Press Releases 2004

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An evening of carols with the Down's Syndrome Association

  • Friday, 29 October 2004 00:00
On Thursday 9 December 2004 the Down's Syndrome Association will be joined by the young up and coming singer Zoë Mace to celebrate Christmas in its new home, the Langdon Down Centre in Teddington.

Nine-year-old Zoë Mace has been hailed as "the next Charlotte Church". Her album Little Ray of Light is due for release on 8 November and will raise money for Zoë's local hospital where her sister Jodie, who has Down's syndrome, is due to have open heart surgery next year.

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People with Down's syndrome and dementia face discrimination

  • Monday, 06 September 2004 00:00
The Down's Syndrome Association is challenging health and care professionals to stop discriminating against the 40 per cent of people with Down's syndrome who will develop Alzheimer's disease in later life.

Lack of understanding means that many health and care professionals frequently overlook the possibility of dementia in middle-aged people with Down's syndrome, dismissing the distressing symptoms as ‘just part of the learning disability'. Many are also unaware of practical strategies to help sufferers get the most out of life. Others cite the lack of dementia diagnosis tools suitable for use in people with learning disabilities as the reason for delayed diagnosis, preventing patients from receiving the benefit of existing drug treatments which are only effective in the earlier stages of the condition.

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Damon Hill swaps horsepower for flower power at Hampton Court Flower Show

  • Thursday, 01 July 2004 00:00
At 11.00am on Monday 5 July, F1 World Champion Damon Hill will celebrate the opening of a stunning exhibition garden at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. Damon, who is patron of the Down's Syndrome Association, and has a teenage son with Down's syndrome, was invited to open the garden by The Garden Gang, a local company employing people with learning disabilities.

Damon Hill said at the launch: "It is great to see people with learning disabilities creating something that most of us would be completely incapable of achieving. The Garden Gang have put an enormous amount of time and energy into creating this beautiful garden. They are an inspiration to me as the parent of a child with a learning disability."

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Damon Hill calls on local community to help create ‘living museum’ at Normansfield

  • Thursday, 17 June 2004 00:00
A group of local charities - led by Down's Syndrome Association patron and F1 World Champion Damon Hill - has invited local community leaders, celebrities and business executives to visit and help shape the future of Normansfield hospital.

A long-standing Teddington landmark, Normansfield Hospital was originally the home of pioneering Victorian physician Dr Langdon Down where he provided accommodation, education and recreation for people with Down's syndrome and other learning disabilities in a way that was considerably ahead of its time.

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DSA launches education support pack for special schools

  • Wednesday, 26 May 2004 00:00
To co-ordinate with Down's Syndrome Awareness Week, the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) has produced a pack of information and materials for Special Schools who teach children with Down's syndrome.

The Education Support Pack for Special Schools has been produced - with support from the DfES - in the wake of the Down's Syndrome Association's Education Support Pack for Mainstream Schools which recently won the NASEN/TES Books for Teaching and Learning Award.

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New research reveals education system is failing children with Down's syndrome

  • Wednesday, 26 May 2004 00:00

A report has been published today by the Down's Syndrome Association to mark Down's Syndrome Awareness Week (31st May - 6th June). It reveals the discrimination, ignorance and the failings of Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and schools to make appropriate provision and support for children with Down's syndrome.

The report demonstrates the Government's stated policy for more inclusion in mainstream schools is failing in practice because of LEA reluctance to provide sufficient resources. Many are accused by parents of cynically manipulating the statementing process to deny adequate support to all but the most vocal. In addition, parents are still being denied real choice, with 29% of those choosing special schools struggling to get access to dwindling places. Some LEAs even quote Government inclusion policies as justification for closing special schools down.

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Radio 4 reveals Devon people's discriminatory attitudes

  • Wednesday, 07 January 2004 00:00

A major BBC Radio 4 Documentary, to be broadcast at 8pm tomorrow, will reveal the ignorance of a few Torquay residents who voiced ill-informed and discriminatory attitudes to people with learning disabilities.

The documentary ‘It's MY Story - ‘Will He Change His Socks?' follows the life of Alex Boys, a 20 year old man with Down's syndrome as he leaves his family home to live in his own flat in Devon for the first time.

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