DSFI hosts the first of its kind India International Down syndrome Conference

Sensitizing the world towards these Children of a lesser God - Sept 9 th and 10 th 2017, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi

In order to create awareness and support for people with Down syndrome, Down Syndrome

Federation of India is organizing the 1 st India International Down Syndrome Conference (IIDSC) at India Habitat Center New Delhi on the 9 th and 10 th of September 2017. This is for the first time that an event like this for persons with Down syndrome is being organized in the country. Shri. Thawar Chand Gehlot, Honorable Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest at the event.

National Trust, a statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, set for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities is also supporting the event.

The event is being represented by over 350 delegates representing not only India, but also countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka etc. They will be attending various sessions on scientific developments, research, social inclusion for people with Down syndrome, ways to make them more independent and workshops. Many international experts in the area of Down syndrome will be sharing their views with us.

These experts include

 Prof. Tony Holland (The Health Foundation, Chair In Learning Disabilities, University of Cambridge),

  Dr. Brian Skotko (A Board-certified medical geneticist and Co-Director of the Down Syndrome Program at Massachusetts General Hospital),

  Dr. George Capone (Associate professor of paediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine),

  Dr. Bhavani Sriram (Currently serving as a Neonatologist, specialist in Pediatric Medicine, Kinder Clinic Pte Ltd, Singapore, consultant to Down syndrome Association, Singapore )

  Dr. S. Suresh(A doctor from Chengalpet Medical college, trained in Ultrasound at Bombay in 1982 by Dr.Hemant L.Shah at Sir H.N.Hospital with special expertise in Down syndrome).

Other than these keynote speakers, there will be over 40 speakers from both India and abroad who will be focusing on the latest developments, training methodologies, Health aspects, social inclusion and other issues that are relevant for a society like ours.

Running in parallel with this program is a program for persons with Down syndrome who will behaving a great time with each other sharing their experiences.

A book authored by Dr. Surekha Ramachandran, titled DOWN, BUT NOT OUT-BABLI’S STORY will be released during the inauguration and the Chief Guest, Honorable Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment would be the first recipient of the book. It is a book that deals with depression in persons with Down syndrome. This book is autobiographical and tells about Babli, Dr.Ramachandran’s daughter, her tryst with depression and how they overcame it as a family. It gives an insight into how persons with Down syndrome also battle depression and how best to overcome it. It is a book that all people with grown up children with Down syndrome would be able to relate to.

On the 8 th of September 2017, the Annual General Meeting of the Asia Pacific Down Syndrome

Federation (APDSF) of which India is one of the main members is also being organized. Nearly 11 countries from the Asia Pacific region including Australia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Mongolia, Japan and Singapore will be a part of this event.

These delegates will also be attending the 1 st India International Down Syndrome Conference and taking back with them learnings that can be passed on to their associations when they return.

It is felt that IIDSC 2017 is a great opportunity at the right time when India is moving miles ahead in creating awareness, acceptance, education, visibility, and medical facilities for people with intellectual challenges. It will definitely help to raise the profile of people with Down syndrome in India and Asia.

The aim of this event is to make society more aware of DS, get inclusivity for persons with DS and request the Government to bring in laws to protect their interests. India with a history of being pioneers in many fields of medicine can look at providing new answers to make life easier for people with DS.