2020 In January DSi visited Nairobi, Kenya to launch our new Employment Advocacy project with the Down Syndrome Society of Kenya and other national organisations in Africa to ensure that people with Down syndrome are included in the workplace. We began training in September and will continue into 2021. EMPLOYMENT ADVOCACY In February we returned to UAE to follow up on the self-advocacy training that begun in September 2019. UAE SELF-ADVOCACY In March we organised the 9th WDSD Conference. For the first time, due to the COVID-19 crisis, this was a virtual event. 2020 conference theme "We Decide" World Down Syndrome Day Virtual Conference As the year progressed we shifted a large portion of our resources to respond to the evolving situation with COVID-19 and to support our members and the global Down syndrome community during these difficult times. COVID-19 response In July we published our long awaited International Guidelines for the Education of Learners with Down Syndrome. EDUCATION GUIDELINES Also in July we launched our #ListenIncludeRespect project working together with Inclusion International developing guidelines for inclusive participation. Inclusive participation In September, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched a project with CAST, in which we explored the barriers that people with Down syndrome face when they want to participate in the work of organisations remotely. We developed digital solutions and with funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, we will start turning our prototypes into reality in 2021. CAST project Throughout 2020 we have supported Nazari Digar, one of our member organisations in Tajikistan, to plan their advocacy for 2021 TAJIKISTAN ADVOCACY Our National Representatives with Down syndrome have been incredibly busy through 2020 in their role in informing and guiding the work that we are doing. You can learn more about our National Representative Committee and watch a video they have made about their role here: National representatives with Down syndrome Manage Cookie Preferences