Our negative assumptions about people with Down syndrome can lead us to treat them in such a way that these assumptions become reality. In sociology, this is called a 'self-fulfilling prophecy.' Why not reverse our perspectives? If we have positive assumptions about people with Down syndrome, they will have more opportunities at school, at work, in relationships, and other activities. And maybe these positive assumptions will become reality. #AssumeThatICan Learn more about how to support World Down Syndrome Day in Canada: https://lnkd.in/gKmVttAQ #WorldDownSyndromeDay #EndTheStereotypes CoorDown
Canadian Down Syndrome Society
Non-profit Organizations
Collingwood, Ontario 2,748 followers
Focused upon human rights, health, social participation, inclusive education and employment for those with Down syndrome
About us
The Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) provides reliable information to people with Down syndrome and those who support them, while positively shaping the social and policy contexts in which they live. For information about Down syndrome contact us directly at info@cdss.ca. #SeeTheAbility
- Website
-
https://cdss.ca/
External link for Canadian Down Syndrome Society
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- Collingwood, Ontario
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1987
- Specialties
- Down syndrome and Disabilities
Locations
-
Primary
155-64 Hurontario St
Collingwood, Ontario L9Y 2L6, CA
Employees at Canadian Down Syndrome Society
-
Dan Purdham
Medical Director | Board Member
-
Elizabeth Kennedy
Inclusion-oriented leader that is passionate about operational effectiveness
-
Samar Qureshi
President @ Human Integrity HR | Helping Medical Imaging Facilities Hire Top Talent | Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging Technologists Recruitment |…
-
Courtney Cassel
Owner of Cassel Consulting, Marketing Manager of Canadian Down Syndrome Society, Full Stack Digital Marketer, Content Creator, Public Speaker, and…
Updates
-
New job opportunity through inployable in Toronto, Ontario with Élections Canada | Elections Canada.
New job alert! Work with Élections Canada | Elections Canada in Toronto-Danforth! The Elections Canada Toronto-Danforth office is looking for temporary staff and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, including individuals with Down syndrome. Are you careful with details and enjoy following instructions to complete tasks? Do you show up to work on time and have a positive attitude? This could be a great job for you! Apply today to be part of the team helping with the election. Read the job description below (available in English and French) to see if this job is a fit with your skills. To apply, email your resume to the Returning Officer, Sarah Bennett, at 35109.35110_Sarah.Bennett@elections.ca with the subject line SUPPORT OFFICER. #InclusiveHiring #InclusiveEmployment
-
Employment preparation starts early! Ontario Disability Employment Network (ODEN)'s new free resources help families and educators support students with developmental disabilities in exploring career paths and preparing for the workforce - starting with skill building in elementary school! Access guides, toolkits, and training to promote inclusive employment: https://buff.ly/4jZwQ10 ID: A mother and her young son with Down syndrome hug each other, smiling. White and red text reads: Free Resources: Employment Preparation #InclusiveEmployment
-
-
Caregivers play a vital role in the well-being of people with disabilities. A national caregiving strategy would provide essential support. The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence is leading important advocacy in this space—learn more here: https://lnkd.in/grYXytGc #Caregiving
We are thrilled to be announcing the release of our National Caregiving Strategy today! Co-designed with thousands of caregivers, care providers and leaders across the disability, aging, healthcare, and illness communities, the Strategy offers clear federal recommendations on how to create a brighter future of care in Canada. These include financial supports for caregivers, care providers, and care recipients as well as enabling working caregivers to thrive in their workplaces and building a robust care provider workforce. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3vEAWaL --------- Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer aujourd'hui la publication de notre Stratégie nationale sur la prestation de soins ! Conçue en collaboration avec des milliers d'aidants, de fournisseurs de soins et de leaders des communautés du handicap, du vieillissement, des soins de santé et de la maladie, la stratégie offre des recommandations claires destinées au gouvernement fédéral sur la façon de créer un avenir meilleur pour les soins au Canada. Il faudra notamment mieux soutenir financièrement les aidants, les fournisseurs de soins et les bénéficiaires de soins, permettre aux aidants de s'épanouir sur leur lieu de travail et constituer une main-d'œuvre de fournisseurs de soins durable. En savoir plus : https://bit.ly/3TWuPb3 #CdnCaregiving
-
-
Thank you The Lavigne Show for inviting us to be part of this conversation! We have come a long way in terms of advocacy for our community, but we have a lot further still to go if we want to dismantle stereotypes and build stronger support systems. Our organization is always here to offer resources and support for Canadians with Down syndrome and their families throughout their lives.
