National Association for Down Syndrome

What National Association for Down Syndrome does

The National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in Chicago in 1960/1961, recognized as the oldest organization in the United States serving people with Down syndrome and their families. The organization delivers a portfolio of community support and advocacy programs rather than a unified technology product: a Parent Support Program that matches new parents with trained volunteer mentors; the Congratulations Basket / Referral Program, which delivers welcome baskets to families of newborns with Down syndrome through more than 50 Chicagoland hospitals (including Advocate, Northwestern Medicine, Lurie Children's, and Rush); Self-Advocate Programs that train adults with Down syndrome in public speaking and leadership (Self-Advocates In Action); Public Awareness presentations delivered at schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities; Education for Healthcare Professionals; Governmental Affairs advocacy on the ABLE Act and Down Syndrome Information and Awareness Act; seminars and conferences; and bilingual support for Spanish-speaking families.

The underlying technology footprint is intentionally modest and service-oriented: a WordPress-based public website (nads.org) hosting content, a WooCommerce-powered online shop for Down syndrome awareness merchandise, Stripe and PayPal checkout integrations, and a weekly email newsletter (NADS News This Week) for community communication. In 1992 NADS co-established the Adult Down Syndrome Center (ADSC) with Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL — one of the few clinics worldwide devoted to adolescents and adults with Down syndrome and a signature operational asset.

NADS is funded through individual donations (suggested tiers of $50–$1,000), corporate and individual event sponsorships (principally the annual Fashion Show / Runway of Dreams and a Golf Outing), merchandise sales through the online shop, and community fundraising events. Direct family services are concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area, while publications, online resources, and referrals extend reach nationally and internationally through partnerships with the National Down Syndrome Congress and National Down Syndrome Society.

Name

National Association for Down Syndrome

Legal name

National Association for Down Syndrome

Website

https://nads.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS), founded in 1960/1961 in Chicago, is the oldest U.S. nonprofit serving people with Down syndrome and their families, delivering parent mentorship, hospital-referral welcome baskets, self-advocate training, public-awareness education, and legislative advocacy primarily across the Chicago metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Family Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• Parent support programs
• Community awareness education
• Self-advocacy leadership
• Nonprofit family services

Headquarters

HQ city

Park Ridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, families, and supporters to fund its programs and operations.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including apparel, yard signs, car magnets, mugs, and tote bags.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from fundraising events including Fashion Show, Golf Outing, and community events.
4. Fashion Show Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsorships for the annual fashion show event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NADS is a non-profit organization that provides direct family support, advocacy, and education services for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Its core offerings include parent mentorship programs, hospital-referred congratulations baskets for new families, self-advocate leadership training, public awareness presentations, healthcare professional education, seminars, and governmental affairs advocacy. The organization also operates a small online merchandise shop selling Down syndrome awareness products to support fundraising.

Product overview

The National Association for Down Syndrome is a non-profit organization that operates a portfolio of community support programs rather than a unified technology product. The organization offers direct family support through its Parent Support Program and Congratulations Basket/Referral Program, which connect new parents with volunteer mentors and provide welcome baskets at Chicago-area hospitals. Advocacy services include Governmental Affairs work and Public Awareness Programs featuring trained parent speakers. Self-advocate empowerment is delivered through the Self-Advocate Public Speakers Program and Self-Advocates In Action (SAIA) leadership organization. Educational resources span publications for expectant parents, healthcare professional training, seminars, and Spanish-language support. The organization also operates an e-commerce shop selling Down syndrome awareness merchandise including yard signs, apparel (t-shirts, hoodies), and accessories (car magnets, mugs, tote bags). Additionally, NADS maintains research resources, skill development materials, and publishes a weekly newsletter (NADS News This Week).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parent Support Program Core program connecting new parents of children with Down syndrome with trained volunteer parent mentors who provide emotional support, up-to-date information, and referrals to local services such as Early Intervention programs.
• Congratulations Basket / Referral Program Provides welcome gift baskets to new parents of babies with Down syndrome at participating Chicago-area hospitals. Baskets include books, baby items, and informational resources from NADS and local organizations; the program reaches new families at over 50 Chicagoland hospitals.
• Publications for Expectant Parents Educational publications and resources for expectant parents who have received a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, including booklets, guides, and family stories to help navigate the journey.
• Self-Advocate Programs (Self-Advocate Public Speakers Program & SAIA) Includes the Self-Advocate Public Speakers Program that trains young adults with Down syndrome in public speaking, and Self-Advocates In Action (SAIA), a service leadership organization led by adults with Down syndrome.
• Governmental Affairs Program Advocacy efforts related to the ABLE Act, Down Syndrome Information and Awareness Act, and other legislative initiatives at federal and Illinois state levels.
• Public Awareness Program Educational presentations delivered by trained parent speakers to schools, businesses, community groups, hospitals, and medical facilities. Includes hospital in-service programs for medical professionals.
• Education for Healthcare Professionals Training and resources for medical professionals including genetic counselors, obstetricians, pediatricians, nurses, and social workers on how to support families receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis.
• Seminars and Conferences Periodic seminars on specific subjects including healthcare for children and adults, teaching math, and communication skills for people with Down syndrome.
• Support for Spanish-Speaking Families Expanded services for Spanish-speaking families including bilingual volunteers, workshops in Spanish, support groups for Hispanic families, and resources available in both English and Spanish.
• NADS Online Shop E-commerce platform selling merchandise including Down syndrome awareness yard signs, t-shirts, hoodies, car magnets, mugs, tote bags, and baby clothing items.
• NADS Fashion Show (Runway of Dreams) Annual fundraising fashion show event featuring self-advocates with Down syndrome as models, part of the Runway of Dreams initiative. Corporate and individual sponsorships support the event.
• Facts About Down Syndrome Resource Comprehensive resource explaining Down syndrome including causes, types (Trisomy 21, Translocation, Mosaicism), diagnosis, health issues, and prenatal testing information.
• Down Syndrome Research Resources Directory of research organizations, government resources, and university research centers focused on Down syndrome including ClinicalTrials.gov, DS-Connect, and various research foundations.
• Skill Development Resources Curated resources for skill development including motor skills, communication skills, alternative communication systems, academic skills (reading and math), and assistive technology for individuals with Down syndrome.

