Archive for April 10th, 2018

Global Down Syndrome Foundation Membership Grants help employ 48 people with Down syndrome across the country

April 10th, 2018 by Global Down Syndrome Foundation

Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Texas among the states to receive

DENVER, CO (April 10, 2018) – In its third successful year, Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global) awarded $16,900 to 9 organizations through their Self-Advocate Employment Initiative Grants. The Grants, a benefit of Global membership, empower local Down syndrome organizations to hire individuals with Down syndrome and help find sustainable funding from other sources in the future.

The grants continue to expand their reach in 2018 by assisting nine Down syndrome advocacy groups in employing 16 self-advocates, for a total of 48 individuals hired since the grant initiative inception in 2016. The grants will impact communities across America, with first-time winners in Plainview, NY, Bryan, TX, St. Louis, MO, Jacksonville, FL, Bloomington, IN, Tempe, AZ, Louisville, KY, and Fort Worth, TX; with one returning recipient in Omaha, NE.

“We are thrilled to announce the 2018 winners of the Global Self-Advocate Employment Initiative Grants,” said Global’s President and CEO Michelle Sie Whitten. “It was so difficult to choose 9 of 22 grant applications this year. Clearly there is a great need to employ people with Down syndrome and so many organizations that want to, but need resources. We hope we can raise funds to underwrite even more transformative grants in the future.”

The grants will help organizations hire new employees with Down syndrome or extend employment of current employees with Down syndrome initially made possible from previous grants that have expired. The variety of jobs self-advocates will be performing include but are not limited to creating employment PSA videos, assisting in classrooms, speaking at community events, and performing and supporting administrative duties.

It has been reported that those who have a co-worker with Down syndrome have higher work satisfaction levels. Global Down Syndrome Foundation hopes to spread the positive impact by supporting more people with Down syndrome in the workforce in the coming years through the annual Self-Advocate Employment Initiative grants. Eligibility to receive an Employment Initiative grant is just one of the benefits of Global membership. To learn about other member benefits and to become a member please visit the membership page.