World Down's Syndrome Awareness Week (15-21 March)

World Down's Syndrome Day

World Down's Syndrome Day is part of the United Nations calendar of events and strives to: Celebrate the lives of people with Down's Syndrome, raise awareness of Down's Syndrome and promote inclusion so that people with Down's Syndrome have the same freedoms and opportunities as everyone else. Visit the Down's Syndrome Association website for more information.

Down's Syndrome International

#LotsOfSocks!

One of the ways you can mark World Down's Syndrome Day is by wearing lots of socks. #LotsOfSocks is also one of the social media hashtags for the day. The idea is that you should get as many people as possible to wear the most colourful and funky socks possible. The Down's Syndrome Association sell some especially snazzy numbers created specifically for the day on their website for £2.50 per pair (but of course you can wear anything bright and fun!)

21 Day Challenge

This year Down's Syndrome International have set a 21 day challenge. The idea is that from the 1st to the 21st of March you or your school can set yourself a fundraising challenge. The challenge can be to:

• Get active with a run, walk, cycle or skip every day for 21 days.
• Get cooking by trying out a new recipe every day for 21 days.
• Get flexible by trying a new yoga position each day for 21 days.
• Get busy by completing a household chore, helping around school, tidying up the local area each day for 21 days.
• Gain muscles by doing either press-ups, crunches, burpees etc. Start day 1 by doing one rep and add one every day until you can do 21.
• Get dancing by having a 21-minute dance session every day for 21 days and throw down some shapes to raise awareness and money.

You can register by visiting the 21 Day Challenge Webpage.

Educational Guidelines

Having fun and raising money are important aspects of the day but raising awareness and improving inclusion for learners with Down's Syndrome are of course at the heart of it all. Last year  Down's Syndrome International published the International Guidelines for the Education of Learners with Down Syndrome which provides a huge amount of information about how education institutions can meet the needs of learners with Down's Syndrome. If you have any learners with Down's Syndrome in your setting and want more information it's certainly a great place to start!

However, you are marking the day at your school don't forget to share what you get up to with us via Twitter and Facebook we want to see your radical socks and follow your 21 days challenges!