Quantifiable outcome

• Congratulations Basket program operates at over 50 Chicago-area hospitals, reaching new families at birth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Advocate Lutheran General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNADS collaborates with Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL to operate the Adult Down Syndrome Center, one of the few clinics in the world devoted to adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. The Center uses an interdisciplinary approach to patient care and has served thousands of patients ranging from age 12 to 84 since its founding in 1992.
• Chicago Area Hospitals (50+ facilities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNADS partners with over 50 Chicagoland hospitals to deliver the Congratulations Basket program, providing welcome baskets with gifts, information, and resources to new families of babies with Down syndrome. Hospitals include Advocate facilities, Northwestern Medicine, Lurie Children's, Rush, and many others throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
• National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor families outside the Chicago metropolitan area, NADS refers them to National Down Syndrome Congress (800-232-NDSC) as an organization that can provide direct assistance.
• National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFor families outside the Chicago metropolitan area, NADS refers them to National Down Syndrome Society (800-221-4602) as an organization that can provide direct assistance.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: A national disability services network providing therapies, employment support, and family services across the disability spectrum. Overlaps with NADS on family support and self-advocate programs, but offers a broader disability portfolio rather than Down syndrome-specific services.
• The Arc: The largest U.S. national organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including Down syndrome. Overlaps NADS on advocacy, family support, and self-advocate leadership but addresses a much broader IDD population rather than Down syndrome specifically.
• March of Dimes: National nonprofit addressing maternal and infant health, including birth defects and prenatal diagnosis support. Comparable to NADS on the prenatal/expectant-parent support segment and the prenatal-diagnosis delivery channel, but covers a broader maternal-health agenda.

Direct peers

• GiGi's Playhouse: A network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers offering free therapeutic, educational, and career-development programs across multiple U.S. cities. Highly comparable in mission (Down syndrome-specific family and self-advocate programming) but operates a multi-site franchise model versus NADS' single-region approach.
• Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network: A national peer-support network for parents receiving a prenatal or birth diagnosis of Down syndrome. Directly comparable to NADS' Parent Support Program and Congratulations Basket mission, with a digital/peer-connection model rather than hospital-channel distribution.
• National Down Syndrome Society: The largest U.S. advocacy organization for people with Down syndrome, operating national public-awareness campaigns (Buddy Walk), policy advocacy, and member programs. Directly comparable to NADS in mission and constituency, but competes at a national scale where NADS operates regionally.
• National Down Syndrome Congress: A national Down syndrome membership and advocacy organization running the annual convention, policy work, and family resources. NADS explicitly refers out-of-area families to NDSC, confirming direct mission overlap and same target population.
• Global Down Syndrome Foundation: Down syndrome-focused nonprofit combining family support, advocacy, and medical research funding (including the Crnic Institute). Comparable constituency and mission to NADS but emphasizes research and policy rather than direct family services.

Emerging players

• LuMind IDSC Foundation: A Down syndrome-focused nonprofit funding Down syndrome cognition research and advocating for federal DS research funding. Shares the Down syndrome constituency with NADS but operates in research/advocacy rather than direct family services.

Regional players

• Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress: A state/regional Down syndrome advocacy and family-support organization in Massachusetts offering parent programming, self-advocate leadership, and policy advocacy. Closely analogous to NADS in scope and model, but operates in a different U.S. region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NADS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-association-for-down-syndrome

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association for Down Syndrome