Welcome!
Thank you so much for joining us!
Your voice has the power to make our message a little bit louder. By speaking up with us, you can help to make the world a better place for people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.
Take a look at these resources that will help you on your mission. More resources will be added over the coming weeks.
‘End The Stereotypes’ resources.
For World Down Syndrome Day 2024, we call for people around the world to End The Stereotypes.
These resources include an explanation of the theme (available in English and Spanish), and guides to help you talk about this in your world.
Don’t forget to share your message on social media using the hashtag #EndTheStereotypes
Theme guide (English)
This guide explains the theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2024, ‘End The Stereotypes’.
Guía temática (Español)
Esta guía explica el tema del Día Mundial del Síndrome de Down 2024 – Eliminar los Estereotipos.
Guia do tema (Português)
Este guia explica o tema do Dia Mundial da Síndrome de Down 2024, “Fim dos Estereótipos”. Obrigado a Luciana do Brasil por criar esta tradução.
Advocacy guide
This guide will help you to speak up about the things that are important to you, and to support self-advocates to speak up for themselves.
Guide for children.
This guide has been created to help you talk to children about Down syndrome, intellectual disability and stereotypes.
Guide for children slideshow
This slideshow has been designed to accompany the guide for children. A helpful visual resource for lessons and assemblies.
Guide for organisations.
This guide has been created to help you to talk about disability and stereotypes in your organisation and choose a way to mark this day together.
Fundraising guide.
This guide will help you organise and run fundraising activities to support the work of Down syndrome organisations.
‘Lots Of Socks’ resources.
Get conversations started by hosting a ‘Lots Of Socks’ day in your setting.
Don’t forget to share your sock selfies on social media using the hashtag #LotsOfSocks
‘Lots Of Socks’ campaign guide
This guide explains what the ‘Lots Of Socks’ campaign is all about and how you can get involved, including fun activities for your school or workplace.
‘Lots Of Socks’ poster
A simple poster to promote a ‘Lots Of Socks’ day in your setting.
‘Lots Of Socks’ poster template
Use our poster template to make your own ‘Lots Of Socks’ poster.
‘Lots Of Socks’ design template
Use our template to design your own socks. Make it a competition! You could event cut them out to make sock bunting.
More ways to get involved!
There are lots more things that you can do to raise awareness.
Check out these resources to help you on your way.
‘Light up a landmark’ template letter
Use this template letter to ask officials to light up their landmark in support of WDSD.
Logos and images.
You are welcome to use our logos to create your own resources for World Down Syndrome Day. We also have a profile image and banner images for you to use on social media.
WDSD colouring page
Huge thanks to Mark Jones for creating this line art for you to print out, colour in and share with the world!
WDSD colouring page
A simpler version of the colouring page. Thanks to Mark Jones for creating this.
WDSD Zine
Thank you to Amelia for creating this Zine to share what World Down Syndrome Day is all about
Down syndrome explained.
If you want to know more about Down syndrome and what it is like to have Down syndrome, then the ‘Down Syndrome Explained’ resource is for you.
You might also like to read the CRPD resource to learn what countries should be doing to make sure people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else.
Down Syndrome Explained
This pack provides bitesize introductions to some of the key topics relevant to people with Down syndrome.
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities sets out what countries have to do to make sure that disabled people have the same rights as everybody else.
Easy Read version of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
An Easy Read version of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This sets out what countries have to do to make sure that disabled people have the same rights as everybody else.
Videos
Here are some of our favourite videos about World Down Syndrome Day and about Down syndrome.
What is World Down Syndrome Day?
Check out this short film, which answers the question of what is World Down Syndrome Day and lets you know how you can take part on 21 March each year!
End The Stereotypes explainer video
Watch this video to learn about stereotypes and why we want to End The Stereotypes.
Assume That I Can
The international awareness campaign from CoorDown shows how our negative assumptions about people with Down syndrome can lead us to treat them in such a way that these assumptions become reality.
Please note, this video contains some explicit language.
Rompamos estereotipos.
Nuestros estereotipos sobre las personas con síndrome de Down pueden llevarnos a subestimarlas, excluirlas, discriminarlas y limitarlas.
Eliminando esas barreras podremos tratarlos como realmente son y así darles más oportunidades en el colegio, centros de trabajo y actividades sociales.
Chromosomes R Us
A short film by actors with Down Syndrome on how Down Syndrome (also known as Trisomy 21) occurs. Made by Shabang Inclusive Learning in collaboration with Mediapreview. Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK. This film was made possible by generous funding from BBC Children in Need.
Just Like You
People with Down syndrome have an inherent right to be accepted and included as valued and equal members of the community. The video ‘Just Like You’ is an example of how this is happening. This video was jointly funded, produced and directed by two Kansas City, United States non-profit organisations.
We’re all different but we’re all the same – so let’s all be friends!
This animation, and very catchy song, was developed especially to speak to kids about inclusion and being different and yet being the same.
Thanks to the team at Down Syndrome Australia for sharing this with us.
Health Equity explainer video
Did you know that people with disabilities have worse health outcomes than other people?
This video explains the Down Syndrome International Network campaign calling for Health Equity for people with disabilities.
Down Syndrome Answers
The best person to answer a question about Down syndrome is a person with Down syndrome. The Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) found the most-asked questions on Google and asked 10 Canadians with Down syndrome to give their answers. Click below to see all of the questions and answers.
More than 3,000 Videos Related to Down Syndrome
Down TV is an interactive platform that includes a wide selection of videos related to Down syndrome. On Down TV you will find a wide range of topics covering many of the questions that Down Syndrome raises.
