Down's Syndrome Association

Image of a girl who has Down's syndrome, stretching in a fitness class.

Our Pilates Plus session this week has been moved from Friday 5 December to Wednesday 3 December 2025 at 6pm to 6:45pm. 🧘

We hope to see you there! Please remember the date change this week.

Sign up here: https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/our-work/services-projects/dsengage/dsengage-live-pilates/

Parent/guardian/carer survey: Eye care for your child who has Down's syndrome. 👁️

Just a reminder to please get involved with this survey if you are able to.

Follow the link to get involved: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/cardiff/parent-survey

Blue background for our policy post with a green text box and white DSA logo. Image of the Houses of Parliament.

Down Syndrome Act Draft Guidance: Consultation Webinar

Tuesday 2 December 2025 | 7 – 8.30pm | FREE

Join us next week for a free, informative webinar hosted by the DSA - open to all members and the wider public.

Sign up here to register: https://loom.ly/uFPTIrg

Images of adults who have Down's syndrome with their carers on a blue background with a green text box and our white DSA logo.

The Casey Commission is an independent commission chaired by Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB.

The DSA encourages members and supporters who have experience of the adult social care system to also engage.

To read more, please head to our blog on this on our website: https://loom.ly/0HtBJyU

We have some fun Christmas activities coming up! Make sure to check them out. 🎅

Both activities are on Sunday 7 December:

DSEngage Singing Hands Christmas Sing-Along 2025: 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

DSEngage Singing Hands Christmas Pop Party 2025: 2 pm to 3 pm.

Book here: https://loom.ly/inKF0Gs

Members of Our Voice are pictured in their 'Our Voice' logo t-shirts on our blue policy post with a green text box and white DSA logo.

The DSA are going to be engaging with Our Voice members about the Down Syndrome Act draft statutory guidance consultation.

It is important that we listen to people who have Down's syndrome on this topic.

For more information about the consultation process please visit https://loom.ly/XurzOHM

There's only two days to go until the BILD - (The British Institute of Learning Disabilities) #GrowingOlderWithLearningDisabilities webinar on 26 November at 12.30pm.

Please make sure to book on if you haven't already, and would like to attend.

Click the link to register: bild.org.uk/DWB

Image of a woman teaching a young girl to dance who has Down's syndrome. She wears a ballet outfit and the teacher wears a tutu.

#DSEngage Live | Dance Class 💃🕺

Wake up and dance with DanceSyndrome via Zoom!

Next Session: Thursday 27 November 2025. Time: 9.30 – 10.15am.

The sessions will be led by a Dance Leader from DanceSyndrome.

Book over on our website: https://loom.ly/fEn2yVs

Parent/guardian/carer survey: Eye care for your child who has Down's syndrome. 👁️

If you'd like to share your opinion/get involved in this survey, please follow the steps on the poster.

Leading a healthy lifestyle, based around physical activity, a balanced diet and looking after our mental health, will improve every area of our lives. ❤️‍🩹

We have a new resource for you to check out: 'Weight and People who have Down’s syndrome.' Click here to read it: https://loom.ly/x8XDTpc

Image of a woman who has Down's syndrome on our poster for the 'Eyecare for Adults' webinar. The woman wears glasses.

Eyecare for adults and getting older - A webinar with Professor Maggie Woodhouse. 👁️

Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 12 Noon to 1.15pm. FREE.

In this webinar Maggie will discuss eyecare for adults and the changes in vision that occur with ageing.

Register here: https://loom.ly/LQJ-2YU

All of us at the DSA are so excited to announce that the brilliant Ellie Goldstein is joining our patron team and is our latest patron! 💃

We can't wait to see what she brings to the DSA and look forward to seeing what she gets up to next! 💚

Photo credit: Zuzia Zawada.

As #AntiBullyingWeek comes to an end, this is a reminder that anti-bullying isn’t just for Anti-Bullying Week!

We will commit to use our #PowerForGood all year round. 💙

Please make sure to check out our emotional well-being resource here: https://loom.ly/C_Emm74

Image of two women stretching - one woman has Down's syndrome. They are wearing gym clothes and are sat in a studio on yoga mats.

DSEngage Live | Pilates Plus 🧘

Next Session: Friday 14 November 2025.
Time: 10am.

You will participate at your own risk during these sessions. Please stop at any time if you feel unwell.

Who's joing us this Friday? 🤩

Book to attend the session here: https://loom.ly/tUXbQg4

Front cover of our 'Policy Consulations' guide. The background is blue with white writing and our white DSA logo. A young man is pictured who has Down's syndrome. He has brown hair and is smiling. He wears headphones and glasses.

Have you checked out our guide on 'Policy Consultations' yet?

This document is all about helping you understand how you can share your thoughts and experiences before any big changes are made to policies, laws, or services.

