Emirates Down Syndrome Association has praised the vision and unlimited support from our leadership for people of determination, and the support that the association has received, especially from the Ministry of Community Development, and other supporters and sponsors.

This came in association¡¯s press statement accompanying the celebrations of the World Health Organization and its partners of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st of each year, where the association¡¯s event was suspended as part of the precautionary and preventive measures adopted by the UAE to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The association chairperson, Dr. Manal Jaroor, congratulated people with Down syndrome and their families in the UAE and worldwide, and shed light on the progress made for people with down syndrome in UAE across various fields, such as; medical, rehabilitation, education, legal and policies fields, that led to improving the quality of life for people with Down syndrome and better include them into the society.

Dr. Jaroor pointed out that since its establishment in 2006, the association has set a clear vision and strategy towards providing all the services and support people with Down syndrome and their family¡¯s needs at highest level and standards. The association started its operation with basic services providing individual family counseling sessions, awareness campaigns, and events and activities for people with Down syndrome. In 2009, the association opened the development center, through which the association was able to provide supportive therapeutic services such as: physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy. Receiving the association permanent headquarters in within the generous initiatives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, under the supervision of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the unlimited support from the Government of Dubai, was a major turning point for the association. It enabled the association to expand its reach to a larger number of beneficiaries and open (4) educational and rehabilitation classes.

Dr. Jaroor also extended her gratitude to all EDSA strategic sponsors and partners, who played a significant role in the remarkable achievements made by the association thus far, including, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group Charity Foundation, Union Cooperative Society, Emirates Red Crescent and the Malabar Gold & Diamonds

She added: The association provided its services to more than 530 beneficiaries at the country level, day after day the association reaps more accomplishments and rewards of the seeds that were planted initially by the association¡¯s founders, the most prominent accomplishment was the association¡¯s victory in hosting the World Down Syndrome Congress Dubai 2020, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council in Dubai. This is the first event of its kind to be held in the Middle East and North Africa, with an anticipated 1,200 delegates including with Down syndrome, their families, researchers, experts, and professionals and researchers in the field of Down syndrome.

The association also resumed the second phase of the self-advocacy programme for people with Down syndrome after successful completion of phase 1 in cooperation with Down Syndrome International (DSI). For the first time in UAE, the association was successfully able to organize such important program with a wide participation of 20 facilitators representing government institutions and private centers across the UAE and 35 self-advocates with Down syndrome.

The self-advocacy programme aims to empower and enable people with Down syndrome to express themselves and defend their rights in particular and People of Determination in general. People with Down syndrome have a voice that is insufficiently heard, and self-advocacy aims to highlight that voice.

"We Decide" was the theme launched by Down Syndrome International (DSI) for the World Down Syndrome Day 2020, emphasizing that all people with Down syndrome should have full participation in decision making about matters relating to or affecting their lives.

With the participation of 20 trainees, Emirates Down Syndrome Association concludes the first phase of the Self-Advocacy Programme

The Emirates Down Syndrome Association (EDSA) has announced the completion of the first phase Self-Advocacy Programme at Swissôtel Al Ghurair Hotel in collaboration with Down Syndrome International (DSI) in the United Kingdom. The programme, represents one of the most important pillars of the World Down Syndrome Congress Dubai 2020, which the UAE won to host for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.

Dr. Manal Jaroor, EDSA Chairperson, stated that the programme aimed to train 20 trainers from various disciplines related to people of determination representing government institutions and private centers in from all emirates.

Dr. Jaroor thanked the Swissôtel Al Ghurair Hotel, which hosted the programme, and said: The distinguished hosting and positive environment led to the success of the programme that contributes to improvement of the services provided for People of Determination.

Dr. Jaroor also praised all the participants who showed great commitment and dedication to achieve the programme objectives, especially that this programme will be continues until November 2020 and will form a solid core for self-advocacy of people with Down syndrome, and will benefit all participants in the applying all what they have learned during the programme in terms of self-advocacy for people of determination in general and those with Down syndrome in particular.

She added: Highlighting the voice of people with Down syndrome and enable them to express themselves and their needs and defend their rights, reflects the high level of care our beloved country dedicate for People of Determination.

For her part, Ms. Nawal Al Nasser, EDSA Vice Chairperson, mentioned that the program aims to train and qualify a group of People of Determination specialties in self-advocacy in the United Arab Emirates, to conduct self-advocacy training session for people with Down syndrome and enable them to express themselves, their opinions, and track their development until November 2020.

Al Nasser added: “The trained self-advocacy team will spread knowledge and share the self-advocacy concepts and principles with their colleagues and parents to enable people with Down syndrome in particular and People of determination in general to express themselves and enhance their self-confidence and ability to take their own decisions.

The accredited trainers by the Down Syndrome International (DSI) who conducted the programme praised the level of knowledge of the trainees, and the high level of People of determination rights in UAE.

Advocacy teams have been formed to establish a self-advocacy group with Down syndrome. There are ongoing meetings at which knowledge and experience are exchanged to acquire and develop practical skills for trainers with Down Syndrome who will participate actively in the World Down Syndrome Congress Dubai 2020.

DSI self-advocacy trainers will monitor and evaluate the performance of local self-advocacy trainers, discuss difficulties, develop appropriate solutions, and evaluating the overall outcome.

In recognition of its outstanding achievements, Emirates Down Syndrome Association (EDSA) won the 12th Khalifa Award for Education 2019, for the category of people of determination institutions and centers.

The Award Ceremony for the winners was held at the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Under the slogan, ¡®Because You Deserve Honor, Distinguish Yourself¡¯

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Khalifa Educational Award handed the award to Dr. Manal Jaroor, Chairperson of Emirates Down Syndrome Association in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, Sheikhs and Excellence, and the winners and the institution's representatives.

EDSA chairperson, Dr. Manal Jaroor highlighted the importance of this award in promoting the best practices among the workers in the educational field.

She added: This award is a medal on our chest as it carries the name of our beloved president his Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, May Allah bless him and protect him, and it is a reflection of his highness¡¯s support for the education sector, locally and in the Arab region for all categories including people of determination. Education is the foundation for any development or progress, and building a strong nation that is equipped with science and knowledge.

Dubai: Starting on Tuesday, October 1st, the globe and UAE will celebrate the awareness Month of Down Syndrome, Month of October, through a campaign "Together to Unlocking Hidden Potentials"

Dr. Manal Jaroor, Chairperson of Emirates Down Syndrome Association, said: in October every year, Down Syndrome organizations and associations around the world celebrate the Down Syndrome Awareness Month. it's an opportunity to celebrate the abilities and achievements of people with Down Syndrome, and a greater opportunity to intensify awareness efforts to promote the acceptance, empowerment, and inclusion of people with Down syndrome, emphasizing the role of media and influencers in the mass communication platforms to achieve this objective.

She praised the unlimited support provided by the wise leadership represented by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

"UAE is witnessing great care for people with Down syndrome through the services provided to them and the enactment of legislation and laws, especially the national policy that was enactment to enable people with Determination in several aspects such as health, rehabilitation, education, vocational rehabilitation, employment, accessibility, social protection and family empowerment, which aims to enhance the role of the UAE community, institutions and individuals in the rehabilitation, empowerment and integration of People with Determination", Dr. Jaroor added.