Last Wednesday was World Down Syndrome Day. This year’s theme was “What I Bring To My Community” and the headline event was a gathering at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, which brought together people with Down Syndrome, their supporters and advocates, senior representatives of major employers, experts in the field of disability employment, government and UN officials under one roof. The aim was to reach out to key employers to ensure they see the benefits of enabling people with Down Syndrome and disabilities to contribute in the workplace; and encourage those who can to help bring about positive change. The key message is that those with Down Syndrome can and do bring so much to the community, when given the opportunity.
Meanwhile, on a daily basis, important work is taking place much closer to home. Last month I met with members of ‘The Ups of Downs’, a local registered charity that supports families who have a child or children with Down Syndrome. Back in the summer of 2004, four babies with Down Syndrome were born at Warwick Hospital and ‘The Ups of Downs’ was the brainchild of one of their mothers. It provides an essential forum for parents to share their information and experiences and also a meeting place for children with Down Syndrome (from birth to thirteen years) to come together and work on essential skills in a fun and engaging way.
This time last year, on World Down Syndrome Day 2017, ‘The Ups of Downs’ portrait photography exhibition was launched in Leamington. #ThisChildCan showcases children and young people with Down Syndrome displaying their talents, and aims to demystify the condition and challenge outdated images of it. The photographs toured the local area in 2017, and some are now permanently installed at Warwick Hospital and UHCW (Walsgrave Hospital) in Coventry.
It is in all of our interests to promote an inclusive society, where every member of the community is equally valued and encouraged to contribute and achieve. From schools to the workplace, diversity is essential and it is vital to look beyond a disability; to shift our focus from limitations to achievements and allow to everyone to make a meaningful contribution.
If you would like more information on the work of “The Ups of Downs”, please go to their website: upsofdowns.co.uk