Down Syndrome Illawarra is a new support group.

Down Syndrome Illawarra is a new community group which aims to connect and support families touched by Down syndrome.

They have just launched an early learning play group, supported by Illawarra Multicultural Services (IMS).

The playgroup is held in the IMS building on Mondays from 10am – 12pm at 17 Auburn Street, Wollongong.

Group founder Shirley Bungard said the  aim of the playgroup was to provide not only fun activities and an opportunity for families to connect and gain support, but to also provide structured play to help the children develop their skills across a range of areas such as social,  fine motor, sensory, cognitive, play and communication skills.

“This is a great opportunity to meet other parents of children with Down syndrome in a comfortable and supportive environment,” she said.

“In addition, once a month we hold an awareness day and plan a group outing and invite family, friends and the community to participate.”

Shirley said the organisation’s key objectives are:

Connections:
To provide parents and children with the opportunity to meet others in like situations via regular group get- togethers. These groups are very flexible and aim to provide something suitable for all families and make it easy for everyone to get involved.

Awareness:
To raise awareness of Down syndrome by inviting the community to come along to groups and also to join their Facebook page.

Support:
To provide support to families, via their website, forum, Facebook page and weekly/monthly groups, who have been touched by Down syndrome. They also provide support such as parent visits to new parents while they are still in hospital or once they have arrived home.

Siblings are also invited to attend groups and meet other siblings in like situations.

“Most children with Down syndrome are now fully integrated in their local schools and are quite often the only child attending their school who has Down syndrome,” Shirley said."

“Down Syndrome Illawarra believes it is crucial for the children’s wellbeing to be given the opportunity to meet and socialise with other children who have Down syndrome. The degree of each child’s disability is not important - it’s the diagnosis of Down syndrome which matters."

“We also advocate for using ‘people first language’."

“People first language is simply making a point of putting the person first in your words, whether they are spoken or typed."

“Instead of saying ‘a Down's kid, Downies, or those Down syndrome children’, you say, ‘a child with Down syndrome, or children who have Down syndrome’."

“The point is to consider the person first, not the condition or label. It is not only a pointed effort to put the person first, it is a matter of respect that really requires very little effort. This is an issue embraced by many self advocates who publicly state over and over that they wish to be seen as people first, not a disability.”

Further information is available on the Down Syndrome Illawarra website – a wonderful site filled with great resources, practical information and useful links to further reading and support:

http://www.downsyndromeillawarra.com/

You can direct email inquiries to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact Shirley Bungard on 0466 266 729.