The Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) is the only charity in the UK that is there throughout the whole lifespan of somebody who has Down’s syndrome, from before birth, through to old age, and everything in between. Our aim is to enable people who have Down’s syndrome to live full and rewarding lives, and we have been going for more than 50 years.

Our Information Services are the beating heart of the Down’s Syndrome Association. Our confidential Helpline receives more than 10,000 calls each year and our team of specialist advisers and Information Officers can offer advice about any aspect of living with Down’s syndrome. We also provide specialist advice through people like our Speech and Language Therapist, Social Care Advisor and Welfare and Benefits Advisor.

A Helpline caller said: ‘Eighteen years ago, that first phone call I made, I realise the question I wanted to ask is, ‘I am afraid, I am lost, I cannot do this on my own. Since then they [the DSA] haven’t left our side. I think they heard me.”

We offer training to support individuals and their families, and also provide regular online group sessions for parents and carers. We have delivered our Tell It Right® training to more than 10,000 maternity health care professionals across the country.

A midwife who undertook the training told us: ‘I realise now that lifelong messages are taken away from words spoken at a sensitive time’.

We also run an employment programme called WorkFit, which brings together jobseekers and employers, working with them to create successful job opportunities. 94% of candidates placed by WorkFit who have been in permanent paid work since 2021, continue to be employed. Amongst the hundreds of employers we are working with, are GXO Logistics, Gucci, Odeon, Nando’s, Wickes, Dunelm, Greggs, DEFRA, the Environment Agency and various police forces.

A WorkFit candidate told us: ‘I love my job, I enjoy doing all my tasks well and my buddies help me to learn new things. I have got so much ability and want to work hard to make people proud of me.’

Our DSEngage programme was launched in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s a weekly online programme of activities such as yoga, dance, workouts, crafts and discos for all ages that brings people together and helps them to stay engaged and active, all from the comfort of their home.

We also run a group called Our Voice. This is a team of people who have Down’s syndrome who meet with DSA staff each week to discuss various subjects, as well as working on work on self-advocacy activities and campaigns.

You can find out more on our website:

www.downs-syndrome.org.uk