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Durham Down Syndrome Association

The Durham Down Syndrome Association promotes inclusion and support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. They provide resources, events, and community connections to celebrate strengths and foster belonging in Durham Region.

Join us for the DDSA Summer Picnic ☀️ &mdash; we are thrilled to invite you and your family/friends to celebrate summer with us at Pingles Farm!&nbsp; Enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly morning for some farm-style adventure, snacks, and time to connect with others in our community. You will have access to Pingle&rsquo;s Playland attractions, including the slide hill, mini putt, racetrack, sandbox, basketball grain hoppers, straw pyramid, games, Bubble, Billy&rsquo;s Bouncers, Animal Barn, Bunny Hut and wagon rides! 🧺 Where? Pingles FarmWhen? Sunday, July 26, 2026Time? 10 am - 1 pm Please RSVP by July 12&nbsp;- free entry to all those with a paid 2026 membership! Pizza will be served (cheese, pepperoni) - if there are any dietary restrictions, please let us know.

DDSA Summer Picnic @ Pingle's Farm

Join us for June Movie Night 🎬&mdash; a fun-filled Social Hub and Youth Night event with the Durham Down Syndrome Association as we head out to watch Toy Story 5!&nbsp; Come enjoy a great movie, good company, and a chance to connect with friends for an evening full of laughter and fun. We&rsquo;d love to see you there! The movie starts at 7 pm, so come at 6:30 pm to grab some snacks and find your seat.&nbsp; Parents/guardians/caregivers, siblings and family members encouraged and welcome to join, but we can make arrangements for drop-off/pick-up if preferred.&nbsp; Your registration helps us plan seating, snacks, and supports so everyone feels comfortable and included. 💙 Please RSVP by June 16&nbsp;- so we can ensure to purchase our tickets together as a group, as this is a new movie debuting on June 19th!!

June Movie Night - Combined Social Hub & Youth Night

May&#39;s Youth Night is our final cooking class for this year. A popular suggestion from the last cooking class, will be on the menu, spaghetti and meatballs! A delicious way to fill our bellies as we head into summer.&nbsp;

Youth Night - Cooking Class

Join us for the Durham Down Syndrome Association&rsquo;s Annual General Meeting. This gathering brings together families, self-advocates, and community partners to review our past year, share updates, and plan how we&rsquo;ll continue promoting awareness, inclusion, and acceptance. Your voice matters. By registering, you help guide our programs, support groups, and educational workshops so they reflect the real needs and strengths of people with Down syndrome in Durham. 💙

Annual General Meeting

Join our Social Hub 19+ Painting Party 🎨&mdash;a relaxed evening for adults in our community to connect, create, and have fun together. All materials are provided, and no painting experience is needed. 🖌️ The splatter paint sessions are high-energy, creative, and a little messy (in the best way!), so consider wearing some older clothing/shoes you don&#39;t mind getting some paint on. Come enjoy conversation, support Durham Down Syndrome Association&rsquo;s mission of inclusion and acceptance and leave with a canvas that&rsquo;s uniquely yours!

Social Hub 19+ - Painting Party!

Join us for the DDSA Musical Theatre Performance 🎭🎶 In partnership with The Travelling Stage we are proud to present a talented cast of DDSA members for an exciting Musical Theatre Performance.&nbsp;Join the audience for an hour of singing, dancing and drama to many classic Disney songs. Our performers have been rehearsing since October and are ready to entertain the whole family&nbsp; Your presence supports our mission of awareness, inclusion, and acceptance&mdash;on stage and in the audience. Celebrate the talents of individuals with Down syndrome and the wider Durham community. This event will bring families, friends, and supporters together in a welcoming space where every performer is valued and included. We look forward to seeing you there!

DDSA Musical Theatre Performances

Create bright, beautiful action paintings using the techniques of Abstract Expressionism. Splatter painting allows&nbsp;everyone the freedom to experiment, let loose and get messy. The result is always a unique, one-of-a-kind artwork!Everyone will get to create their own splatter masterpiece. We will also share some snacks to celebrate our creative sides.&nbsp;

Youth Night (12-18) - Paint Party

Social Hub (19+) - DishPlay is a relaxed space for our group to connect, cook, and share a meal/snack together 🍽️. Join us to try simple recipes, build kitchen skills, and enjoy good conversation. By registering, you help us plan for ingredients, seating, and any support you may need. Our goal is inclusion, comfort, and choice&mdash;you decide how you want to take part 🎉. Menu will include:Crispy Chicken Tacos with Salsa, Cheese, Lettuce, Special Taco Sauce&nbsp;andTropical Punch (non-alcoholic) **You only need to pay for the member participating in the event. There is an area where parents/caretakers can sit and chat while the class is being taught.

