Step Up for Down Syndrome 2026
Join us for the largest gathering of our Down syndrome community as we advocate and celebrate individuals with Down syndrome. This year's theme: My Life. My Choices.
Celebrating Our Community
Step Up for Down Syndrome Baltimore (formerly The Baltimore Buddy Walk®) highlighted the strength, value, and contributions of individuals with Down syndrome throughout Maryland. More than 1,000 participants joined us to honor and uplift our community!
Interested in Sponsorships? Learn more here.
Looking to Volunteer? Learn more here.
Two Events, One Community
In 2025, we expanded our impact with two regional celebrations. Here are our 2026 dates:
Eastern Shore Event: Held in Salisbury (and virtually) on Saturday, October 17th
Baltimore Event: Held in-person and virtually on Saturday, October 24th
Supporters across the region followed along on social media (@DSAMaryland) using
#StepUpBaltimore and #StepUpEasternShore.
Why Step Up?
For decades, the Down Syndrome Association of Maryland has been a cornerstone of the community, providing resources, advocacy, and connection.
But our work is far from over: New families join our community each year, and community members with Down syndrome are living longer than ever before. DSAmd's commitment to providing comprehensive support is becoming even more essential as we grow and the community changes.
In the last 5 years, the Association has grown exponentially - and you can help sustain and expand on that growth:
- 150+% increase in the number of events
- Expansion of support on Maryland's Eastern Shore
- Brand new therapeutic programming, including free and low-cost speech therapy, improvisation classes to build self-advocacy skills, and boxing classes for coordination and strength
Check Out Our Photos
