About us
We are the global network of people with Down syndrome and their families.
Our network includes people with Down syndrome and other disabilities, friends and family members, professionals and organisations from around the world.
The people in our network tell us about life for people with Down syndrome in different parts of the world.
We gather evidence and examples of good practice to understand what needs to change.
Then, together we speak up for the human rights of all people with Down syndrome around the world.
We have a stronger voice when we work together.
Meet the people and organisations in our network.
Organisations.
Our network includes over 150 organisations that represent and support the Down syndrome community in their country.
Ambassadors.
We work with a committee of Ambassadors who have Down syndrome who help us understand how to include people with Down syndrome better.
Staff team.
Our staff team coordinates the network.
They facilitate network meetings and lead research, programme activities, and international advocacy campaigns.
Board of Trustees.
The staff team is goverened by a Board of Trustees.
The Board is diverse, including people from all over the world, with a wide, combined breadth of professional and lived experience.
Our memberships.
We are a member of the following international groups:
International Disability Alliance.
The International Disability Alliance is an Alliance of global and regional organisations of persons with disabilities.
Together, we advocate at the United Nations for a more inclusive global environment for everyone.
We are in Special Consultative Status with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health.
Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health is hosted by the World Health Organization.
It is the world’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being, with over 1,400 partner organisations working together to build a more equitable world.
Global Alliance for Care.
The Global Alliance for Care is the first global multi-stakeholder community that facilitates and fosters spaces for collective action, advocacy, communication, and learning about care, its recognition as a need, as work, and as a right.
National Institutes of Health Down Syndrome Consortium.
The National Institutes of Health Down Syndrome Consortium encourages research on the health of people with Down syndrome.
Together we make sure that accurate and up-to-date information reaches the people who need it.
Patrons.
We are very grateful to our patrons, who give us their time, support our events, raise our public profile and make a major contribution to help us achieve our objectives.
Damon and Georgie Hill
Damon Hill OBE was the 1996 Formula One World Champion and is a successful business, television and media personality.
Georgie Hill is a Trustee of Down’s Syndrome Association (UK).
Their son Oliver has Down syndrome.
Michael Caines
Michael Caines MBE is an internationally recognised chef, business and television personality.
Michael is the visionary behind Lympstone Manor, a luxury boutique hotel and restaurant in Exeter, UK.
He has a Michelin star at Lympstone Manor and previously held 2 stars for 18 years consecutively at Gidleigh park.
Policies and performance.
We promise to be as transparent as possible about our work.
We share our reports and policies here:
