Our mission is to improve quality of life and champion the rights of people with Down syndrome worldwide, raise standards of care, and provide a platform for people with Down syndrome to live full and rewarding lives.
This can only be achieved through improved knowledge of the condition, sharing of information and resources, and good communication and co-operation throughout the global Down syndrome community.
To help achieve this, we have identified 6 main objectives for the organisation to put into action over the next 5 years:
Objective 1:
To continue to organise and promote the World Down Syndrome Congress (WDSC) every 3 years in collaboration with the local organising committee, and to co-sponsor, with local and regional organisations, other local and regional conferences and programmes on specific issues.
The 11th WDSC will be held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2012.
Many of these conferences and programmes will be aimed at developing countries and regions where our support is most needed.
Objective 2:
To develop an international Scientific Advisory Research Group (SARG) to support the WDSC and all DSi activities, to encourage research into the educational and developmental needs of people with Down syndrome and other scientific research related to Down syndrome, and to disseminate the findings.
The SARG was set up following the 10th WDSC in 2009 and is listed on the DSi website. Their aim is to develop an international research agenda, formalise links with other research groups such as the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID) Special Interest Research Group on Down syndrome (SIRG), and to announce and promote WDSD Awards for those involved in scientific research of issues connected with Down syndrome and our understanding of the condition.
Objective 3:
To develop outreach programmes to bring expertise and assistance to countries and regions where our support is needed.
DSi successfully completed its first Outreach Programme in Libya in 2008/9, with the financial support of BG Group Libya. DSi donated volunteer services from Board members and provided expertise and advice to the Libyan Down Syndrome Association.
DSi will develop this model through liaison with local Down syndrome organisations, regional bodies such as those in the Asia Pacific, Africa, South America and Eastern Europe regions, and international organisations such as the United Nations, World Health Organisation and Inclusion International, to put more outreach programmes into action.
Objective 4:
To provide a web site (www.ds-int.org) and e-mail distribution list to promote international discussion and collaboration. To provide publications in co-operation with other organisations and develop additional information materials as needed.
The DSi website has been upgraded and re-structured to provide a starting point for people and organisations with an interest in Down syndrome to communicate with others on a local, national and international basis.
The new website includes information relating to DSi and its initiatives, including research, outreach, the WDSC and World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), and also includes news features and inspiring stories, an international events calender, and an international database of Down syndrome organisations with contact details and links to website home pages.
Objective 5:
To promote World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) on 21st March each year, to encourage worldwide participation in celebration of this event, and to seek UN recognition of this day.
DSi started WDSD in 2006 and since then awareness has spread throughout the World. People and organisations in many countries have earmarked this day and have organised events and fundraising initiatives in many forms and on a varied scale.
DSi would like this to continue and the website www.worlddownsyndromeday.org provides a forum for people and organisations to showcase the work they are doing to raise awareness on and around 21st March. This website will eventually be incorporated into the DSi website and will continue to fulfill this function each year.
From 2010, DSi will also be announcing WDSD Awards each year in the voluntary, professional and scientific categories, for people or organisations who stand out in terms of achievement in strengthening and enriching the lives of people with Down syndrome or furthering scientific advancement of Down syndrome.
DSi will also appoint DSi Ambassadors, to help further to raise awareness of Down syndrome on an international basis. DSi Ambassadors will be people with or without Down syndrome who are prepared to actively represent the Down syndrome community in each of the World's regions.
Objective 6:
To actively solicit funding to assist in meeting the above goals and specific projects.
DSi relies almost entirely on voluntary donations and membership fees to finance its work and in many cases, DSi sponsors membership of organisations who have limited financial means.
In order to meet our objectives, DSi has set up a professional office and secretariat in London, UK with a staff employed to manage the organisation, raise the profile of DSi in the international community, increase the membership, and seek funding to meet our objectives.
