Buddy Cassidy is a graduate student, writer, and nationally recognized disability advocate living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He has served as a voting patient representative at multiple FDA advisory committee hearings and was instrumental in the 2023 accelerated approval of Elevidys, the first gene therapy for DMD. In 2024, Buddy was invited to speak at JPIC Charlotte, where he shared his journey as a self-advocate fighting for legislative change—walking through every step from research to public testimony. He brings literary insight, lived experience, and policy expertise to his advocacy and was honored with the 2023 Change It Champion Award by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. Buddy is honored to be presenting at The Arc of Virginia State Convention.

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 theHouse and the Senate of the U.S. Congress that bears her name: the Charlotte Woodward OrganTransplant 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.

Roanoke