LiveWorkPlay Celebrates World Down Syndrome Day 2025

The theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2025 is “Improve Our Support Systems”

People with Down syndrome need support to live and be included in the community, like everyone else.

Families also need support, as they are often supporting their family member with Down syndrome.

Support is a key human right that helps make other rights possible.

The support needed is different for each person.

People with Down syndrome as well as all persons have the right to support that meets their needs and gives them choice, control and dignity.

Morning session is above, afternoon session is below!

A message from Down Syndrome International for World Down Syndrome Day, March 21, 2025 https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/2025-theme

What needs to improve?

Many people with Down syndrome around the world don’t get the support they need.

Many countries do not have support systems that meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families.

Or the support systems they have do not respect the human rights of people with disabilities.

Governments must make sure there is a support system, so people with disabilities are included in the community.

We call on all governments to improve our support systems.
A good support system includes:

Governance – laws and policies to design, implement and monitor support systems.

These should be based on human rights and include people with disabilities at all stages of design, implementation and monitoring.

Information and data – to understand the barriers that people with disabilities face and the individual support needs that people have.

Social protection – support from the government, like money or services. This should cover the disability-related extra costs that people with disabilities and their families face.

For example:

• Direct costs like paying for assistive technology or support, or higher health, transport or housing costs.

• Indirect costs like missed earnings that people with disabilities face, due to barriers faced at work, or that families face, because they have to provide support.

Human support – this means support by a person, needed to help with daily living tasks and promote independence.

This can include:

• Support by families, friends or other contacts.

• Support by support services or support workers.

People with disabilities should have choice and control over the support they receive.

Assistive technology – tools or apps that help people with tasks and to be independent. For example, picture cards or apps to help people communicate.

Access to transport.

Housing that is accessible and not too expensive.

#WDSD #WDSD25 #WDSD2025