African Down Syndrome Network

18/06/2026

13/06/2026

By Staff Writer Acting Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga called for a shift from symbolic inclusion to meaningful representation of persons with Down syndrome in decision-making processes. The COSP19 sid…

13/06/2026

"We must hold governments accountable and push for the promises of the CRPD to become realities in people's everyday lives." – Sue Swenson, President of Inclusion International.

At this year's Civil Society Forum, we marked 20 years of the CRPD.

Too many people with intellectual disabilities are still living in institutions. Too many people still do not get to make decisions about their own lives.

We believe that to change this, disability organisations need to work together with other movements: women's groups, youth groups, and refugee organisations.

When we stand together, our voices are stronger.

12/06/2026

Our self-advocates have spoken. they don't only want a seat at the table, they want their voices to be included in discussions- because decisions made for persons with disabilities, it affects their lives. Give them a voice at the table.

12/06/2026

Down Syndrome South Africa in collaboration with the Africa Down Syndrome Network hosted a successful COSP side event under the title: “Nothing About Us Without Us - Self-Advocates moving from Participation to Representation”
The side event focused on a strong message from self-advocates from Africa that persons with intellectual disabilities should be recognised as leaders, advocates and decision-makers as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNCRPD.

Thank you to all the presenters, supporters and to the South African Permanent Mission for hosting us and Disability Rights Fund for funding the event.

10/06/2026

This week we are at representing the global Down syndrome community.
We will be joining in conversations about how the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has improved the lives of people with Down syndrome and what still needs to change.
DSi President, Bridget Snedden, spoke at the opening of the Conference. Hear her presentation at 44 minutes in to the event.
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1n/k1nvcijmay

10/06/2026

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that occurs when a person experiences something extremely distressing and then develops symptoms such as vivid memories of the trauma, anxiety, depression, and/or intense avoidance of the event/place/person associated with the trauma.

Trauma is "in the eye of the beholder." One person may find something to be traumatic that another person does not. What is important is if the person who is experiencing the symptoms perceived it as traumatic.

Diagnosing and treating PTSD in a person with Down syndrome can be difficult because the person may not be able to describe the traumatic event. However, traumatic events certainly can and do affect people with Down syndrome. Treatment can be successful even without a clear history of the trauma.

Brian Chicoine, MD, shares more information on PTSD in people with Down syndrome in the article linked below.

🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/

10/06/2026

📢 Join us for our COSP19 Side Event!

Nothing About Us Without Us: Self-Advocates Moving from Participation to Representation

Down Syndrome South Africa and the African Down Syndrome Network, in partnership with the South African Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and the South African Permanent Mission to the United Nations, invite you to join this important discussion on the leadership, representation and participation of persons with intellectual disabilities.

🗓 11 June 2026
🕚 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM EST
🇿🇦 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM South African Time
💻 Online via Zoom

Hear directly from self-advocates from across Africa as they share their experiences, challenges and vision for a future where persons with intellectual disabilities are not only included, but represented in decision-making spaces.

We are honoured to be joined by:
• Hon. Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
• Sue Swenson, President of Inclusion International
• Self-advocates from South Africa, Rwanda and Mauritius
• Andrew Kudakwashe (A.K.) Dube, CEO of the Africa Disability Alliance

📱 Scan the QR code on the poster or register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kUJQ9G5XSbuyr2PU_niboA

Nothing About Us Without Us means more than participation—it means representation.

IntellectualDisability DisabilityRights Inclusion RepresentationMatters AfricanDownSyndromeNetwork DownSyndromeSouthAfrica

05/06/2026

Every year, we celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on the 3rd of December. This year is extra special. This year, we celebrate 20 years of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). For self-advocates the CRPD is more than words on paper. It is about r...

29/05/2026

COSP19
Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) and the Africa Down Syndrome Network (ADSN), in partnership with the South African Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), are proud to present our COSP19 side event:

Nothing About Us Without Us: Self-Advocates Moving from Participation to Representation

📅 Date: Thursday, 11 June 2026
🕚 Time: 11:30am – 12:45pm (EST)
💻 Format: Online Webinar

As the world reflects on 20 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), this self-advocate-led side event will explore how persons with intellectual disabilities are moving from participation to meaningful representation in leadership, advocacy, and decision-making spaces.

The event will feature self-advocates with Down syndrome from across Africa sharing their experiences, perspectives, and recommendations for change.

We are also honoured to welcome Sue Swenson, President of Inclusion International, as our special guest speaker, who will reflect on the journey of the CRPD and the progress made in advancing disability rights globally.

This is an important opportunity to hear directly from self-advocates and to strengthen the call for greater inclusion, leadership, and representation of persons with intellectual disabilities.

📲 Scan the QR code on the poster or register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kUJQ9G5XSbuyr2PU_niboA