Awareness Week 2024

Why not tell us your story?

If you’d like to take part, drop our Communications Team an email on dsapress.office@downs-syndrome.org.uk and they’ll get back to you.

Alternatively, you can submit photos using our online permission forms here (easy read) and here.

Every single penny raised during Awareness Week and on World Down Syndrome Day helps us continue our work, supporting people who have Down’s syndrome from before birth and into old age.

It also helps us to amplify the voices of people who have Down’s syndrome, by working with them in all aspects of the work we do.

Did you know?

Around one in every 1,000 babies born in the UK will have Down’s syndrome.

There are approximately 40,000 people in the UK with the condition.

People who have Down’s syndrome are all unique individuals with their own personalities, family backgrounds and preferences that make them who they are.

Down’s syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in a baby’s cells. Down’s syndrome usually occurs because of a chance happening at the time of conception.

Anyone can have a baby who has Down’s syndrome.

People who have Down’s syndrome will have a learning disability.

Like most of the population, people who have Down’s syndrome learn at school, have interests, hobbies and talents, friends and relationships.

Today the average life expectancy for a person who has Down’s syndrome is between 50 and 60, a small number of people living into their 70s and a very small number living into their 80s and 90s.