The Montana Down Syndrome Association’s mission is to honor and nurture the extraordinary lives of people with Down syndrome by advocating for them as well as providing educational, financial, social, and emotional support. MDSA recognizes the need for families to get together to learn from each other and provide support. MDSA also wanted to make sure that families know about the resources, research, and services that are available for individuals with Down syndrome. In 2023, MDSA began collaborating with Best Buddies International to promote a program in our schools that fosters one-to-one friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities. MDSA’s goal is to get this program into schools all across our state.