Down Syndrome Awareness Week usually occurs during the second week in October each year throughout Australia and New Zealand (and at other times in other countries).

Some states choose to mark Awareness Month throughout October.

Awareness Week or Month is a great opportunity for Down Syndrome Organisations to focus on raising awareness about people with Down syndrome in the community, by highlighting their strengths, abilities and contributions.  It is an opportunity to inform about the condition and to dispel myths about the people.  It is an opportunity to alert members of the community to the many ways in which they can support people with Down syndrome to be included in community life so they can make their own contribution.   

Organisations in all states run special activities around this time, and work hard to gain media coverage of events, and to ensure that 'good news' stories appear in community newspapers.  Some of the bigger states often run a national story in the media or a TV advertising campaign.  Families in regional areas are encouraged to organise a local event to mark the week and to work on getting coverage of the event in the local newspaper.   

Awareness Week is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the Association and what it does.  Posters, brochures or information can be provided on request for people to mount displays in schools, workplaces, libraries or at events.   Many people in the community are not aware that Down Syndrome WA does not receive any ongoing government funding and relies on fund-raising and donations to continue to provide support to people with Down syndrome and their families.  Awareness week can make people aware of this and can provide opportunities to help raise much-needed funds.

In 2008 Down Syndrome WA held a Buddy Walk during Awareness Week for the first time, joining with associations across Australia, USA and around the world.  Walks were held in Perth and in Geraldton, and hopefully more walks will be held all around the state in the years to come.  More than 1.5m people have taken part in International Buddy Walk since it began in 1995. 

The aim of Buddy Walk is threefold:

• to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome within the community
• to raise funds for a range of programs that make a difference to people with Down syndrome and their families 
• to enhance the position of the Down syndrome community in order to positively influence local and national policy and practice.  Click here to read more about Buddy Walk. 

DISCO:  

Down Syndrome WA usually holds a Disco during Awareness Week to bring families together and to provide a fun event for all the age groups from littlies through to adults.

DRESS UP DAY: 

Friday of Awareness Week is usually set aside in WA as 'Dress Up for Down Syndrome Day' in schools and work places throughout the state.  People are asked to 'Dress Up, Dress Down, Dress any way......but to do it for Down Syndrome WA'.  Posters, brochures or information can be provided on request and Down Syndrome WA can be supported by asking people to donate a gold coin for dressing up.

OTHER EVENTS:

Other events and activities change from year to year, but people all over WA are encouraged to 'MAKE A STATEMENT' for the Down syndrome cause during Down Syndrome Awareness Week.  Anyone can help raise awareness and much-needed funds in any creative way they can.  It doesn't need to be a 'big' event.  It can be simple yet effective.  In regional areas people will have ideas about things that will work in their communities and Down Syndrome WA is only too happy to support these initiatives as much as possible.  For example Down Syndrome WA can promote an event (newsletters, website, in media campaigns), provide supporting materials (information, posters, brochures, stories, photos) provide blueprints for media releases and talk with families to help with ideas.

 SO COME ON

TAKE PART IN DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS WEEK

AND SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME

WHEREVER YOU ARE!!