World Down Syndrome Day 2017: theme announced

From Down Syndrome International:

The theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2017 has been announced: #MyVoiceMyCommunity – Enabling people with Down syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to be fully included in the community.
Tuesday 21 March 2017 marks the 12th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day.

Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.

In 2017, we will focus on enabling people with Down syndrome (and those who advocate for them) to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to ensure that they can be included, on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.

Working with our global network, the campaign will:

• Explain why it is important for people with Down syndrome and their advocates to speak up and influence local, national, regional and international policy makers. 
• Explain what the key policies are which affect the lives of people with Down syndrome and how they can ensure full society inclusion if implemented. 
• Explain how advocates can get involved – from media campaigns to direct political advocacy. 
• Explain how to empower people with Down syndrome (and those supporting them) to advocate for themselves and provide accessible tools to facilitate this. 

We will be encouraging people with Down syndrome to say #MyVoiceMyCommunity and we will ask everyone to respond to our call by sharing and showing the world how people with Down syndrome participate in the community alongside everyone else. You can take part simply by sharing details of WDSD activities or by photos, messages, quotes or in any way you choose, using the hash tag #MyVoiceMyCommunity as well as #WDSD17.

Our WDSD Global Video Event and WDSD Conference will both explore this important area of focus.

Down Syndrome International encourages our friends all over the world to choose your own activities and events 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 can share your WDSD World Events before 21 March and your WDSD Stories after 21 March on our dedicated WDSD website in a single global meeting place.

World Down Syndrome Day AwardsDown Syndrome International (DSi) announces awards in voluntary, professional and scientific categories to coincide with World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March. Going forward, the WDSD Awards will be presented every 3 years, with the next announcement on 21 March 2017.

Please email wdsd@ds-int.org to receive nomination forms and criteria.