You can check it out here: https://loom.ly/5R8mZCM

Images of pages from our Bullying Easy Read resource.

Today marks the start of Anti-Bullying Week 2025 - this year's theme is 'Power For Good.'

In honour of this, we'd like to bring your attention to our Easy Read resource on bullying: https://loom.ly/cuh0F2c

We will be sharing various resources on bullying this week to show our support.

DSEngage LIVE | Evening Disco 🕺

Join us for some great tunes and show us your favourite dance moves!

Switch on your disco lights, wear your favourite outfit and lets get dancing. 🪩

Next Session: Tuesday 11 November 2025. Time: 7.00 – 8.00pm.

You can sign up here: https://loom.ly/wFaWeos

Image of a room that has mould in a corner.

Safe and healthy housing is essential for everyone, but it is especially important for adults who have Down’s syndrome.

In 2020, sadly two-year-old Awaab Ishak died after prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s flat.

Awaab’s Law came into force in 2025- read more here: https://loom.ly/0v7PQH4

All of us at the DSA would like to say a big congratulations to our My Perspective 2025 winners! 👏

We had a wonderful evening at our My Perspective Awards Evening showcasing the amazing work of our finalists.

Roll on next year! 📷

#MyPerspective #MyPerspective2025

Image of a man who has Down's syndrome on the UCL research poster.

A team from UCL want to know why delays happen when people with learning disabilities (e.g. Down’s syndrome, autism with learning disability) need screening/diagnostic tests. They want to understand how to improve diagnostic pathways.

To find out more/take part, click here: https://loom.ly/_DWwsEU

Image of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. The sky is cloudy.

Carol Boys OBE, Chief Executive of the Down’s Syndrome Association provides an initial response to the Down Syndrome Act draft statutory guidance consultation.

Read more: https://loom.ly/mv4dCzA

Two young girls in a classroom doing school work with their female teacher. They have pencils and are drawing - both of the girls have Down's syndrome.

The final report for the Curriculum and Assessment Review was published today.

Read this blog post for more information, as well as to read the DSA's thoughts on this: https://loom.ly/d9ehlzQ

Images from the pages of our new resource.

Musculoskeletal issues are quite common in people who have Down’s syndrome. There are different reasons for this including low muscle tone, lax ligaments and hypermobile joints.

For more information on this topic, please read our new resource here: https://loom.ly/LLurwco

Images of our previous journals and their front covers. They all have an image on the front of someone who has Down's syndrome.

Have you got an interesting story you'd like to share with us? 🤩

Sent out twice a year to all our members in March and September, the Journal contains news, resources, information, engaging features and fabulous stories from our members.

Send in your stories here: https://loom.ly/h0Rpz_E

Image of a young man and woman practicing dancing together.

DSEngage Live | Dance Class

Join people who have Down’s syndrome from all over the country to 'Wake Up and Dance' with DanceSyndrome via Zoom!

Next Session: Thursday 30 October 2025. Time: 9.30 – 10.15am.

Who's coming along? 💃🕺

For more info and to sign up, click here: https://loom.ly/fEn2yVs

The DSA are members of the HPIG.

The latest briefing from the Children and Young People’s Health Policy Influencing Group sets out recommendations for how the implementation of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan can deliver real change for babies, children and young people: https://tinyurl.com/2p9pcr4v

A GP is pictured with a patient attending a doctor's appointment.

Everyone who has Down’s syndrome should be registered on their GP practice’s LDR. This is a confidential list of patients registered at the GP surgery who have a learning disability. It helps GPs improve people's health.

Further information about the LDR can be found here: https://loom.ly/wE_zF1Y

Image of a teenage girl who has Down's syndrome, stretching in a gym class.

DSEngage Live | Pilates Plus

Get moving and ready for the weekend with a live, online session of pilates plus!

Next Session: Friday 24 October 2025. Time: 10am.

Who's joining us this Friday? 🧘

Sign up here: https://loom.ly/tUXbQg4

*Please remember the new start time of 10am from now on.

Our collaborative project - the 'Roots of Fantastical Matters' newspaper is pictured with a witches hat.

Want to know a magical secret... ?🧝

The Down’s Syndrome Association, Unique, Turner Syndrome Support Society (UK), and the International Elf Service have joined forces to create the Roots of Fantastical Matters: Extra Magical Humans edition newspaper! 🔮🪄

Get yours here: https://loom.ly/kjIVHuM

Images of babies who have Down's syndrome on the poster for the Early Feeding Webinar.

Early Feeding Webinar with Gwendolina Toner:

Wednesday 26 November 2025 | 1 – 1.30pm | FREE

In this short webinar we will discuss the development of early eating and drinking skills. 👶

Suitable for parents whose baby is aged approximately 0-2 years.

You can sign up here: https://loom.ly/Kpr43PA