People with Down syndrome, on an equal basis with other people, must be able to enjoy full and equal rights, both as children and adults with ‘opportunities’ and ‘choices’, the Inspire Foundation and Down Syndrome International said in a joint statement to commemorate Down Syndrome Awareness Day.
Saturday is the 10th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and in the ‘21’st anniversary year of the ‘International Year of the Family’, Down Syndrome International and the Inspire Foundation will focus on the role of families and the positive contribution that they can make towards the enjoyment of full and equal rights for people with Down syndrome.
People with Down syndrome face many challenges as children and adults which can include:
• being abandoned, subjected to abuse and segregated from their communities;
• being discriminated against and treated unequally in education systems;
• being discriminated against and having health conditions misdiagnosed by health systems;
• limited opportunities to live independently, work and be fully included in the community;
• a lack of control over the right to marry and have relationships and families;
• limited opportunities to vote, participate in public advocacy or be elected to public office.
These challenges prevent many people with Down syndrome from enjoying their basic human rights. Those directly or indirectly responsible for this may be families, education, health and social professionals, authorities or the general public and the primary reason for this is a failure to understand that people with
Down syndrome are people first, who may require additional support, but should be recognised by society on an equal basis with others, without discrimination on the basis of disability.
For people with Down syndrome to enjoy full and equal rights, their families must be informed and empowered to promote the equal status of their family members in society.
Society can assist families to support children with Down syndrome to be protected from harm, to be heard, to have access to education and healthcare and to be fully included in their communities, with opportunities to participate, on an equal basis with others.
Adults with Down syndrome, on an equal basis with others, must have choices, be able to make decisions and have control in their lives.
PACES and LME are specialised programmes offered at The Inspire Foundation. They address the individual needs in all areas of development of children and adolescents with Down Syndrome. They revolve around the clients, their immediate family and carers.
More information from www.inspire.org.mt.