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.
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.


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.
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!

Our Team
DSAO Executives
DSAO Board of Directors are elected committee members from
each of 19 regional associations in Ontario.
Local Associations
Where to find us
Durham Down Syndrome Association
Down Syndrome Association of Brantford
Down Syndrome Association of Hamilton
Down Syndrome Association of Kingston (DSAK)
Down Syndrome Association of Lambton County (DSALC)
Down Syndrome Association of Peel
Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough
Down Syndrome Association of Simcoe County (DSASC)
Down Syndrome Association of Sudbury
Down Syndrome Association of Toronto
Down Syndrome Association of York Region
Down Syndrome Association: National Capital Region
Down Syndrome Caring Parents, Niagara
Down Syndrome Parent Support Group–Thunder Bay
Grey Bruce Down Syndrome Association
Halton Down Syndrome Association
London Down Syndrome Association
Quinte Down Syndrome Support Network
Waterloo Regional Down Syndrome Society
Windsor-Essex Down Syndrome Association