Sudburians push for inclusion at UN World Down Syndrome Day Conference

Two Sudburians took their inclusion plea to UN stages in Geneva & New York, urging global collaboration, rights education for people with Down syndrome.

Representatives from the Ontario Down Syndrome Association and the Down Syndrome Association of Sudbury had the opportunity to speak at the recent United Nations World Down Syndrome Day Conference.

Inclusion was at the top of the agenda for Carlo and Rachel DiCarlos when speaking at the United Nations in Geneva and New York on March 23.

“Here in Canada, you know, the real question is, do we have real inclusion?” said Carlo, president of the Down Syndrome Association of Ontario.

“And so I think it’s important to come together to share ideas, to listen to self-advocates, hear their voices and find out about how they’ve been empowered. And just kind of together, we moved the goals and the advocacy forward.”

Rachael, who is vice-chair of the Down Syndrome Association of Sudbury, said they are a close-knit group.

“It’s a micro community that is so supportive, empathetic, loving, and just works together to reach everybody’s goals,” she said.

“I think if we could expand that on a macro level, we’d have a more idealistic society.”

The pair have been in contact with Down syndrome groups in the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Europe and more, hoping to increase awareness and work together to achieve their advocacy goals.

“We’re just going to kind of build those relationships and see how we can increase our competency together,” said Carlo.

He touched on some of his future goals in Down Syndrome advocacy.

Know your rights

“We want to teach individuals with Down syndrome about their rights,” Carlo said.

“I think when people are aware of their rights and what privileges they should have, then when they don’t have those, it gives them a voice to say, hey, this doesn’t feel right. This doesn’t look right. You know what? What can we do to make this better? And we know if we want authentic change, we need the population itself to be engaged in that change.”

Rachel said they may be going to Geneva again next year, or to the World Down Syndrome Conference in Argentina next year.

“I think that this was a great opportunity to expand our local reach and have our members right here in Sudbury have a chance to grow and expand their own minds and understand the possibilities they have,” she said.