World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.
Down Syndrome International (DSi) encourages our friends all over the world to choose their own activities and events on WDSD to help raise awareness ...
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.
Down Syndrome International (DSi) encourages our friends all over the world to choose their own activities and events on WDSD to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.
For this purpose DSi created this dedicated website as a single meeting place where the global community can share their experiences and advertise their activities (see WDSD World Events) and participate in DSi’s WDSD initiatives, including our WDSD Call To Action, the WDSD Global Video Event, the WDSD Conference at UN Headquarters, New York, the WDSD event at UN Geneva, the LOTS OF SOCKS campaign and the WDSD Awards.
Join in with us to create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome on 21 March. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.
Why 21 March?
The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
History of WDSD
WDSD was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world and Down Syndrome Association Singapore launched and hosted the WDSD website from 2006-2010, on behalf of DSi, for global activities to be recorded.
On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day. The General Assembly decided to "designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2012" and "invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome".
Searches :
https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/about-wdsd
"What I bring to my community"
All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to contribute to the community and live valued lives, included on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.
People with Down syndrome can and do bring so much to the community, wherever they live around the world, when given the opportunity.
But many are prevented from making meaningful contributions.
On World Down Syndrome Day, Wednesday 21 March 2018, we call upon every person with Down syndrome to tell the world
what you bring to your community
.
#WhatIBringToMyCommunity #WDSD18
Down Syndrome International's campaign aims to:
-
Explain how people with Down syndrome
can and do make meaningful contributions
throughout their lives, whether in schools, workplaces, living in the community, public and political life, culture, media, recreation, leisure and sport;
-
Explain how negative attitudes and a lack of knowledge about their potential as individuals
prevent people with Down syndrome from having opportunities
to make contributions;
-
Empower people with Down syndrome
(and those supporting them) to
advocate for their rights and opportunities
to make meaningful contributions and
-
Reach out to key stakeholders
including educators, employers, public authorities, media and the wider community to
ensure they see the benefits
of enabling people with Down syndrome to make meaningful contributions and
encourage these stakeholders to bring about change
and
disseminate this message
.
This campaign will be integrated into all of DSi's WDSD activities and we encourage everyone around the world to do the same.
Searches :
https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/call-to-action
Down syndrome :
Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate.
People with Down syndrome may have a variety of birth defects. About half of all affected children are born with a heart defect. Digestive abnormalities, such as a blockage of the intestine, are less common.
Searches :
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/down-syndrome
