October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to celebrate people with Down syndrome and advocate for their rights.
This year, we are focusing on a critical issue that affects the lives of millions: health equity.Health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Unfortunately, for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, this is often not the case. DSi’s recent global consultation on health equity, conducted in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion, has highlighted some of the barriers people with Down syndrome face when trying to access healthcare.
These include:
1. Unaffordable healthcare
2. Discrimination and denial of care
3. Lack of accessible information
4. Exclusion from decision-making
Learn more about what we advocate in our report.( Easy read version)
What are we doing about it?
At Down Syndrome International, our vision is a world where all people with Down syndrome are fully included in society.
This includes being able to access the healthcare they need to live long, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
We are working with our member organisations around the world to advocate for changes in policy and legislation to promote health equity.
We are also developing resources to empower people with Down syndrome and their families to speak up for their right to health.
https://ds-int.org/its-down-syndrome-awareness-month
The Congress was a groundbreaking event.
People with Down syndrome, their families and supporters, came together to share their stories, learn from each other, and make plans to help everyone join in and be part of society.
The success of the Congress inspired the organisers, Jo Mills (Canada), Penny Robertson (Australia), and Sylvia Escamilla (Mexico), to form an international network of organisations working to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome International was founded in 1993, with a mission to make the world more inclusive for people with Down syndrome.
In October 2023, on our 30th anniversary, we launched a new strategy to guide our work into the future.
Down Syndrome International today.
Today, Down Syndrome International is a network of thousands of people with Down syndrome, along with their families and supporters, and more than 150 organisations, from every part of the globe.
Together we speak up for the human rights of people with Down syndrome worldwide.
We share a vision of a better world where all people with Down syndrome are fully included in society.
January 15, 2019
On her first visit to DSi, the founder of UFDC Ms.Ye Lei learned about the development of Down syndrome communities worldwide. She expressed her desire to host the World Down Syndrome Congress in China and hoped to see Chinese representatives among the International Down Syndrome Ambassadors. She also gained valuable insights into the principles of self-advocacy—an immensely rewarding experience.
January 17, 2020
During her second visit to DSi, both sides agreed to slow down, in the meantime, the pandemic soon unfolded.It lasted for three years.
August 9, 2023
On her third visit to DSi, Ye Lei proposed joining DSi as a member and received an enthusiastic response. Shortly after, "Up for Downs China" officially became a DSi member.
October 1, 2024
Ye Lei’s fourth visit to DSi finalized the selection and tenure of China’s Down Syndrome Ambassador.
By Tang Yifeng
Dear brothers and sisters with Down syndrome:
I sincerely invite you to this Tangbao Photography Contest. Whether you document mountains and rivers, street life, or those subtle moments in life—this is a platform for your unique perspective! Whatever you record, it means your own story. All you need to do is pick up your phone, capture the unique world as you see it, freeze every wonderful moment, name your work, and send it to my mother’s email. Finally, we will submit your entries to DSi before a panel of judges. We hope you will actively join this meaningful contest, showcase our works to DSi, and let them gain a deeper understanding of Chinese individuals with Down syndrome.
