DALTON, Mass. — Despite overcast skies and a Nor'easter in the forecast, the sun broke through the clouds just in time for hundreds of people to take part in the annual Buddy Walk on Saturday in support of individuals with Down syndrome.

 

For the last 20 years, community members and organizations have taken to the streets of Dalton in their Buddy Walk attire to advocate for disability awareness, inclusivity and acceptance for all.

 

Maryann Hyatt, Berkshire County Arc president and CEO, recollected the very first Buddy Walk, established by the Down Syndrome Family Group, as families walked in rain, sleet, and hail. 

 

That organization came to Berkshire County Arc, urging the need for support. 

 

Although the event has substantially grown over the years, the goals remain the same: to celebrate Down syndrome awareness, to educate the general public and to advocate on behalf of the thousands of Americans born with Down syndrome each year, organizers said. 

 

"I just cannot say enough about still the community awareness that's needed around people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We've come a long way over the years, and there's still a longer way to go," Hyatt said. 

 

The families have a natural bond and support between each other and through this event, Berkshire County Arc hopes to reach more families who have a child with a developmental disability who need support, Hyatt said. 

 

Having a child with a developmental disability can be challenging, can be scary, and we're here for them, she said. 

 

State Sen. Paul Mark has sponsored the event for the past 16 years, and this year, he didn't come empty-handed.

 

Holding a black folder emblazoned with the gold seal of the Massachusetts Senate, Mark read a proclamation recognizing Berkshire County Arc and the Down Syndrome Family Group for two decades of hosting the Buddy Walk and wishing them continued success in the years ahead.

 

While the Buddy Walk is celebrating its 20th year, Berkshire County Arc's roots stretch back much further. Founded in 1954 as a grassroots family organization, the agency has played a role in the deinstitutionalization movement and in expanding services and support for individuals with disabilities and their families, Hyatt said. 

 

"Berkshire County Arc is a hub, and the Down Syndrome Family Group is a hub. People come to us for all kinds of services and support — for housing services, for medical services, for all kinds of services. We can't provide everything, but we know what the services are out there," she said. 

 

"I can't say enough for Berkshire County in general for the nonprofit human service agency in Berkshire County. We are a collaborative group of agencies and people who work together for the benefit of individuals, children, and adults with disabilities, and primarily for their families."

 

This year marked state Rep. Leigh Davis' first time attending the Buddy Walk, but it won't be her last, she said.

 

"What makes me so happy is the families here, and the children, and the fact that Dalton is coming out for them," Davis said, highlighting the involvement of the police and fire departments and the community as a whole.

 

"This is what community looks like and the fact that you are showing up, that you're claiming yourself, and you're saying ‘we are visible and we are important, and we are going to walk for such a great cause and a great community,'" she said.