The Buddy Walk® program was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Only 17 events took place across the country during the inaugural year of the Buddy Walk®. Since then, the Buddy Walk® has become known as the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome in the United States. It is also the world’s most widely recognized public awareness program for the Down syndrome community.

In 1999, NDSS introduced the Times Square Video to bring attention to the Buddy Walk® program and raise awareness of individuals with Down syndrome in a public setting. The Buddy Walk® also added a fundraising component to raise money for local and national programs and services.

You can visit https://www.ndss.org/ for a complete history of the Buddy Walk®.