Staff Reporter –
The 8th India International Down Syndrome Conference will be held from 12 – 15 September, 2024 at Vedic Village, Kolkata. For the first time the conference will be held in Eastern India. This annual international conference is organized by Down Syndrome Federation of India. At the conference all the stakeholders which includes the people with Down Syndrome, their families, medical professionals and more will interact with each other, exchange information on best ways to ensure a better life for the people with Down Syndrome.
Down Syndrome is one of the most common genetic birth disorders and does not fall under the umbrella of Mental Retardation. Most people associate Down Syndrome with Autism. Down Syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 830 live births. It is associated with mild to moderate learning disabilities, developmental delays, characteristic facial features, and low muscle tone. Many individuals with Down Syndrome also have heart defects, leukemia, early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, gastro-intestinal problems, and other health issues. Through a series of screenings and tests, Down Syndrome can be detected before and after a baby is born.
Speaking on the eve of India International Down Syndrome Conference, Dr. Surekha Ramachandran, President, Down Syndrome Federation of India said, “Down Syndrome today is a very relevant as more and more people are diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Society needs to accept them as they are and help them by not sympathizing or empathizing with them, but by treating them as equals. We undertake various initiatives to spread awareness amongst people about this condition and how persons with Down Syndrome can lead as normal lives as possible with a little extra effort from the parents, siblings, friends and community at large.”
The 8th India International Down Syndrome Conference will focus on integrating person with Down Syndrome into the society, provide right information, networking opportunities with the family’s educators, health care professionals.
Nitisha Guha, President, Central Kolkata Welfare for Person with Down Syndrome said, “It is indeed a great news that an International Conference on Down Syndrome will be held in Kolkata for the first time. We expect that this conference will bring a positive change in the lives of persons with Down Syndrome in our country.”
Purpose of this conference
- To reach out to a larger population of society to talk about Down Syndrome and to provide the right kind of information to them to enable them to lead better lives.
- To better educate the public about the possibilities and potential of all people with Down syndrome.
- To facilitate networking opportunities and assist in providing direct support for persons with Down Syndrome and their families throughout the country.
- To try to bring to the mainstream individuals with Down Syndrome in India in the field of quality education.
- To provide our stakeholders information and resources related to Down Syndrome from across the world.
- To empower persons with Down Syndrome to become effective self-advocates who can speak for their rights and abilities.
- To support change and new policies for community inclusion and employment for adults with Down syndrome.
- To advocate for Persons with Down Syndromet o have access to high quality medical services, research facilities and insurance.
- Identify, develop and disseminate best practices for supporting Persons with Down Syndrome and their families which would enable them to lead respectful lives.
Down Syndrome is a genetic medical condition in which the person can come into inclusive living with early intervention and care. Life expectancy for individuals with Down Syndrome has dramatically increased over the past few decades as medical care and social inclusion have improved. A person with Down Syndrome in good health will on average live to age 55 or beyond.
The challenge lies in adopting people with Down Syndrome in society. Down Syndrome Federation of India tries to do this by organizing the India International Down Syndrome Conference. Through this the federation intends to promote the need for an inclusive society for Persons with Down Syndrome in our country and the World at large.
