Alana Drost To Help Kick Off Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Alana Drost of Verona will appear in the bright lights of Broadway on Saturday, September 19, as part of the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) annual Times Square Video presentation. The featured photographs highlight children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome, reminding the world in a very big way about the contributions and milestones of people with Down syndrome. These collective images promote the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome, which is the mission of NDSS. 
  
The photo of Alana Drost, who happens to have Down syndrome, and is a decorated swimmer in the New Jersey Special Olympics, was selected from over 2,000 entries in the NDSS worldwide call for photos. Over 450 photographs will appear in the video, which will be shown in the heart of Times Square.  
 
Alana Drost is pictured as she is honored during the opening ceremonies at the New Jersey Special Olympics. 
  
The Times Square Video presentation kicks off Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. The video presentation will be followed by the 21st Annual Flagship Buddy Walk® in New York City. This year, Buddy Walk® events will be held in more than 275 cities across the country, as well as select international locations, in and around October with over 300,000 people participating around the globe. For information about the NDSS National Buddy Walk® Program, visit www.buddywalk.org or call 800-221-4602.
 
About NDSS
The National Down Syndrome Society is a nonprofit organization with more than 375 affiliates nationwide representing over 400,000 Americans who have Down syndrome.  The mission of NDSS is to be the national advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.  NDSS envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations, and become valued members of welcoming communities. For more information, visit www.ndss.org.