Thank you to everyone who helped raise awareness, educate the public, and fundraise for essential programs this Canadian Down Syndrome Week! In 2024, we explored the importance of social connections to our health and happiness and how societal barriers contribute to social isolation in the Down syndrome community. Next year Canadian Down Syndrome Week will take place October 19th – 25th, so mark your calendars!
“A world without stereotypes to me would be holding the door open, saying hi in the hallways, and asking me questions about myself. I feel misunderstood. I want people to know I am not very different from you.”
– Paul Sawka, Canadian Down Syndrome Society Awareness Leader
By sharing experiences, exploring existing stereotypes, and educating the public, we can break down these barriers that deter people from making meaningful and rewarding friendships. Everyone has something to be gained from making others feel included.
How can you get involved this Canadian Down Syndrome Week? Hosting a fundraiser, teaching others about Down syndrome, wearing mismatched socks to work or school, and making a donation to CDSS are all great ways to show your support for Canadians with Down syndrome and their loved ones.
Show your support during Canadian Down Syndrome Week by hosting a fundraiser with 321 Funds! It’s a community fundraising program designed to help students of any age, ability, and location plan fundraising projects that benefit thousands of Canadians with Down syndrome. Use the 321 Funds Community Fundraising Toolkit: School Edition to plan your event!
Ask your classmates, coworkers, friends, or family to help you raise awareness by wearing a pair of mismatched socks during Canadian Down Syndrome Week! We just released a brand new, limited-edition design for 2024 with our friends at Friday Sock Co. Get yourself and your loved ones a pair and help support life-changing resources and projects at CDSS.
Misconceptions about the abilities and maturity of people with Down syndrome often lead to social barriers, which can foster awkwardness and avoidance and often end in exclusion. This year, The Friendship social experience is disrupting these misconceptions by highlighting how easily relationships can form when people are simply given the opportunity to connect.
By bringing together individuals who may not typically interact, this campaign highlights both the initial awkwardness of meeting new people and the natural progression toward forming connections.
Throughout the sailing trip, participants shared stories, laughter, and experiences, proving that meaningful friendships can flourish despite differences.
How can you help to foster inclusion? By raising awareness, sharing information and resources, hosting or participating in a fundraiser, and reaching out to connect with the Down syndrome community.
New friends await!
Join us in celebrating 10 years of Down syndrome advocacy!
The new photo series Decade celebrates 10 years of challenging stereotypes and advocating for authentic representation of individuals with Down syndrome. Working alongside Hilary Gauld of One for the Wall, we have been able to bring some of our most under-represented community members to the forefront of the advocacy conversation through campaigns like Here I Am and Love Means.
This 10th-anniversary photo series along with a documentary film is set to be released at an in-person event on October 27th, 2024, coinciding with Down Syndrome Awareness Month in the US and Canadian Down Syndrome Week in Canada. This year’s photo series features 62 individuals with Down syndrome aged 1 to 36 years old and underscores the profound impact of Gauld’s work in closing the gap of authentic representation of the Down syndrome community.
To further amplify this message, the short documentary by Digital Sabbath will centre on three families across three different generations, reflecting on the evolving landscape of mainstream media representation and the growing visibility of individuals with Down syndrome.
Watch for the release of the full photo series and documentary in October! You can learn more about the free live screening event in Waterloo, Ontario by visiting the event page.
Make the world a more inclusive place. Use the presentations, posters, and teaching plans below to educate others about Down syndrome in your class, school, and workplace.
Share these posts on social media and help to spread awareness and get people involved in the conversation! Don’t forget to tag us, @CdnDownSyndrome, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
