World Down Syndrome Congress (WDSC) 2021

The Emirates Down Syndrome Association is hosting the World Down Syndrome Congress (WDSC) 2021, which will be held in virtually in November 2021. This is the first event of its kind to be held in the Middle East and North Africa. In a global phenomenon, the WDSC will bring together an anticipated 1,500 delegates including people with Down syndrome, their families and advocates, experts, specialists and researchers in the field of Down syndrome.
The congress will include recent significant developments, quality research in key areas of global relevance to people with Down syndrome.
Topics of interest will include health, education, employment, sports, recreation and leisure. Focus will be on human rights-based issues (in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disability (UNCRPD)) such as ensuring an adequate standard of living, social protection, legal recognition, social and cultural inclusion and the right to live an independent life.
The WDSC, the largest global congress for people with Down syndrome, is a family-based event and an opportunity to share and hear their inspiring success stories, the challenges facing people with Down syndrome, and to gain knowledge and experience about self- advocacy, empowerment and social inclusion.