Down Syndrome Day at the Capital

05/28/2026

05/12/2026

5/12/26 Update: Arizona focus groups are full and not accepting new registrations at this time. Thank you for your interest!

Family caregivers are key to supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), but paid programs for family care vary a lot from state to state. We want to learn from family caregivers who are paid to support an adult loved one with IDD. The State of the States in IDD and The Arc U.S. want to know your experiences accessing and using family caregiver payments.

Your experience matters. What you share will help guide future policies and programs for paid family caregivers across the country. Join a 90-minute research focus group on Zoom. Share your experiences with family caregiver payment programs in Arizona. Get paid $100 for your time.

Ready to get involved? Start here: https://kusurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ahEooGwCoT0C1DM

If you have any questions, contact project coordinator Kaley Day at [email protected].

05/05/2026

Are you a singer with Down syndrome? 🎤 Submit a video of yourself singing the National Anthem for the opportunity to perform it at the 2026 NYC Buddy Walk® on September 12!

Submit your video to 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗺𝘀@𝗻𝗱𝘀𝘀.𝗼𝗿𝗴 by 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟳!

Travel and accommodations are not provided and would be the responsibility of the selected singer/family.

05/02/2026

14 likes. "GCU L.O.P.E.S. Academy: Empowering Students, Building Futures"

05/01/2026

The Division hosts virtual public town halls the 1st Thursday of every month. See meeting details and how to join on the Town Hall Meetings webpage. https://des.az.gov/services/disabilities/developmental-disabilities/town-hall-meetings

04/29/2026

AHCCCS periodically updates its rules to help ensure members receive clinically appropriate services while supporting the long‑term sustainability of Arizona’s Medicaid program.

The rulemaking process for the Home & Community Based Services (HCBS) Needs Tool (HNT) and Extraordinary Care Review (ECR) is currently under review.

Based on extensive feedback from clinicians, several age thresholds in the HNT have been updated.

The public comment period closes May 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Learn more or submit comments: https://www.azahcccs.gov/PlansProviders/CurrentProviders/State/proposedrules.html

More information on ALTCS services: https://www.azahcccs.gov/Members/GetCovered/Categories/ALTCS.html

04/25/2026

NBC News is looking for stories from families and caregivers about what home and community-based services look like in their daily lives in light of comments from federal leaders this week.

Fill out this form to share your story: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-SY1T9aXLUGTOk4wpzEQ9IGWK-LyUNVBqVyJB48y6JpUN0hCTFQyVUlRT1ZNVjhHNVVLWURNTUlaWS4u

**Full Story Link in Comments**

04/20/2026

There’s a national call to action right now around the future of paid family caregiving and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). These conversations could directly impact individuals with Down syndrome who rely on these supports.

If this affects you or someone you love, please take a few minutes to review and consider getting involved.

👉 Read and take action through the links below

Your voice and lived experience matter in these discussions.

🚨 TAKE ACTION: Protect Paid Family Caregivers Nationwide Federal conversations are actively questioning whether paid family caregivers should exist at all. The Paragon Institute has recommended eliminating paid family caregivers, and recent comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggest families sh....