The Down’s Syndrome Association (UK) has a dedicated Information team, led by Susannah Seyman and Stuart Mills, who provide much needed, detailed and informative advice and support to people with Down syndrome, their families and those who work with them.
They began citing clauses of the Human Rights Act (which incorporates into UK domestic law the European Convention on Human Rights) in their advocacy work about 2 years ago as a result of their ongoing search for levers to use to obtain support for adults with Down syndrome and their families. The adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which has been ratified by the UK, has served to further strengthen their arguments where the human rights of people with Down syndrome have been brought into question.
Their work has become very well known in the UK and they have been approached by a number of organisations for assistance. Specifically, their use of human rights language when advocating on behalf of people with Down syndrome and their families and their support for members who also wish to use this language has been commended.
The British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) has recently used some of DSA UK’s good work as Case Studies in best practice, and has featured them on their "Our Human Rights Stories" website.
To learn more about the work of DSA UK and Human Rights you can download their leaflet here.
You can also visit their website at www.downs-syndrome.org.uk or contact them by the following means:
Helpline:
(+44) 0845 230 0372 (open 10am-4pm Monday-Friday)
Email:
Address:
Information Team,
Down’s Syndrome Association,
Langdon Down Centre,
2A Langdon Park,
Teddington,
Middlesex,
TW11 9PS,
United Kingdom
