Global Initiatives

Each year, Down Syndrome International (DSi) develops a theme for WDSD. The theme forms the basis of a global campaign. The Down syndrome community raise their voices together to take steps towards full inclusion for people with Down syndrome everywhere.

WDSD 2024 THEME

21.03.2024. World Down Syndrome Day 2024 theme for this year is “End The Stereotypes”

WHAT IS A STEREOTYPE

A stereotype is a perception of something that a person knows little about and that is usually wrong.

HOW CAN YOU HELP GET RID OF STEREOTYPES?

• Get to know others who appear different from you. Stop yourself before making snap judgments about others. Consider what you have in common with other people—it may be more than you think! Develop empathy for others.
• Imagine the perspective of someone from a group different than your own (“Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.”)
• Seek ways to get to know people from different social groups.
• Build your confidence in interacting with people who are different from you.

WHAT MONTH IS DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS

October is the month of awareness for Down Syndrome. There will be a number of events during this month to raise awareness, activities for all ages and a chance to wear blue and yellow the official colours of Down Syndrome to show support.

WHAT IS ROCK YOUR SOCKS ABOUT?

Rock Your Socks is all about raising awareness about Down Syndrome which is a genetic condition that usually causes some level of learning disability.

Did you know?

• The origin of this phrase is unclear, but it is believed to have emerged in the early 2000s as a variation of the more common expression “you rock.”
• Since the chromosomes look like socks when viewed on a karyotype, you can “rock your socks” by wearing unique, mismatched, and colorful socks on March 21st to support and create awareness.
• Every year on March 21, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome

HOW DID THE TREND OF CRAZY SOCKS BEGIN?

The trend of Down syndrome awareness socks started in 2013, and it stuck. The reasoning behind this is that chromosomes look like socks. On World Down Syndrome Day, people wear odd, brightly-coloured socks, and pull them up high for the world to see.

WHY DO CRAZY SOCKS REPRESENT DOWN SYNDROME?

The idea was created because chromosomes are shaped “like socks” and people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome. People all over the world wear colorful, attractive, crazy socks on World Down Syndrome Day to get noticed and to start a conversation about Down Syndrome Awareness.

WHAT IS ROCK YOUR SOCKS ABOUT?

Rock Your Socks is all about fundraising and raising awareness about Down Syndrome which is a genetic condition that usually causes some level of learning disability. Rock Your Socks for World Down syndrome Day is a global campaign that encourages people to wear colourful, mismatched socks on the 21st of March each year in support of individuals with Down Syndrome, also Trisomy 21, also T21.

People all over the world wear colourful, attractive, crazy socks on World Down Syndrome Day to get noticed and to start a conversation about Down Syndrome Awareness. When asked you can tell them I am wearing crazy sock to raise awareness about Down Syndrome.