Global Down Syndrome Foundation Provides $16,000 in Employment Awards to Down Syndrome Organizations Across the United States

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In April, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) awarded $16,000 in Employment Awards to Down syndrome organizations across the United States. The GLOBAL Employment Awards are a distinguished benefit for GLOBAL organization members. The awards create collaboration with local organizations and fund programs that have a direct and positive impact for people with Down syndrome. The 2023 awards are going to eight different organizations in Arizona, Michigan, Maryland, Tennessee, Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey and Virginia to underwrite programs that employ or are led by people with Down syndrome.

“We are thrilled to receive a Self-Advocate Employment Initiative Award from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. With the help of this gracious gift, we can hire an employee with Down syndrome to gain some work experience, learn on the job and begin the process of following his dream!” said Lori Green, executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South.  “Nolan has been volunteering a few hours each week in the office and we are excited to make him a paid employee. Nolan designed our walk t-shirts, attends our self-advocacy classes and will now be our office administrator. Welcome aboard, Nolan!”

Since 2014, GLOBAL has issued nearly 300 awards for important education and employment programs. GLOBAL has also invested over $1 million dollars in local Down syndrome member organizations in 45 states and 6 countries.

2023 GLOBAL Employment Award recipients (in alphabetical order)

ACDS (Plainview, NY): Funding for ACDS will contribute to increasing the hours of two pre-school classroom assistants with Down syndrome. 

Down Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey (Ewing, NJ): Award funding will expand the hours of their current employee with Down syndrome and will help hire a second self-advocate to serve as an ambassador to promote awareness in their community. 

Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma (DSACO) (Oklahoma City, OK): The DSACO Self-Advocate employment program will provide an office job and source of income for the first self-advocate employee at their organization.

Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South (DSAM) (Cordova, TN): DSAM is expanding its employment program to cover training and paid employment for an office administrator who will also present at speaking engagements in the community.

Down Syndrome Network of Arizona (Tempe, AZ): A Programs Assistant with Down syndrome will receive a raise for their support of various projects and managers.

Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County (Rockville, MD): Funding will help hire a part-time employee who will manage the new Self-Advocate Network, an advisory board of self-advocates. 

Mi Work Matters (Livonia, MI): Funding will provide job coaching for employees with Down syndrome who work at the Mi Work Matters coffee shop and three more Mi Work Matters Employment Ambassadors with Down syndrome will be hired.

Virginia Down Syndrome Association (Henrico, VA): The Self-Advocate Training and Ambassador Program will facilitate training for self-advocates to improve public speaking and provide community opportunities.