This year’s Down Syndrome Awareness Week kicked off yesterday incorporating World Down Syndrome on Tuesday 21 March. The theme is ‘Don’t just see Down’s syndrome’ and 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 offer 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.
They also offer regular training for school staff, parents and other health related professionals, with over 40 midwives and health care professionals attended a ‘Tell it Right Training’ at the QA Hospital recently.
Speaking in support of the charity’s awareness raising activities, Cllr Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth Labour Leader, 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 DS, 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”.
As part of Down Syndrome Week local people are being invited to go onto Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association’s Facebook Page and give it a ‘like’. The charity helps to achieve 2,000 new likes by the end of the week!
