The Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) is a British charity which describes itself as being the only organisation in the United Kingdom that focuses solely on all aspects of living successfully with
Down's syndrome.
The Association states its mission as being: to provide information and support for people with Down's syndrome, their families and carers, and the professionals who work with them; to strive to improve knowledge of the condition; and to champion the rights of people with Down's syndrome.
The Association was founded in 1970 by
Rex Brinkworth as a local group and now has 20,000 members and about 126 local groups.
Its headquarters is at the Langdon Down Centre, formerly
Normansfield Hospital, built as a private hospital by
John Langdon Down
John Langdon Haydon Down (18 November 1828 – 7 October 1896) was a British physician best known for his description of the genetic condition now known as Down's or Down syndrome, which he originally classified in 1862. He is also noted for h ...
, the "Father of Down's Syndrome".
The Langdon Down Centre includes the
Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability about the history of treating people with learning disabilities, and the
Normansfield Theatre.
Former footballer
Kevin Kilbane
Kevin Daniel Kilbane (born 1 February 1977) is a former professional association football, footballer who played as a left winger or Full back (association football), full back. born in England, Kilbane won 110 caps for the Republic of Ireland n ...
, whose elder daughter has Down's syndrome, is a patron of the charity.
References
External links
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1970 establishments in the United Kingdom
Charities based in London
Down syndrome organizations
Charities for disabled people based in the United Kingdom
Organisations based in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Support groups
Organizations established in 1970
Teddington
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