We provide local Down syndrome associations the opportunity to participate on the DSAO Board of Directors to represent their areas and collaborate on a regional basis.

What We Do

Our Mission & Focus

Our focus provincially is to raise awareness, advocate and support, promote best practices, fundraise, and to coordinate government relations.

Advocate & Support

Resources

Local Associations

About Us

Down Syndrome Association of Ontario

DSAO is a charitable, non-profit organization composed of local Down syndrome associations from across the province of Ontario. We provide local Down syndrome associations the opportunity to participate on the DSAO Board of Directors to represent their areas and collaborate on a regional basis.

Together, we coordinate the efforts to raise awareness, educate, and encourage the inclusion of people with Down syndrome and their families across Ontario. Our areas of focus include Health Care, Education, and Social Services.

Our board of executives

Advocate & Support

We do this locally

As parents, community professionals, educators and self-advocates, our goal is to support individuals with Down syndrome as they go about leading productive and fulfilling lives. Locally, we do this by sharing information digitally, through our resources, volunteer home visits, work closely with Special Education Advisory Committee, and offering special programs to all ages, and sponsering social events throughout the year.

Find out more

Resources

Educate yourself

Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always existed and is universal across racial, gender, and socioeconomic lines. The effects from the extra genetic material vary from person to person, and the degree of resulting developmental delay also varies.

Although people with Down syndrome often share some features such as almond-shaped eyes, a single palm crease, and small ears, this could vary by person. Individuals with Down syndrome will look like their family members and will have their own unique personality.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that each person with Down syndrome is an individual—just like people who don’t have Down syndrome—and should be treated as such!

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