Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has today met trustees and volunteers from Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association to mark Down Syndrome Week.
Down Syndrome Awareness Week kicked off yesterday ahead of World Down Syndrome Day on Wednesday 21 March which aims to encourage greater inclusion in schools, the community and working environment.
Based at the Sarah Duffen Centre (Cottage Grove School Campus), Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association is one of the UK’s top providers of social and specialist educational services for children with Down syndrome, their families and related professionals.
The charity offers services including New Baby Support Groups, Early Intervention Sessions, Speech and Drama Therapy, and a School Advisory Service supporting the successful inclusion of our children in more than 60 mainstream schools.
Speaking in support of the charity’s awareness raising activities, Stephen Morgan MP, said:
“Down syndrome is one of the most misunderstood learning disabilities, which is why the work of Portsmouth’s association and all it does tirelessly to support people with Down syndrome, and their families, is hugely important.
When children and adults with Down syndrome are given opportunities to participate, and are fully included, then the whole community benefits.
In this week of awareness I want to pay a special thank you to the Association for all they do in our city”.
World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.
