Global Down Syndrome Foundation Provides $16,000 in Employment Awards to Down Syndrome Organizations, Impacting over 5,000 people

March 2025 – The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is thrilled to announce the 2025 recipients of our distinguished GLOBAL Employment Awards! GLOBAL awarded $16,000 in Employment Awards to eight outstanding Down syndrome organizations in the U.S. and internationally, funding innovative programs that provide meaningful vocational training and employment opportunities for people with Down syndrome.

At GLOBAL, we are committed to improving the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. Since 2011, GLOBAL has issued 345 awards for critical education and employment programs. To date, we have invested over $1.2 million dollars in our Down syndrome member organizations across 35 states and six countries, creating life-changing opportunities for self-advocates and the broader Down syndrome community.

The GLOBAL Employment Awards are a key benefit for GLOBAL member organizations. These awards foster collaboration and fund local programs that make a direct and positive impact by creating or expanding meaningful employment for self-advocates.

Members of the DSNetwork Arizona team

This year’s GLOBAL Employment Awards will underwrite eight dynamic programs across Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Uganda. These programs will impact over 5,000 people and will offer everything from job coaching and skills training to paid ambassador roles and expanded hours for self-advocate employees.

“DSNetwork’s Programs Assistant role provides meaningful employment for Brendan, a self-advocate with Down syndrome,” says Jennifer O’Connell, Executive Director of DSNetwork Arizona. “With this funding, we can foster independence and confidence and also promote social inclusion by highlighting the capabilities of individuals with Down syndrome in the workplace. We are incredibly grateful for GLOBAL’s support!”

GLOBAL is honored to partner with these incredible organizations in their commitment to creating inclusive employment opportunities. Please join us in congratulating our newest 2025 GLOBAL Employment Award Recipients listed below and celebrating the amazing work they are doing!

Arc Thrift, Lakewood, CO: Working for a Purpose will provide additional hours for existing employees with Down syndrome and support the hiring of new employees, expanding the organization’s inclusive workforce.

Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands, Omaha, NE: Funding for Self-Advocate Office Assistants & Program Assistant will allow one of their two office assistants to expand her hours. She will create educational presentations for students in the education and medical fields and engage in public speaking to raise awareness.

The Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, Brentwood, MO: Ready 2 Work Peer Mentorship supports the hiring of 1-3 peer mentors with Down syndrome to assist with their Ready 2 Work activities, expanding opportunities for peer-to-peer support, and job readiness.

Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI: Funding for Self-Advocate Office Assistant will increase the hours of a self-advocate office assistant and her job coach from 10 hours per week to 12 hours per week, supporting skill-building and professional development.

Down Syndrome Foundation Uganda Ltd., Kampala, Uganda: Arts and Crafts Skills Training will provide training in arts and crafts for self-advocates, empowering them to create and sell their work, building confidence, independence, and entrepreneurial skills.

DSNetwork Arizona, Tempe, AZ: Funding for Self-Advocate Employment will support the continued employment of a Programs Assistant with Down syndrome, focusing on developing professional skills, community engagement, communication, and teamwork.

Down Syndrome of Southern Kentucky, Bowling Green, KY, Scoops of Joy will hire a job coach to work with their self-advocate employees, allowing their mobile ice cream truck program to accept more bookings and expand operations beyond the availability constraints of current staff.

Virginia Down Syndrome Association, Richmond, VA: Self-Advocate Training and Ambassador Program employs self-advocates to represent the organization at community events while building self-determination and advocacy skills.

To learn more about the GLOBAL membership awards, visit https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/global-awards/

To learn more about individual and organization GLOBAL memberships, visit https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/global-membership/

To learn more about Global Down Syndrome Foundation, visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org  

 

About Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,500 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 100 Down syndrome organizations worldwide, and is part of a network of Affiliates – the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center – all on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

GLOBAL’s widely circulated medical publications include Global Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal & Newborn Down Syndrome Information, and the award-winning magazine Down Syndrome World  ™. GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

 

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