Community Learning
Webinars | Workshops | NetworkingWelcome to Our Webinar Library
You’ll find information from experts and experienced community members alike on topics chosen by the Down syndrome community like fitness, nutrition, social inclusion, and employment.
Introducing Our New Series for 2025: Caregiver Conversations
In honour of National Caregiver Awareness Month, we are taking the opportunity to listen and learn from our fellow caregivers in the Down syndrome community. This new four-part video series will introduce you to four caregivers who are at different stages of their journey with their loved ones. Each week in May, we’ll release a new caregiver conversation exploring personal triumphs, hard-learned lessons, and advice on navigating advocacy systems.
Episode 1 with Special Guest Jackie Charchuck
Episode 2 with Special Guest Kimberly Rutledge
Episode 3 with Special Guest Wendy Newbery
Episode 4: Coming May 29th
Coming Soon
Mindsets Webinar Series
Building a Healthy Mindset with Dr. Dan Gordon
Special guest and lead researcher of the Global Mindsets Study, Dr. Dan Gordon, explores how the results of the study impact the Down syndrome community and his recommendations for weekly physical and cognitive exercises. During the community panel, special guest figure skater Meg Ohsada and competitive powerlifter Kassidy Rutledge talk about their journeys as athletes who are pushing themselves to conquer new challenges every day.
Nutrition and Meal Planning
In this webinar, we welcome nutrition experts Dr. Vaish Sarathy, Functional Nutrition Practitioner and mother to a child with Down syndrome, Maria Kupreeva, Dietician, and Jamie Gervais, Food Literacy Program Facilitator. They share their advice on finding the right diet for young children with Down syndrome, the connection between nutrition and aging issues such as dementia, and practical tips for youth and young adults who are learning to cook for themselves.
Our community panel guests also provide their practical suggestions for developing cooking skills and finding nutritious meals you love. Thank you to Caleb and Karen Prewitt and Jennifer and Sawyer Engele for sharing your experiences!
Managing Your Mental Health
Learn how to recognize common mental health challenges in adults with Down syndrome and develop skills to promote mental wellness and self-care. Hear lived experiences from a self-advocate and expert insight from guest speaker Dr. Yona Lunsky, Scientific Director of the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre and Director of the Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities Program (H-CARDD) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She is also a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and an adjunct scientist at ICES.
Finding Paid Employment
This free workshop for jobseekers with Down syndrome during Disability Employment Awareness Month featured tips for building your resume and finding job opportunities, advice on how to find work using digital platforms, and insights into what success looks like at a new job. Community members also shared the successes and challenges of their employment journeys. Special guests included Ingrid Muschta from the Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN), Sean McConnell from LinkedIn, and Vanessa Duarte from Adecco Canada.
Building a Social Network
This webinar explored the importance of making social connections and strategies for cultivating strong relationships, including establishing a circle of care. Featuring insights from special guest Anna Bruno, Independent Facilitator at Partners for Planning, and community members Wendy Newbery and the Innes family, who shared their own lived experiences of social connection and isolation.
Continue Learning
If you’re looking for more information, please browse our full library of resources for every life stage including 21 Welcomes for new parents, Mind and Body for teenagers, and Today and Tomorrow for aging seniors.