More than 200 people gathered at Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies on December 9 for Down Syndrome Family Network's (DSFN) fourth family workshop of the year.
Focusing on speech therapy and adolescent sexuality for people with Down syndrome, and featuring Dr Varma Deyalsingh and Speech Therapist Keisha Lindsay, the workshop was the fourth installment of the free quarterly series from the locally based advocacy group.
DSFN's quarterly workshop programme is a vital part of the group's effort to educate and support the Down syndrome community in order to enrich their lives and create greater opportunities. "All our quarterly workshops focus on a topic important to the family of a person with Down syndrome with experts providing the information," said Glen Niles, founder and president of DSFN. "This sort of education is essential to the Down syndrome community in Trinidad and Tobago because it isn't provided anywhere else or in an environment that is so nurturing or accessible. We offer it free to members of the network."
At each workshop there is a main session for adults, learning-play activities for children, and self-advocate training for young adults teaching them to effectively speak for themselves in order to raise greater awareness of their abilities as a person with Down syndrome.
At the conclusion of the workshop this weekend, the families were treated to a holiday dinner and time to socialise and network to enhance the unity of the Down syndrome community. Special thanks were extended to Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies, speakers and volunteers for partnering with DSFN for the December workshop.
DSFN's next quarterly workshop will be a part of its annual conference on March 21-23, 2013. The conference will include sessions in both Trinidad and Tobago.
• For more information about the quarterly workshops, annual conference and DSFN, visit www.facebok/dsfamilynetwork, send an email to info@dsfamilynetwork.com, or call 663-0865.
About Down Syndrome Family Network
The Down Syndrome Family Network is a nonprofit organisation based in Trinidad founded in 2011. Its mission is to support loved ones and care-givers of individuals with Down syndrome through advocacy, education and research in order for those individuals to live as independently as possible and become valued members of their community and society.