Birth-to-ThreecoreConnecticut state early intervention program that DS ACT connects families with for developmental support.
- Down Syndrome Association of Greater CincinnatiminorSupports the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network, which DS ACT refers families to when adoption is being considered.
- Boston Children's HospitalminorHosts the Allen C. Crocker Speaker Series with free webcast talks, including content for new parents like 'Your Baby's First Year'.
- NIH (National Institutes of Health)coreHosts DS-Connect, the Down Syndrome Registry. DS ACT encourages families to join to help advance research.
- Able National Resource CenterminorProvides information on ABLE accounts and estate planning for families of individuals with disabilities.
- Down Syndrome Autism ConnectionminorNon-profit dedicated to co-occurring Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Provides welcome kits and Facebook support groups.
- The ArcminorProvides resources on future planning for individuals with disabilities including estate planning and transition planning tools.
- Jenny Hatch Justice ProjectminorProvides resources on supported decision-making alternatives to guardianship.
- National Center for Supported Decision MakingminorProvides model agreements for supported decision-making arrangements.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS): National 501(c)(3) that provides advocacy, resources, and programs for people with Down syndrome and their families. Operates broadly across the U.S., overlapping with DS ACT's mission on awareness, advocacy, and family support, but at a national scale.
- The Arc: Large national nonprofit serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome. Provides guardianship and future-planning resources DS ACT curates; competes for advocacy and family-services mindshare.
- National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC): National organization providing educational resources, advocacy, and an annual convention for the Down syndrome community. Listed as a core resource partner of DS ACT, demonstrating significant mission overlap and direct content/program parallel.
- Easterseals: National disability services organization providing early intervention, education, and family support. Has Connecticut presence and adjacent programming; competes for grants and donor attention in the same space.
- Global Down Syndrome Foundation: National foundation funding research, medical care, and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome. Provides many of the same prenatal testing and healthcare resources DS ACT distributes to Connecticut families.
Direct peers
- Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati: Regional Down syndrome association operating a comparable family-support, advocacy, and event-driven model in another metro. Explicitly named in DS ACT's own partnerships list, making it a directly comparable regional peer.
- Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress: State-level Down syndrome association serving Massachusetts families with advocacy, education, parent support, and community programs. Closest geographic and structural analog to DS ACT.
- Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City: Regional Down syndrome nonprofit providing family support, education advocacy, and community programming in a defined U.S. metro. Operates an essentially identical service model to DS ACT.
Emerging players
- Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN): National nonprofit focused on delivering peer support at the point of Down syndrome diagnosis, including the "Roadmap of Hope" for new parents. Directly competes with DS ACT's First Call Program in the digital/diagnosis-moment niche.
Others
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome: Research and clinical care institute (affiliated with Children's Hospital Colorado) focused on eradicating medical and cognitive effects of Down syndrome. Listed as a DS ACT partner and represents the research/medical side of the same mission.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut social profiles
Digital presenceDown Syndrome Association of Connecticut financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut
What does Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut do?
DS ACT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers advocacy and direct family support services to nearly 3,000 Connecticut families affected by Down syndrome. Core deliverables include the First Call peer support hotline, IEP Mentoring, the DS ACT Literacy and Education Center, Regional Support Groups, advocacy training (Advocacy Avengers), and direct financial assistance through Mini-Grants, Summer Camp Grants, and Sunshine Grants. Programs are gated by a $35/year membership, with signature annual events (Step Up Walk, Gala, Summer Picnic) used for both community engagement and fundraising.
Is Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut a public or private company?
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut founded?
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut based?
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut is headquartered in Pawcatuck, United States, in the North America region.
How does Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, third-Party Fundraising Events, event Admission and gala and Sponsorships.
Who are Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), The Arc, National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), Easterseals and Global Down Syndrome Foundation. Direct peers are Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress and Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City. Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN) is listed as an emerging player. Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome is listed as an others.
Does Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut have an API?
No public API is recorded for Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut.
What industry is Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut in?
Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut's product category is Disability Advocacy and Family Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services, with a secondary code of EDAJAKAF, Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.