In response to the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation is closely monitoring and responding to the situation, taking into account that many in our Down syndrome community are considered “High Risk.”

As a precautionary and proactive measure, the Global team has decided to cancel/postpone public events for World Down Syndrome Day in Colorado.

Global’s World Down Syndrome Day Celebration at the Colorado State Capitol on Wednesday, March 18 has been canceled. While the coronavirus is stopping us from gathering, it will not stop us from celebrating our beautiful Down syndrome community! Stay tuned for ways to engage with us virtually on this special day!

We truly appreciate your support and understanding as we respond to this public health crisis. Stay tuned for more information. If you have any questions, please contact: events@globaldownsyndrome.org or call 303-321-6277.

Gratefully,
The Global Team

At Global, we were shocked about the suggestions to cut the already scarce funding for students with special needs (12% of our students BTW!) and to completely defund Special Olympics. This past week, we saw our congressional heroes fiercely support maintaining funding, including leadership from both sides of the aisle – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) (both Global’s Q-Award Winners). THANK YOU!

We are pleased that Congress and President Trump heard the concerns of those who are differently-abled and that the government will continue to support the incredible Special Olympics program. PLEASE make sure you also safeguard funding for our students with special need in public school who deserve a chance to learn and reach their potential!

Global, Alzheimer’s Association, and other nationals co-organized a seminal third workshop recruiting some of the best minds in the field of Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.
See an overview of the event here.

Cancer & Down Syndrome Explained at Amgen/Global Congressional Briefing

On September 14, 2018, Biotech powerhouse Amgen and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global) hosted a first-in-kind Congressional Briefing attracting world-renowned cancer speakers from both the science and the medical fields. This important DC briefing attracted health staffers from both sides of the aisle, numerous families, and self-advocates. Attendees learned about the increased risk of leukemia and the decreased risk of solid tumor cancers for people with Down syndrome and how Congress and the NIH can support Down syndrome-Cancer research.

Key speakers included Joaquín Espinosa, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and co-Leader of the Molecular Oncology Program at the University of Colorado; Michelle Sie Whitten, President & CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation; John D. Crispino, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) and Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics and Northwestern University; and Joan D. Morris, M.D., Global Development Research Clinical Medical Director at Amgen.

Photo Cred: Michael Campbell Photography

Learn more about the latest Down syndrome-Cancer research and how Global is lobbying Congress to get more funding from the NIH for these important discoveries.

Michelle Sie Whitten receives Newsed CDC’s prestigious Civil Rights Award, along with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), and other human rights activists

As Michelle Sie Whitten, the President & CEO of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (Global), fights for the rights of people who are differently-abled, the community takes notice. Global is at the forefront of groundbreaking research, medical care, education, and advocacy efforts dedicated to significantly improving the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. This year, a decade of Global’s work with Congress and the National Institutes of Health resulted in the first real increase in federally-funded Down syndrome research and medical care – a $23M increase for 2018 and an additional $40M for 2019. Recognized as a true champion for the Down syndrome community, Whitten and Global receive prestigious awards for leadership and advocacy.

NEWSED Community Development Corporation Civil Rights Award

For more photos & videos from this event, visit Latin Life Denver

NEWSED Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a nonprofit, started 47 years ago, that strives to improve economic issues in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. At NEWSED CDC’s 27th Civil Rights Awards ceremony, inspiring people and organizations were honored and recognized for their hard work in human and civil rights. The event honored six community leaders with the prestigious award, including Global President & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten. Upon receiving her award, Whitten thanked NEWSED, other awardees and co-honoree Congresswoman Diana DeGette for helping advocate for research and medical care funding for those with Down syndrome. She also referenced the wisdom of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, that you cannot believe in the rights of one population without believing in the rights of them all. “Global is part of a bigger movement,” says Whitten, “showing that differently-abled are important.”

2018 NEWSED CDC Civil Rights Awardees (in order of appearance):
1.Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo, Attorney and Music Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver
2. Dr. Martha Urioste, Legendary educator and community leader in the Denver Public School System
3. Diana DeGette, U.S. Representative for Colorado
4. Michelle Sie Whitten, President & CEO of Global Down Syndrome Foundation
5. The Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance, an organization advocating for freedom and equality and holding public officials accountable for their decisions
6. La Academia, a school of learning that has sense closed its doors, was honored for their commitment to helping students and the community.

Michelle Sie Whitten Honored at ARC Thrift’s 50th Anniversary with Distinguished Disability Leadership Award for her life-saving and life-changing work at the Global Down Syndrome Foundation

At ARC Thrift’s 50th anniversary “Born to Be Me” Gala, Global President & CEO Michelle Sie Whitten received ARC’s Distinguished Disability Leadership Award. The award recognizes leaders in Colorado who give their hearts, souls, time, and passion to advocating for people with disabilities. The annual event was held at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center, welcoming approximately 800 guests. ARC’s CEO, Lloyd Lewis, and his son Kennedy, presented the award to Michelle and her daughter, Sophia.

ARC Thrift Stores is one of Colorado’s largest nonprofits with funding over $100 million and one of the state’s biggest employers of people with intellectual disabilities. Global is honored to work with the incredible people at ARC in our joint mission of improving the lives of those who are differently-abled.

Global was proud to join forces with the Global Livingston Institute to bring local organizations, families and children with Down syndrome together in Uganda’s capitol city of Kampala to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day! The theme of the event was social inclusion, and over 300 people came out to celebrate and create awareness about Down syndrome. Other organizations based in Uganda that came together to make the day a success included EmbraceKulture, Children’s Clinic Naalya, The Uganda Down Syndrome Association, and Angel’s Center for Children with special needs. Way to go GLI Team on an impactful WDSD Uganda 2018!

Other related press & videos highlighting Down syndrome in Uganda and the work of local organizations involved:

NBS Interview – Rosemary Nambooze & Dr. Daniel Tumwine

NBS Interview – Daphine Murungi

NTV Article – Daphine Murungi Feature

NTV Article – Olivia / EmbraceKulture Feature

The Monitor – Rosemary Article

Global is so grateful to First Lady Valerie Sununu of New Hampshire and First Lady Robin Hickenlooper of Colorado for chairing the Light the Way Campaign, an initiative started in 2011 by First Lady Mary Pat Christie of New Jersey to shine a light on the groundbreaking advances being made to empower individuals with Down syndrome! We are honored to have partnered with First lady Sununu and First Lady Hickenlooper to highlight Global’s initiatives that are making a difference for people with Down syndrome throughout the country.

On the evening of Wednesday, March 21st as part of the Light the Way campaign, New Hampshire and Colorado lit the Governor’s Residences in blue in recognition of Down syndrome research. This date has particular significance as Down syndrome results from the presence of three copies of chromosome 21. Below are all the participating states from 2018!

Colorado
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Virginia
Wyoming
Minnesota
New Mexico
Ohio
Tennessee
Texas
West Virginia
Arkansas
Indiana
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Kansas
Maryland
Wisconsin
Montana
Puerto Rico