Self-Advocacy Training in China
We recently had an incredible time visiting our member organization, ‘Up For Down’s China,’ in July.
Our program team was there to lead a four-day training on self-advocacy, a key tool that helps people with Down syndrome lead more fulfilling lives.
The purpose of this training was to build confidence and empower individuals to speak up, make their own decisions, and actively participate in their communities.
The core themes of the training included:
- Supporting self-advocates
- Starting or growing self-advocacy groups
- Building stronger, more inclusive programs
- Learning from inspiring local and international success stories
Why China?
With a population of nearly 1.5 billion people, China is home to a significant number of people with Down syndrome. While Down Syndrome International hasn’t had a strong presence in the country before, this training marks an important and exciting step forward.
Up for Downs China invited other organizations from across the country to join the training. The participants included self-advocates with Down syndrome, their family members, and organization staff, creating a truly collaborative and supportive environment.
Day 1:
We kicked off the training by exploring what self-advocacy is and why it’s so vital.
We had open discussions about the experiences of people with Down syndrome in China, reflecting on the past, understanding the present, and envisioning a hopeful future.
Participants learned about key concepts like speaking up, making choices, leadership, and teamwork.
The session was made even more special by the DSi ambassador for China, Tang Yi Feng, who shared his personal experience as a self-advocate.
Day 2:
On the second day, the focus shifted to skill-building.
We discussed how to be a good support person and what an effective self-advocacy group does to create change.
A large portion of the day was dedicated to hands-on practice, allowing everyone to put their new skills to the test.
Day 3:
Day three was all about sharing knowledge.
We covered how to teach self-advocacy to others, ensure people’s safety, and plan engaging activities.
In the afternoon, the groups worked together to plan their own activities, applying what they had learned throughout the training.
Day 4:
On the final day, the groups led their own self-advocacy sessions, teaching the rest of the participants about four key topics.
We also collaborated to create a plan for the future of self-advocacy in China, and the ideas were nothing short of inspiring.
The training concluded with a certificate ceremony. As each person received their certificate, they made a personal commitment to help advance self-advocacy in China.
This training is a significant step toward helping more people with Down syndrome in China feel confident, speak for themselves, and play a bigger role in their communities.
We can’t wait to see the incredible things these new advocates will achieve!
Learn more about our self-advocacy work:
Self advocacy
We are working with our network of people and organisations to support self-advocates to speak up for their rights.