What happened?

On 24 July 2018 the first ever Global Disability Summit was held in London. It was hosted by the UK Department for International Development (UK DFID), along with the International Disability Alliance and the Government of Kenya.

Find out more about the event here: 

Global Disability Summit

Down Syndrome International was invited to make a statement at the Summit about employment and work for people with Down syndrome. We asked for ideas from our Committee of National Representatives With Down Syndrome. The Committee is made up of people with Down syndrome from 27 countries. Then we combined all their answers together to make a statement.

The statement was then presented to and approved by over 70 people with Down syndrome from around the world at the World Down Syndrome Congress in Glasgow.

The statement

Here is the statement read by Emeric Jeanjean, a self-advocate with Down syndrome:

This is a statement from people with Down syndrome from around the world.

Getting a job can be hard if you have Down syndrome.
Often we are paid less and sometimes treated badly.
This needs to change.

We want you to know that we are ready to work.
We can do the same jobs as everyone else.
We work hard and should be treated the same as everyone else.
Having a chance to work and be treated equally is our right.

So what do we need?
We need a good education, just like everyone else.
We need training to get ready for work.
We need support to find the right job.
We need to be given a chance by employers.
We need to be treated right at work.

Let us help your business succeed.
Let us help our countries succeed.
Respect our human rights.
We just need an opportunity.