DSi will announce awards in the voluntary and professional categories to coincide with World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March each year.
Any member, member organisation, DSi Board member, Advisor or Awards Committee member can nominate an individual, group or organisation whose voluntary or professional activities have strengthened and enriched the lives of people with Down syndrome.
Nominations must be received by 28 February each year.
Categories and Nominations
There are 5 categories of award:
- Person with Down syndrome;
- Volunteer (e.g. parent, non-professional care worker or fundraiser);
- Professional (e.g. organisation professional, professional care worker);
- Organisation;
- Contribution to raising awareness of Down syndrome in developing countries and other disadvantaged communities.
The nomination requires details about the level of achievement, type of involvement and level of impact on the community of the individual, group or organisation.
Level of achievement:
Describe the contribution or participation of the individual, group or organisation (whether voluntary or professional) and explain how it has led to improved quality of life for an individual or group of persons with Down syndrome.
Explain the manner in which the activities were performed (i.e. through encouragement of leadership skills, fostering innovative ideas, or mobilisation of community resources).
The nominee must have played a key role in the activity.
Type of involvement:
Describe the specific participation of the individual, group or organisation.
Level of impact on the community:
Describe the ways in which the general community has benefited from the work of the individual, group or organisation.
Examples may include provision of a service that was not previously available, and the impact of the activity must be evidenced by criteria such as increased participation in a specific activity or project.
Please include any other information which you believe to be relevant.
Selection Criteria
All nominations will be evaluated by the DSi Awards Committee and the Committee reserves the right to allocate nominations to another category if appropriate.
The Committee will follow an evaluation procedure utilising criteria including, but not limited to:
- The innovation and impact of the activity or program;
- The number of years, months and approximate number of hours the nominee has committed to the activity;
- The uniqueness and inclusiveness (involving others) of the nominee’s contributions and commitments;
- The nominee’s leadership role in the community or organisation;
- Where appropriate, the challenges and/or barriers the nominee has had to overcome in the course of the activity.
The Committee may choose to award a number of nominees per category in any given year or may choose not to present any awards if appropriate.
Note that the judgement of the Committee is final and no appeal will be entertained.
The award recipients will be asked to provide a brief acceptance statement for the DSi website.
Contact Details
Please contact our International Office in the first instance, with your contact and nomination details, or if you have any questions regarding the nomination process.