Social Hub (19+) - DishPlay

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating community, inclusion, and the incredible individuals and families who make the Durham Down Syndrome Association so special. Celebrate 3&bull;21 is our World Down Syndrome Day celebration - a night to come together, connect, and honour the strength, joy, and belonging that define our community. Your ticket includes an evening of:<ul data-end="1868" data-start="1714" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="1735" data-start="1714" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Music and dancing</li><li data-end="1755" data-start="1736" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Food and drinks</li><li data-end="1809" data-start="1756" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connection with families, friends, and supporters</li><li data-end="1868" data-start="1810" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">A vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where everyone belongs</li></ul>This event is about celebration - celebrating individuals with Down syndrome, celebrating our community, and celebrating the impact we can make together. World Down Syndrome Day is observed on March 21 (3&bull;21), representing the three copies of chromosome 21. It&rsquo;s a day recognized around the world to promote awareness, inclusion, and acceptance. Your participation helps support DDSA&rsquo;s programs, events, and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families throughout Durham Region. We can&rsquo;t wait to celebrate with you! ✨

Celebrate 3•21

Join our community and become a member today! Our memberships grant you and your family access to our events, programs, and resources all year round.&nbsp; Thank you for your support and help in making all of this possible. Together, we can make a positive impact on our community.&nbsp; We are so excited to have you!&nbsp;

Join our community and become a member today! Our memberships grant you and your family access to our events, programs, and resources all year round. Thank you for your support and help in making all of this possible. Together, we can make a positive impact on our community. We are so excited to have you!

DDSA Annual Membership

Izzy Salangsang filled every day with joy, curiosity, and love. He was deeply cherished by his parents, Les and Lory, and shared a special bond with his sisters, Elory and Selena. Izzy&rsquo;s bright spirit and the impact he had on those around him continue to be felt throughout our community. In honour of Izzy&rsquo;s life, and with the blessing of the Salangsang family, the Durham Down Syndrome Association created the Izzy Salangsang Sibling Scholarship. Each year, two scholarships are awarded to siblings of individuals with Down syndrome who are pursuing post-secondary education.&nbsp; These siblings often play an important and unique role in their families and community, offering support, advocacy, and lifelong connection. Your donation helps celebrate Izzy&rsquo;s legacy by supporting the educational journeys and future goals of these remarkable young people. Together, we can continue to recognize and uplift siblings in our community &mdash; today and for years to come.

Izzy Salangsang filled every day with joy, curiosity, and love. He was deeply cherished by his parents, Les and Lory, and shared a special bond with his sisters, Elory and Selena. Izzy’s bright spirit and the impact he had on those around him continue to be felt throughout our community.In honour of Izzy’s life, and with the blessing of the Salangsang family, the Durham Down Syndrome Association created the Izzy Salangsang Sibling Scholarship.Each year, two scholarships are awarded to siblings of individuals with Down syndrome who are pursuing post-secondary education. These siblings often play an important and unique role in their families and community, offering support, advocacy, and lifelong connection.Your donation helps celebrate Izzy’s legacy by supporting the educational journeys and future goals of these remarkable young people.Together, we can continue to recognize and uplift siblings in our community — today and for years to come.

The Izzy Salangsang Sibling Scholarship

At&nbsp;Durham Down Syndrome Association, we know that change starts with people like you. Your donation helps us provide programs, events, advocacy, and community support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families across Durham Region. Thank you for helping us build a more inclusive community. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world for all.

At Durham Down Syndrome Association, we know that change starts with people like you. Your donation helps us provide programs, events, advocacy, and community support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families across Durham Region.Thank you for helping us build a more inclusive community. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world for all.

DDSA&rsquo;s Overnight Caregiver Retreat offers parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome a chance to rest, connect, and be understood 🎗️. We are excited to announce the second DDSA Caregivers Overnight Retreat, a soul filling and transformative 1-night, 2-day gathering for 10 Caregivers in the DDSA community. This retreat is designed to be a self care get away with minimal structured activities leaving plenty of space to engage in various amenities available on site and opportunities to connect with each other.The retreat will be held at BlackHouse, a one-of-a-kind property that merges artistry, sustainability, and nature, offering a warm and eco-conscious environment. The location is approximately an hour drive from the Durham Region.The schedule is carefully crafted to combine relaxation, and connection with like-minded individuals at different stages in their caregiving journey. Yoga and forest therapy, and access to the outdoor salt water pool, wood burning sauna and indoor steam room offer soul restorative activities. Each participant will have their own sleeping quarters with a shared washroom with one other participant.All meals are provided during your stay, with check-in at 10am on August 8th and check out by 2pm on the 9th.

Durham Down Syndrome Association

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DDSA Overnight Caregiver Retreat

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DDSA Annual Membership

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The Izzy Salangsang Sibling Scholarship

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