The Down Syndrome Centre Official Launch, 24 Apr
We are delighted to announce (finally) the official launch of our new Centre in Sandyford, taking place on Sunday, 24 April from 1-3pm.
The Down Syndrome Centre is dedicated and unique in providing services and support, to children and their families with Down syndrome from 3 months to 18 years, providing Occupational, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language therapy, Baby Massaging including Sibshops and various support workshops throughout the year, helping children to reach their full potential and creating a brighter and more inclusive future.
Children with Down syndrome typically face delays in certain areas of development, so early intervention is crucial, it can commence any time after birth. Including children with Down syndrome in early childhood care and education, promotes the right of all children to live in an inclusive society. Children make sense of the world and their place within it, a child with a disability can only do this to the extent they are allowed to participate. Therefore, early intervention is imperative, our Centre provides this with our specialised programmes and resources with highly skilled Therapists.
‘Our vision and aim is that all children, and young adults living in Ireland with Down syndrome, have the adequate support and services available, on demand, to enable them to reach their goals, and live an independent and fulfilling life. We need the support of government to achieve these goals”.
Our ethos is one of positivity where we concentrate on the abilities of a child, and not their disabilities.
We acknowledge that each child is unique and diverse in their own way, that their disability does not define who they are and that society includes them as they would any of their peers.
The Down Syndrome Centre was founded by Peter and Mary Gaw in 2014, as a result of their frustration at not being able to access relevant services for their two youngest children, both of whom are Down syndrome.