Multilingual Caregiver Network
Connecting Families in the Down Syndrome Community
Receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome for your child can be overwhelming. Many caregivers find it helpful to hear first-hand experiences from others in the Down syndrome community, but connecting with local families who speak languages other than English can be a challenge.
The Multilingual Caregiver Network creates opportunities for caregivers who are new to the community to engage via phone or video chat with someone who speaks their first language. There are currently over a dozen languages represented in our network and we are always looking to add more.
- Arabic
- ASL
- Cantonese
- Filipino
(Cebuano, Tagalog, and Visayan)
- French
- Hindi
- Japanese
- Mandarin
- Polish
- Portugese
- Punjabi
- Spanish
- Turkish
- Urdu
Join the Multilingual Caregiver Network
New to the Down syndrome community? Fill out the form below and we will do our best to connect you with someone in our community who speaks your first language. Medical professionals are also welcome to request a connection on behalf of a caregiver with their permission.
If you are a family member or caregiver of a person with Down syndrome who is fluent in a language or languages other than English, and you’re willing to connect with caregivers who are new to the Down syndrome community, we invite you to fill out your contact information below. We will contact you when someone requests a connection,
Join the Multilingual Caregiver Network
How Does It Work?
When a new caregiver reaches out to us looking for a connection, we contact someone in our Multilingual Caregiver Network who speaks the same language. We ask for their permission to share their contact details with the new caregiver.
The new caregiver will then reach out directly to the multilingual caregiver arrange a phone call or video chat. The multilingual caregiver would not be expected to act as a translator or decision-maker, they would simply share experiences to help the new caregiver feel like part of a community. The Multilingual Caregiver Network is a free resource available to anyone living in Canada.
Help Connect Caregivers Across the Country
Resources for New Parents
Expecting a new baby?
21 Welcomes is Canada’s guide for new parents who are expecting or just had a baby with Down syndrome. This booklet will support you through the beginning of your journey into the Down syndrome community. 21 Welcomes is available in English and French.
Inside you will find:
- First-hand stories from parents, siblings, grandparents
- Messages about what it’s like to live with Down syndrome in Canada
- Tips on how to share the news with friends and family
- Essential information about feeding, early interventions, and more!
Translate Our Website
Most of our website, with the exception of embedded documents and PDFs, can be translated into various languages by following these steps. *Note: these instructions can only be used when viewing the site on a computer or laptop, not a phone or tablet.*
- Look at the top right corner of the webpage. You will see “EN FR” next to a small Canadian flag icon.
- Click FR.
- A small rectangle will appear next to the letters that says “French, English, Google Translate”.
- Click on the three vertical dots to the right of “English”.
- A drop-down menu will appear. Click “Choose another language”.
- A new rectangle will appear that says “Language to translate into”. Click “English” and choose a language from the dropdown menu.
- Click “Translate”.
Questions?
Help Connect Caregivers Across Canada
Donate to support CDSS resources like the Multilingual Caregiver Network and you will be helping to connect caregivers across the country, giving more families the opportunity to be welcomed into the Down syndrome community in their first language.