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  1. About us
  2. Our history

Our history

1993

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DSi was founded as a result of a meeting between Jo Mills (Canada), Penny Robertson (Australia) and Sylvia Escamilla (Mexico) who formalised the mission and structure of the organisation.

Published: 1st November, 2019

Updated: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2002

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In May DSi was registered as a UK charity with the Charity Commission of England and Wales.

Published: 2nd November, 2019

Updated: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2009

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In May we delivered our first training programme, in Libya. 

In August the 10th World Down Syndrome Congress took place in Dublin, Ireland.

In November, we moved to offices in Teddington, England at the former home of pioneering Victorian Physician Dr John Langdon Down, after whom Down syndrome is named.

Published: 3rd November, 2019

Updated: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2011

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In December the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), a resolution proposed and promoted by Brazil, following a request by the Brazilian Federation of Associations of Down Syndrome, who worked with DSi and our members to launch an extensive campaign to generate international support.

Published: 4th November, 2019

Updated: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2012

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In March we organised the first WDSD Conference at United Nations HQ in New York, United States.

2012 conference theme “Building Our Future”

In August, we were in Cape Town, South Africa for the 11th World Down Syndrome Congress.

Published: 5th November, 2019

Updated: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2013

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In March we organised the 2nd WDSD Conference at United Nations HQ in New York, United States.

2013 conference theme “Right to Work”

In April we visited Tajikistan to deliver education training. 

TAJIKISTAN EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Published: 6th November, 2019

Updated: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2014

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In March we organised the 3rd WDSD Conference at United Nations HQ in New York, United States.

2014 conference theme “Health and Wellbeing –Access and Equality for All”

In October we visited Oman to deliver healthcare training. 

OMAN HEALTH TRAINING

Published: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2015

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In March we organised the 4th WDSD Conference at United Nations HQ in New York, United States.

2015 conference theme "My Opportunities, My Choices" – Enjoying Full and Equal Rights and the Role of Families

In August we were in Chennai, India for the 12th World Down Syndrome Congress.

Published: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2016

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In March we organised the 5th WDSD Conference at United Nations HQ in New York, United States.

2016 conference theme “My Friends, My Community” – The benefits of inclusive environments for today's children and tomorrow's adults

DSi supported the establishment of Rwanda Down Syndrome Organisation. 

RWANDA ORGANISATION SUPPORT

Published: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2017

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In March we organised the 6th WDSD Conference at United Nations HQ in New York, United States.

2017 conference theme "My Voice My Community" – Enabling people with Down syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to be fully included in the community

Also in March we organised the first WDSD event at United Nations in Geneva.

We visited Turkey to deliver our first self-advocacy training.

TURKEY SELF-ADVOCACY

We worked with Sociedad Peruana de Sindrome Down in Peru to deliver our parent support project.

PERU PARENT SUPPORT

Published: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2018

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In March we organised the 7th WDSD Conference at UN HQ in New York and the 2nd side event at the Human Rights Council, UN, Geneva, Switzerland. 

2018 conference theme "What I bring to my community"

In June we returned to Turkey to deliver follow-up self-advocacy training.

In July we were in Glasgow, Scotland for the 13th World Down Syndrome Congress.  

In November we visited Nigeria to deliver self-advocacy training.

NIGERIA SELF-ADVOCACY

In December we worked with Down Syndrome Association of Nepal to deliver our early development project.

NEPAL EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Published: 2nd December, 2019

Author: Anna Sands

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2019

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In March we organised the 8th WDSD Conference at UN HQ in New York and the 3rd side event at the Human Rights Council, UN, Geneva, Switzerland. 

2019 conference theme "Leave no one behind"

A draft copy of our international Education Guidelines was formally presented to a senior representative of UNICEF at the conference in New York.

EDUCATION GUIDELINES

In June we returned to Nigeria to offer further self-advocacy training supported by our newly recruited Self-Advocate Fellow George Basil Okudi.

We also visited Bangladesh to deliver self-advocacy training.

BANGLADESH SELF-ADVOCACY

In August the DSi Board members and staff meet to review our strategy and plan for the years ahead.

In September we visited the UAE to deliver self-advocacy training ahead of the 14th World Down Syndrome Congress which will be held in Dubai in November 2020.

UAE SELF-ADVOCACY

In October we launched a fundraising project to enable the Rwanda Down Syndrome Organisation (RDSO) to train family members and teachers in Rwanda to support the development of children with Down syndrome.

RWANDA EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Also in October we visited Kosovo to deliver self-advocacy training.

KOSOVO SELF-ADVOCACY

In November we returned to Bangladesh for the second training workshop of our project supporting the Down Syndrome Society of Bangladesh to start their first self-advocacy group.

BANGLADESH SELF-ADVOCACY

Published: 2nd December, 2019

Updated: 21st April, 2020

Author: Anna Sands

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2020

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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 called 'Explore', funded by 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.

EXPLORE with CAST

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 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

Published: 16th April, 2020

Updated: 21st December, 2020

Author: Anna Sands

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Showing 10 of 13

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Contact us at
Down Syndrome International
7-9 Chapel Street, Exmouth, Devon,
EX8 1HR, United Kingdom
+44 (0)1395 493108
[email protected]

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Down Syndrome International
Langdon Down Centre, 2A Langdon
Park, Teddington, Middlesex, 
TW11 9PS, United Kingdom

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UK Registered Charity no. 1091843.