For family members, friends, and compassionate helpers, Down syndrome is part of your daily reality. That’s true for us at DSRTF, too. We know the joy of loving people with DS — and we know the urgency of helping them build a future in which their promise can be fulfilled.
This month we take that message worldwide. March 21 — 3/21 — is World Down Syndrome Day. On this global awareness day, people around the world reaffirm their commitment to advocacy and inclusion, celebrating the vital role people with Down syndrome play in our societies.
The theme of this year’s WDSD Conference at the United Nations is “Right to Work,” focusing on the right of people with DS to earn a living in an inclusive, accessible labor market, and the importance of community support in making it a reality. We are proud that our work — delivering increased independence and opportunity through cognitive improvements — supports this imperative.
We hope you’ll help us celebrate through our efforts this month:
- 3/21 Matching. On Thursday, March 21, donations will be matched 3:1. Last year your WDSD contributions raised nearly half a million dollars for cognition research — by giving and sharing this opportunity with friends and family, you can make this year even bigger.
- Webinar: DS Cognition Research 101. This special presentation will offer an introductory look at Down syndrome cognition research: the science, the goals, the results thus far — and what you can do to help. Speakers from DSRTF and Roche will offer an informative, accessible look at current topics in DS research and the clinical trials currently underway. If you’re new to research or know someone who is, register now, then join us at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET on Thursday, March 21 for this free online seminar. Register now.
- World Down Syndrome Day Map. Last year we invited friends to help us put DS on the map — to send in photos and statements about what an improvement in cognition could mean to their loved ones. Will you help us build on this effort? Send a photo along with a brief statement answering this question: “What could a 15% increase in learning, memory, and speech mean for your loved one with DS?” (Please include your name, your town, and the name of the person pictured.) Together we’ll show what a world of possibility could open up through continued research and progress.
We’re excited to celebrate the power and the potential of increased independence for people with DS worldwide — on 3/21 and every day.
LuMind Foundation's Plus15 