Key Facts

Around one in every 1000 babies born in the UK will have Down's syndrome.
There are 60,000 people in the UK with the condition.
Although the chance of a baby having Down's syndrome is higher for older mothers, more babies with Down's syndrome are born to younger women.
Down's syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in a baby's cells. It occurs by chance at conception and is irreversible.
Down's syndrome is not a disease. People with Down's syndrome are not ill and do not "suffer" from the condition.
People with the syndrome will have a degree of learning difficulty. However, most people with Down's syndrome will walk and talk and many will read and write, go to ordinary schools and lead fulfilling, semi-independent lives.
Today the average life expectancy for a person with Down's syndrome is between 50 and 60. A considerable number of people with Down's syndrome live into their 60's.

In 2008-2009, we responded to over 20,000 telephone enquiries from members, professionals and the general public.
Our website was visited by over 283,884 people from over 130 countries worldwide.
We have around 126 local affiliated groups throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as offices in South London, Cardiff and Belfast, plus a team of regional staff supporting families and professionals throughout most of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More than 90% of the vital income we need to support people with Down's syndrome comes from voluntary donations.