Down Syndrome South Africa

12/10/2026

Please support DSSA this Down Syndrome Awareness Month. We cannot do what we do without your help. See original post on how to make a difference. No amount is too small.

💙💛 This Down Syndrome Awareness Month, help DSSA make a difference! 💙💛
Your support helps Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) continue its important work advocating for the rights, inclusion and equal opportunities of persons with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.
💙 Every donation, big or small, makes a difference!
Together, we can continue creating awareness, empowering families and self-advocates, and working towards a more inclusive South Africa.
💛 Show your support this October!
📲 Scan the QR code or click the link below to make a donation:
👉 https://pay.yoco.com/down-syndrome-south-africa1
Thank you for helping us make inclusion a reality – Every Day. Everywhere. EVERY TIME! 💙💛

12/10/2026

💛💙💚 Today, we continue to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month as well as recognize World Mental Health Day. 💛💙💚

Sadly, a misperception that persists about people with Down syndrome is that they are always happy and they don’t get stressed.

People with Down syndrome can experience the full range of feelings and emotions that people without Down syndrome experience. They can also develop mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some estimates suggest that people with Down syndrome are more likely to develop mental health conditions compared to people without Down syndrome.

Medicinal and/or non-medicinal approaches can help a person with Down syndrome and a co-occurring mental health condition. Our online library has several resources on mental health, including a free PDF version of the book Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome by Dennis McGuire, PhD, and Brian Chicoine, MD. See the link below to access the book and other mental health resources.

🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/mental-wellness-book-2nd-edition/

12/10/2026

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month — a month to raise awareness, celebrate persons with Down syndrome and challenge the barriers that still prevent full inclusion.

Throughout October, we’ll be sharing daily facts about Down syndrome — helping to challenge misconceptions, increase understanding and celebrate the lives, achievements and contributions of persons with Down syndrome.

Keep an eye out for our daily posts and help us spread awareness by sharing them!

Together, we can change perceptions and create more inclusive communities.

Include Us – Every Day. Everywhere. EVERY TIME.

10/10/2026

Some more memories from our Be-YOU-tiful fashion show on Saturday 3 October 2026.

10/10/2026

Some more memories from our Be-YOU-tiful fashion show on Saturday 3 October 2026.

09/10/2026

💙💛 This Down Syndrome Awareness Month, help DSSA make a difference! 💙💛
Your support helps Down Syndrome South Africa (DSSA) continue its important work advocating for the rights, inclusion and equal opportunities of persons with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.
💙 Every donation, big or small, makes a difference!
Together, we can continue creating awareness, empowering families and self-advocates, and working towards a more inclusive South Africa.
💛 Show your support this October!
📲 Scan the QR code or click the link below to make a donation:
👉 https://pay.yoco.com/down-syndrome-south-africa1
Thank you for helping us make inclusion a reality – Every Day. Everywhere. EVERY TIME! 💙💛

09/10/2026

The bodies of people with Down syndrome regulate body temperature differently compared to people without Down syndrome. This may be due to multiple factors including differences in blood flow to the skin, sweating, the autonomic nervous system, and, in some individuals, abnormal thyroid function. While more research is needed, some of the possible implications of these differences are shared below.

😓 People with Down syndrome may not be able to cool down in the typical fashion when the outside or room temperature is high and/or they are exercising.
🚰 People with Down syndrome may need to drink more cool water, take more breaks, or move to a cooler place when their body temperature increases.
🤒 Fever response may not be a reliable measure of infection in some people with Down syndrome.

Brian Chicoine, MD, shares more information on temperature regulation in people with Down syndrome in the article linked below.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/temperature-regulation/