Charlotte Woodward is a young woman who was born with Down syndrome. She has had four open-heart surgeries and a lifesaving heart transplant. She works at the National Down Syndrome Society as the Programs Associate.

As the third registered lobbyist with Down syndrome, she promotes the passage of important state and federal legislation that impacts the disability community. There is currently legislation before both the House and the Senate of the U.S. Congress that bears her name: the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act. Charlotte was also instrumental in the 2020 passage of Virginia’s Non-discrimination in Organ Transplantation Act.

She is a Board member of the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia and the director of DSANV’s Advocacy Program. She is a Board member of The Arc of the United States and a member of The Arc of Virginia’s “A Life Like Yours” Self-Advocacy Alliance.

She is a passionate advocate for the human and civil rights of all people with Down syndrome and frequently writes and speaks on issues important to the disability community.