mDs Newsletter - March 2022
World Down Syndrome Day is March 21, 2022
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) on March 21, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. It falls every year on the 21st day of the 3rd month of the calendar year. The day was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down Syndrome.
You can celebrate World Down Syndrome Day in a variety of ways. This year consider attending the 2022 WDSD Conference sponsored by Down Syndrome International (DSI) on March 21. IMDSA member and self advocate Gillian Gerke, will speak during a virtual session on Inclusion in Health. Register to attend her session. It's FREE!
How are you planning to celebrate? Take action now!
World Down Syndrome Day Conference March 21, 2022
Down Syndrome International is organizing the 11th World Down Syndrome Day Conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The topic is inclusion. At this conference people with Down syndrome and disabilities, supporters and advocates, government and UN officials and NGO representatives will explain what inclusion means. They will be sharing knowledge and experiences from countries around the world with the hope that all those who attend gain a greater understanding about what inclusion means.
Gillian Gerke, a self-advocate living with mDs, and a long standing member of IMDSA, will be speaking at 2:00 pm EDT, 6:00 pm UTC on #Inclusion in Health. Don't miss her session. This is a FREE virtual event that you can join via Zoom or UN Web TV but you must register.
World Down Syndrome Day Conference
Monday, March 21, 2022
About the Conference
Register Now!
About Gillian Gehrke
Gillian Gehrke is a Community Engagement Officer of Down Syndrome Queensland. On March 22, at 3:00PM Gillian will speak at the 11 annual World Down Syndrome Day Conference (Session #4) on Inclusion in Health. Don't miss her session. This is a FREE virtual event that you can join via Zoom or UN Web TV but you must register.
Learn more about Gillian Gerke
Why Inclusion Matters
The general principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), calls for “full and effective participation and inclusion in society”.
Everyone should have the same opportunities, take part in the same activities, be able to go to the same places and enjoy the same experiences in life. But around the world people with Down syndrome and disabilities do not benefit from full and effective participation and inclusion in society. There are many reasons for this. One reason is a lack of agreed understanding about what inclusion is and what inclusive systems look like in practice. Not everyone understands how to include people with Down Syndrome and disabilities, or how full inclusion benefits everyone - with or without disabilities and what's happening in the world to bring about inclusion for all.
Working together to improve quality of life for people
with Down syndrome and disabilities around the world.
What does inclusion mean to you?
Think about what inclusion means in your daily life; when you take part in activities like school, work, recreation or public life, alongside other people. Are you included? Do you have the same opportunities as others? Or do you face barriers? Do you participate in inclusive activities? Or are they segregated? What is an an inclusive activity or an inclusive system? Do you take part in one? Or would you like to? How would you describe such an activity or system.
Share in your own words what inclusion means to you on the IMDSA facebook page using the hashtag #InclusionMeans
IMDSA Awareness Campaign
Don't forget to share these beautiful and inspiring IMDSA Awareness Campaign images on your personal social pages. This is a great way to generate positive awareness of people born with mDs and fundraise all at the same time.
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