The 1st International Synod of People with Down Syndrome took place in Dublin, Ireland on the 19th August 2009 at Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. The Synod preceded the 10th World Down Syndrome Congress (WDSC) and was the culmination of 4 years of planning. The aim of the event was to ensure that people with Down syndrome had a proper opportunity to meet their peers from around the World and discuss important issues affecting their daily lives.
The event began with an opening ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the Presidents of Down Syndrome International and Down Syndrome Ireland and the Chair of the WDSC. Following this, the topics chosen for the 1st Synod, “Citizenship and Living in the Community” and “Employment and Social Interaction” were revealed.
In the morning session Ms Mairead McGuinness, who is a member of the European Parliament, spoke to the delegates about active citizenship and being involved in community and political life, following which the delegates broke into groups to discuss the issues and also to make introductions and get to know each other. A healthy debate was held within the groups with the general consensus that people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to have more of a voice in the community but must take it upon themselves to do this going forward.
In the afternoon session, David Hingsburger addressed the delegates in relation to employment and social interaction within the community, which was followed by questions and a lengthy open forum discussion on the important issues.
At the end of the afternoon the Synod closed, with those in attendance agreeing that it had been a great success. A total of 120 people from 20 countries attended the event, and the Chair of the WDSC Pat Clarke believed that its success spoke for itself “It was a powerful event – so powerful that when it was time to finish the delegates wished to continue and a large number went into an adjoining room to continue their discussions”.
A word of thanks must go to Down Syndrome Ireland for securing funding from the Irish Government to organise and host the event. It was felt that there was an opportunity for the WDSC to include a formal platform for people with Down syndrome to have their views and opinions heard and to discuss important issues. Down Syndrome Ireland not only organised the event, but also undertook training programmes for those people with Down syndrome in Ireland participating as ambassadors for the Congress, and their input to the Synod was of great assistance.
Photo above - The synod for young adults with Down syndrome is opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emer Costello (left) seen here with Pat Clarke (WDSC organiser) Mary O'Rielley (President, Down Syndrome Ireland), Penny Robertson (President, Down Syndrome International 2008/9), Shona Robertson (delegate from Australia), Mairead McGuinness (member of European Parliament) and Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon (delegate from Singapore).
