2022 In January, we celebrated the translation of our International Guidelines for the Education of Learners with Down Syndrome into Albanian. EDUCATION GUIDELINES In March we organised the 11th World Down Syndrome Day Conference. 2022 conference theme "#InclusionMeans..." Find out about our #InclusionMeans campaign and watch the presentations delivered at the 11th World Down Syndrome Day Conference in New York, 21 March 2022: #InclusionMeans In May, we launched Kami, the world’s first virtual influencer with Down syndrome. Kami’s mission is to revolutionise the digital world, making it an inclusive and welcoming place for people with Down syndrome. Introducing Kami In June, we launched the Listen Include Respect guidelines at COSP15 (Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). The guidelines will help organisations of all types to be more inclusive of people with disabilities. From producing and delivering accessible information, to running inclusive meetings, to including people with intellectual disabilities in consultations. We are currently working with self-advocates to develop online training to accompany the guidelines. This is a joint project with Inclusion International. LISTEN INCLUDE RESPECT WEBSITE We have chosen to lead by example by completing a review of how inclusive DSi is of people with Down syndrome. We are using this review to make a plan to improve our inclusive practice, which will be reviewed and updated each year. In August we completed our Inclusive Education pilot study in the United Kingdom. The study explored how the existing education system caters to children with additional needs. We have produced 50 video resources and more than 40 written resources that will be published in 2023. These will be relevant to education systems around the world. Our Employment work this year has been focused on 4 countries - Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda. Our team has worked with the National Down syndrome organisations and their self-advocacy groups to conduct interviews, focus groups, and surveys, and to carry out employment advocacy activities, speaking up about their right to employment to key stakeholders in their country. Research reports about the barriers and good practices in the inclusive employment of people with intellectual disabilities will be launched in January 2023. We have worked with our team of Ambassadors to carry out research into the current situation with self-advocacy in their countries. The research will help us make a plan for how we can promote self-advocacy around the world. In 2023 we are going to develop a new online self-advocacy training, then work to create opportunities for self-advocacy groups around the world to meet and share ideas and experiences. Throughout 2022, the DSi team has been working on a new strategy for the organisation. The strategy will support our vision for the world and our plan to contribute to this change. We are excited to share more about our new strategy in 2023! Manage Cookie Preferences