Date & Time Thursday, February 6th 2025 Live at 6 PM MT (8 PM ET) Livestream Watch on TheLavigneShow.com, Locals, X, Rumble, Facebook, and more. Join The Lavigne Show for an uplifting discussion highlighting the triumphs and challenges within the Down syndrome community. We welcome three extraordinary guests whose work is reshaping perceptions, advocating for inclusion, and fostering meaningful change: Featured Guests • Laura LaChance – Canadian Down Syndrome Society - @CdnDownSyndrome Laura shares how the CDSS drives national advocacy efforts, education, and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. Get a front-row look at the latest initiatives designed to support, connect, and empower communities across Canada. • Paula Anderson – Project 321 Peel Down Syndrome Association - @project321peel Project 321 Peel is a community that embraces, supports and inspires individuals with Down syndrome to live self-determined and fulfilling lives, as well as creating a supportive parenting network. • Faith Bohn – Down 2 Cookie - @down2cookie Faith Bohn is a proud mother of three, including twin boys who were both born with Down Syndrome. This drove her to launch her business- Down 2 Cookie, in 2019 with a plan to grow the business to where her sons can work alongside her when that day comes. Faith has also found a way to give back to the community she turned to when she needed it by giving 10% of all the profits made from Down 2 Cookie to Down Syndrome research and support. Down 2 Cookie is also working with the @aimprogram to hire her first helper- Daniel! Why You Should Watch 1. Insightful Advocacy: Gain practical tips on supporting loved ones and neighbors with Down syndrome from grassroots experts and national advocates. 2. Community & Collaboration: Discover inspiring programs and initiatives—like those at Project 321 Peel—that offer inclusive, forward-thinking ways to uplift families and individuals in the Down syndrome community. 3. Inspirational Entrepreneurship: Draw inspiration from Faith’s entrepreneurial path—proving that disability need not be a barrier to running a successful business and living life to the fullest. Don’t miss this heartwarming and informative episode, where personal stories and professional expertise unite to celebrate the Down syndrome community’s vibrancy, resilience, and limitless potential. Join The Lavigne Show Community & Support Independent Journalism Catch the uncensored portion of the conversation and gain the ability to ask questions by becoming a Supporter. Visit: https://lnkd.in/gd63ryCw Your support fuels our mission to uphold transparency, free speech, and accountability in Canadian media.
DS Advocacy w/ Canadian DS Society, Project 321 Peel & Down 2 Cookie
www.linkedin.com
-
1 in 6 Canadians with disabilities live in poverty and $6.66 a day is not enough to change that. CDSS and many other organizations, government officials, and individuals have been advocating for months and will continue to advocate for an additional investment in the Canada Disability Benefit. But we need your help. Contact your MP today and demand that the Canada Disability Benefit is tripled this year. https://buff.ly/4i0oi98 #DisabilityWithoutPoverty #BuildABetterBenefit
-
-
Did you know that we have inclusive education guides for every member of the school community? They provide essential information for educators, parents, and peers about Down syndrome and how to create an inclusive learning environment. Please share these resources to encourage building an inclusive experience in every classroom across Canada! https://lnkd.in/g8hJ5Yqe #InclusiveEducationMonth #InclusionBenefitsEveryone
-
-
We respect and value DEI initiatives. To us, that means working to improve internal processes and integrating opportunities for self-advocacy voices in our decision-making. This week, we discussed changing organization policies and adopting plain language use, among other strategies, at the Listen, Include, Respect "Train the Trainer" 3-day workshop hosted by Down Syndrome International and Inclusion International. This training strengthened communication skills and highlighted ways of using the lived experiences of people with Down syndrome to guide our work. The workshop also shared practical information about accessible hiring practices that we will share with Canadian employers through our programs, like Inployable. If you're interested in learning more about the Listen Include Respect project, visit ListenIncludeRespect.com #DEI #DiversityEquityInclusion #ListenIncludeRespect #LeadershipTraining @CLToronto @CorbrookCanada @PHDurhamRegion @CLDurhamNorth @KWHabilitation @CdnDownSyndrome @CLOntario @DSiupdate @InclusionInt
-
-
Lead. Advocate. Make an impact. What inspires someone to join the CDSS Board? For many, it’s about creating meaningful change and shaping a more inclusive future for Canadians with Down syndrome. We’re looking for new Board Members. If you’re passionate about advocacy and want to make an impact, we encourage you to apply! 🔹 Two-year volunteer term 🔹 Accommodations available for accessibility needs 🔹 Prior board experience an asset Apply by February 21st: https://lnkd.in/gtKpwuvd #CanadianDownSyndromeSociety #NonProfitLeadership
-
-
People with Down syndrome are at a higher risk of developing dementia, yet Canada’s national dementia strategy lacks clear accountability measures to ensure they receive the care and support they need. That’s why CDSS joined a coalition of organizations to submit a report to the United Nations, calling for stronger oversight. The key recommendation? That monitoring of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) be directly linked to tracking Canada’s Dementia Strategy, with clear benchmarks and indicators to measure progress. Next, the coalition will present these findings to the Canadian delegation, followed by a presentation at the UN. Thank you to The Brainwell Institute for leading this important work. 🔗 Read the full report: https://buff.ly/4jO237F Alzheimer Society of Canada Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Parkinson Canada ID: A graphic with a blue-to-green gradient background. Bold text reads: People Living With Dementia are Canada’s fastest-growing disabled population. Below, in white capital letters: Canada must take stronger action to support them. Logos of supporting organizations, including CDSS, appear beneath. A statement at the bottom explains that the coalition is urging the UN to hold Canada accountable for its national dementia strategy. The United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies logo is featured at the bottom. #HumanRights #DementiaPolicy
-