Stephanie Goes to Washington
When I heard about the Marge Barnheiser Advocacy Scholarship, I really wanted to go to DC because I wanted to meet our lawmakers to tell them my story. And it’s part of my job to do outreach and advocacy in the community!
My mom helped me fill out the scholarship application. I was really happy and excited that I won the scholarship. If you are stuck when you are filling it out, get help!
I was a little nervous because I’m not used to talking to legislators and staff in Washington, DC. I've never done that before! Thankfully, as part of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference (DSAC), I attended training sessions that helped me feel more confident in telling my story. NDSS made it nice and easy to know who I would be talking with and when, so my mom and I knew where to go.
In DC, my mom and I spent time in the training sessions and at some meals with Malayna, the other 2025 Marge Barnheiser Advocacy Scholarship winner, and her mom along with DSACO’s Program Coordinator of Teen & Adult Services, Boo Krucky. While I was at the conference, we also visited the vendors, some of whom were adults with Down syndrome who have their own businesses.
I liked this trip. I thought it was fun. I got to meet one of Representative Joyce Beatty’s staffers, Representative Greg Landsman, Senator Bernie Moreno, and Senator John Husted. Through the NDSS conference, we met other advocates from Ohio, and we did some of these visits together.
I told them my story about why protecting Medicaid is important to me: it helps me with transportation to and from work, with my provider who helps me be more independent, and with enabling me to live with my roommate instead of at home with my mom. For people who are living on their own with a roommate, it’s important to have a provider who can help you with cooking, meal planning, take you grocery shopping or to Special Olympics, and more. Because if you don’t have a provider, when you need help with something, who will help you?
While in DC, we were lucky enough to get to ride on the subway under the Capitol Building, which is something that not everyone got to do!
If you are thinking about applying for the Marge Barnheiser Advocacy Scholarship, I would say, “I think you will like it! You get to tell your story and talk to Senators and Representatives. They need to know what is important to you and other people with developmental disabilities.”
Even if outreach and advocacy aren’t part of your job, it’s still important for our lawmakers to hear your story. So, go ahead and apply for the scholarship, so your voice can be heard!
