Inclusive education
Every child has the right to a good education.
What is inclusive education?
Every child should be able to go to school to learn and grow. Good education makes life better for everyone.
All children should learn together. No one should be left out or taught separately from others.
Children with Down syndrome should get the same chances to learn as other children. They should get extra help to learn if they need it.
Children also need chances to make friends and explore things that interest them.
Education is a human right!
People with disabilities should have chances to go to mainstream schools and carry on learning throughout their lives.
This is written in Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The problem.
Many children with Down syndrome do not get the help they need to learn. This is a big problem.
Some children with Down syndrome are sent to special schools. They do not learn with other children.
Some children with Down syndrome do not go to school at all. This is not fair.
What we want.
We want all children to get a good education, including children with Down syndrome.
We are working on advocacy, training and resources to help improve education systems for people with Down syndrome.
Our work that is related to this issue:
International advocacy
We take part in important global events and activities to help raise awareness about Down syndrome.
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Self advocacy
We work with national organisations to develop self-advocacy in their countries and we support self-advocates directly to advocate for their...
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Inclusive education: a pilot study in the UK
The Down’s Syndrome Association and Down's Syndrome Scotland developed and ran a UK-wide research & advocacy project on ‘Inclusive Education’,...
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World Down Syndrome Awards
The World Down Syndrome Awards are given to projects, achievements, or practices that make the lives of people with Down...
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Recommendations for the education of Learners with Down Syndrome
A full list of the recommendations from the International Guidelines for the Education of Learners with Down Syndrome.
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Education guidelines
We worked with experts to create International Guidelines for the Education of Learners with Down Syndrome.
Learn MoreDiscover the other key issues that we advocate for:
Inclusive organisations
We believe everyone should have a say in decisions that affect them.
The problem is many people with intellectual disabilities are not included in a meaningful way. This is not fair.
Inclusive health
Everyone has the right to good healthcare. This means no one should be treated unfairly because of who they are.
People with Down syndrome do not always get the healthcare they need. This is not fair.
Inclusive employment
Everyone should be able to work in a place where they are welcome and included in a meaningful way.
Bad attitudes and lack of knowledge stop many from working. This is not fair.