DSi is delighted to have a formal collaboration agreement in place with the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities (IASSID).

This agreement will enable us to encourage and foster scientific research in the field of Down syndrome, and to apply this research, through sharing of knowledge and education, to the needs of people with Down syndrome, their families and those who live and work with them throughout the World.

IASSID is an international and interdisciplinary scientific non-governmental organisation with official links to the World Health Organization (WHO). It promotes worldwide research and exchange of information on intellectual disabilities. IASSID is the first and only worldwide group dedicated to the scientific study of intellectual disability.

There are 2 key initiatives for DSi and IASSID within the agreement:

1. IASSID Special Interest Research Group (SIRG) on Down Syndrome in collaboration with DSi

The SIRG is the main focus of the formal agreement between DSi and IASSID and we hope that its work will do much to further our aim of improving quality of life for people with Down syndrome worldwide.

Please click here for detailed information on the SIRG's objectives.

For further information on the SIRG's activities in 2009 please click here.

For enquiries related to the SIRG please contact:

Dr Rhonda Faragher,
Secretary/Treasurer IASSID Down Syndrome SIRG
ACU National, Signadou Campus (Canberra)
PO Box 256
DICKSON, ACT, 2602
AUSTRALIA
rhonda.faragher@acu.edu.au

2. IASSID Academy on Teaching, Education and Research and DSi

DSi is committed to sharing our knowledge and expertise on Down syndrome with everyone and, in addition to our outreach programme, we are also working with the IASSID Academy on Teaching, Education and Research and the SIRG with the aim of conducting workshops and training programmes in parts of the World where our assistance is needed. Please watch our website for further details on this.

To learn more about the IASSID Academy click here.

For enquiries related to the IASSID Academy please contact:

Professor Roy Brown
Director and Chair IASSID Academy
C/O University of Victoria
School of Child and Youth Care
University of Victoria
PO Box 1700STN CSC
Victoria BC
Canada V8W 2Y2
roybrown@uvic.ca

For general information on IASSID and for further details of the 3rd IASSID European Regional Congress in October 2010 please visit the IASSID Website.