21 March is World Down Syndrome Day, a global awareness day officially observed by the United Nations. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder. But there is still so much more we can do.

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

There are lots of activities and events to choose from on WDSD to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

We’d love your school to join us and get involved in whatever way and to whatever extent you are able.

How can you get involved?

Lots of Ideas

Schools are brilliant at coming up with ideas on how to raise awareness or a bit of money for a cause worth fighting for. Get your thinking caps on and join us! We’re going to be joining in wearing odd socks as a family and as a team. We’re going to share photos and tell our stories.

A brilliant way of getting involved through school is joining in Challenge 21. Get your heads together and raise £21 in 21 days. Challenge yourself to complete 21,000 steps during World Down Syndrome Day or join in the 21 Days of Kindness pledge. For these and more ideas visit the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) website.

Lots of Resources

The DSA are amazing at providing support for people with Down’s and their families and carers. They’re also incredible at providing resources to make use of.

If you’re working in school have a look at this page: https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/for-professionals/
It is a fantastic resource for anyone working with children with Down’s Syndrome but their website is also a wonderful place to access other resources too.

If you’d find it helpful to order an Awareness Week or Fundraising Pack you can do that here: https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/support-us/order-a-fundraising-pack/

Lots of Socks

A brilliant way to get stuck in is to get everybody in your class or even your school wearing odd socks or lots of socks! Why socks? Well, because chromosomes look rather like socks and people with Down’s syndrome have an extra chromosome! “Lots of Socks” is known all around the world as being associated with Down’s Syndrome. Why not hold a sponsored odd socks day, play guess whose feet games or even make sock puppets.

You don’t need to buy any special socks but if you’d like to, the DSA sells them and the proceeds go directly to raising awareness. You can buy those here: https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/product/lots-of-socks-socks-2018/

Lots of Social Media (#hashtags)

One of the most valuable things you can contribute is to simply use your existing social media presence to raise awareness leading up to and during World Down Syndrome Day. Please join with us and share your photos, retweet our posts and those from the DSA. Whatever you do, use the hashtags below for maximum exposure:

Hashtags for all platforms:

#WDSD18
#LotsofSocks
#InclusionMatters
#Team21

Accounts to Follow:

Instagram: @downs_syndrome_association
Twitter: @DSAInfo
Facebook: @DownsSyndromeAssociation
YouTube: DownsSyndromeAssoUK