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  • inclusive-organisations
  1. Key issues
  2. Inclusive organisations

Inclusive organisations

Everyone has the right to be involved in decision-making that affects them

This is described in Article 4.3 (General Obligations) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for all governments to recognise, specifically in relation to persons with disabilities.

This means organisations must make sure that people with disabilities are involved in everything they do.


The challenge

Right now, there are more self-advocate leaders than ever working for change.

But we know people with an intellectual disability are often still not included meaningfully in the work that affects them.

"When we take part in meetings with other organisations we very rarely get the information in the way we need."

There are lots of organisations working with people with intellectual disabilities who do this very well.

However, we can all do better.


What is an inclusive organisation?

Put simply, an inclusive organisation is one that includes all its stakeholders in its work

Many people face barriers that prevent them from playing key roles in organisations. 

Such roles may include (but are not limited to): 

  • leadership and governance;
  • development of activities or projects;
  • publishing or broadcasting information that can be understood by everyone.  

Every organisation should aspire to include everyone in its decision-making.

This can be achieved in any organisation, with the right processes in place and with a genuine desire to succeed. 


What we are doing

Project focus - Listen Include Respect

  • WHEN - 2021-2022
  • WHO WITH - With Inclusion International and our respective member organisations.
  • WHAT'S HAPPENING - "Listen Include Respect" is a project developing international guidelines so organisations can make their work inclusive.

Visit the LIR website


Project focus - Inclusive participation with CAST

  • WHEN - 2021-2022
  • WHO WITH - With our UK member, Down's Syndrome Association (England, Wales and N.I.), and the DSi Ambassadors.
  • WHAT'S HAPPENING - a project exploring solutions to the challenge of remote participation.

LEARN ABOUT CAST


What's next?

We are learning all the time from our current projects. In the future, we hope to do more work like this, working with our membership network and with international organisations all over the world. DSi will also continue to improve our own work, ensuring that everything we do includes people with Down syndrome, from start to finish.   


Sign up.

Sign up to hear more about the work we are doing to improve quality of life for people with Down syndrome around the world.

SIGN-UP - OUR WORK


Related organisations news and events

World Down Syndrome Day celebrations in Geneva 2023

World Down Syndrome Day celebrations in Geneva 2023

Self-advocates with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities will speak up about Easy-to-Understand Communication. Read more

Start: 20th March, 2023 at 11:00am

End: 21st March, 2023 at 11:00pm

Published: 17th January, 2023

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Author: Anna Sands

Location: Palais des Nations, 14, Avenue de la Paix, Geneva, 1211

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DSi is working on a new strategy for our organisation. This is essential to make sure we have a clear vision and plan for the next few years. Read more

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With Us Not For Us - World Down Syndrome Day 2023

With Us Not For Us - World Down Syndrome Day 2023

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Listen Include Respect: LAUNCHED!

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The Listen Include Respect guidelines will help organisations of all types to be more inclusive of people with disabilities. Read more

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#InclusionMeans - in organisations

Find out what we think inclusion means in organisations, and what it doesn't mean! Read more

Published: 18th March, 2022

Updated: 30th November, 2022

Author: Anna Sands

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Share your experience of participation

The International Disability Alliance (IDA) has launched the Easy Read version of the Second Global Survey on OPD Participation in Programmes and Policies. Read more

Published: 18th November, 2021

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#WeThe15

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WeThe15 is sport’s biggest ever human rights movement to end discrimination. Together, we aim to transform the lives of the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities who represent 15% of the global population. Read more

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Updated: 20th February, 2022

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Digital solutions: watch

Digital solutions: watch

Watch the recording from our group learning session where we show you what we are doing to make it easier for people with Down syndrome to participate remotely. Read more

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Updated: 20th February, 2022

Author: Robin Gibson

Exploring apps to enable inclusion

Exploring apps to enable inclusion

We have found apps that make direct communication with people with Down syndrome easier for organisations, so that it is easier for people with Down syndrome to take part. Read more

Published: 20th May, 2021

Updated: 20th February, 2022

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Meet our newly named Ambassadors

Meet our newly named Ambassadors

Our National Representatives are now known as DSi Ambassadors and we couldn't be prouder to work with them. Read more

Published: 13th May, 2021

Updated: 20th February, 2022

Author: Robin Gibson

My contribution to 'Listen, Include, Respect'

My contribution to 'Listen, Include, Respect'

George Okudi has been worked jointly with DSi and Inclusion International for four months on the ‘Listen Include Respect’ project. Read more

Published: 19th April, 2021

Updated: 20th February, 2022

Author: George Okudi

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Listen Include Respect progress report

We and our partner Inclusion International are proud of the progress achieved in the first year on our joint project developing guidelines for inclusive participation. Read more

Published: 3rd February, 2021

Updated: 20th February, 2022

Author: Anna Sands

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Our National Representative Committee meet the Board of Trustees

We believe that people with Down syndrome should be involved at all levels of decision making within Down syndrome organisations. Read more

Published: 23rd November, 2020

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Watch our inclusive participation presentation

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The National Representatives discussed how they want to contribute to the work of DSi, what roles they could take and the projects they want the group to work on. Read more

Published: 21st July, 2020

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Author: Robin Gibson

Comments: 1

First Listen Include Respect reference group meeting

First Listen Include Respect reference group meeting

We discussed the process for producing international guidelines on the inclusive participation of people with intellectual disabilities. Read more

Published: 15th June, 2020

Updated: 2nd February, 2022

Author: Nathan Rowe

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