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The Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville (DSAJ) is an organization of parents, grandparents, friends, professionals and self-advocates throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.  We are a non-profit organization committed to helping people with Down syndrome achieve their full potential and to help create a community that is educated, supportive, and inclusive of people with Down syndrome.  Our organization is affiliated with both the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC).  

DSAJ as an organization envisions a community where all people with Down syndrome are actively included, given opportunities to participate and contribute as valued citizens, and have the choice to create their own path to fulfillment and success.  We encourage and support families by offering programs and services and by advocating for people with Down syndrome.

DSAJ is extremely pleased to give its complete support to H.R. 2370, the Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act, which represents a major step forward in improving public policy for persons with disabilities and their families.  For example, here in Congressman Crenshaw's district, we have at the University of North Florida a post-secondary program called On Campus Transition (OCT).  It serves 17 students with intellectual disabilities.  More and more students with intellectual disabilities are attending post-secondary programs across the country--over 130 programs. They are becoming employed, becoming taxpayers and living independent lives. Unfortunately, the burden of paying for these programs falls almost exclusively on parents of these students.  

We are grateful for the Congressman's leadership in introducing a savings bill that will make it possible for individuals with disabilities and their families to save for many important services and supports such as post-secondary programs and allow more families to afford them.

The savings bill introduced by Congressman Crenshaw--HR 2370--will allow thousands of individuals with disabilities and thousands of families that have a disabled member to save, just as other Americans are allowed to save, but without jeopardizing their current benefits.

We are grateful for the Congressman's efforts to build bipartisan support for this critically important legislation and his efforts to move the bill to passage in this Congress.

We also thank the Congressman for joining the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus (CDSC) which will focus on meeting the needs of individuals with Down syndrome and their value to society. The CDSC will promote public policies to enhance the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome by: (1) raising expectations and improving outcomes in education; (2) eliminating barriers to economic opportunity in employment and in programs that promote savings and investment; and (3) promoting and funding research that accelerates the development of effective treatments and therapies.

On behalf of our association and the families that we represent, we appreciate your important advocacy. 

Sincerely,

Jeff Leach, President    

Debbie Revels, Executive Director