Inclusive health
Everyone has the right to good healthcare. This means no one should be treated unfairly because of who they are.
What is inclusive health?
Inclusive health means everyone has a fair chance to be as healthy as possible. No one should find it harder to get health care because of who they are.
People with Down syndrome need fair health checks. Doctors should look at their health without any bias (beliefs that may not be true).
They should get the right care when needed.
They should also get help to understand their health and make choices.
Access to healthcare is a human right!
This is written in Article 25 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The World Health Organization says that everyone should have the best healthcare available.
Health equity is also included in the Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 3 is ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages’.
The problem.
In some places, people with Down syndrome can access the healthcare they need. In other places, they do not get any healthcare at all. This is not fair.
The World Health Organization wrote a global report on health equity for people with disabilities. The report says that people with disabilities around the world have worse health outcomes than other people.
What we want.
We want an inclusive health system, which means better outcomes for everyone.
We are working on advocacy, training and resources to help improve healthcare systems for people with Down syndrome.
Our work that is related to this issue:
Health Equity
We are working with Humanity & Inclusion to find out more about health equity for people with Down syndrome and...
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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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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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Cardiac consensus statement
We worked with international clinical experts on cardiac disease to create an up-to-date review and expert consensus document on cardiac...
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COVID-19 response
Our network worked together to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and support our members and the global Down syndrome community.
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 education
Every child has the right to a good education.
Many children with Down syndrome do not get the education they need to have a good life. 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.