Editing Down syndrome (section)

===Advocacy groups===

Advocacy groups for individuals with Down syndrome began to be formed after the [[World War II|Second World War]].<ref name="Adv2011">{{cite book | chapter = Into the Mainstream |title=Downs: The history of a disability|year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-161978-6|page=147| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lm0BrR0POj8C&pg=PA147| vauthors = Wright D |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123083050/https://books.google.com/books?id=lm0BrR0POj8C&pg=PA147|archive-date=2017-01-23}}</ref> These were organizations advocating for the inclusion of people with Down syndrome into the general school system and for a greater understanding of the condition among the general population,<ref name="Adv2011" /> as well as groups providing support for families with children living with Down syndrome.<ref name="Adv2011" /> Before this individuals with Down syndrome were often placed in [[History of psychiatric institutions|mental hospitals or asylums]]. Organizations included the [[Mencap|Royal Society for Handicapped Children and Adults]] founded in the UK in 1946 by [[Judy Fryd]],<ref name="Adv2011" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Timeline|url=http://www.mencap.org.uk/about-us/our-history/timeline|work=MENCAP|access-date=2 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617061939/http://www.mencap.org.uk/about-us/our-history/timeline|archive-date=17 June 2011}}</ref> Kobato Kai founded in Japan in 1964,<ref name="Adv2011" /> the National Down Syndrome Congress founded in the United States in 1973 by [[Kathryn McGee]] and others,<ref name="Adv2011" /><ref>{{cite web|title=National Down Syndrome Organizations in the U.S.|url=http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/about-down-syndrome/resources/national-down-syndrome-organizations-2/|work=Global Down Syndrome Foundation|access-date=2 February 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118014934/http://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/about-down-syndrome/resources/national-down-syndrome-organizations-2/|archive-date=18 January 2014|date=2012-02-21}}</ref> and the [[National Down Syndrome Society]] founded in 1979 in the United States.<ref name="Adv2011" /> The first Roman Catholic order of nuns for women with Down Syndrome, [[Little Sisters Disciples of the Lamb]], was founded in 1985 in France.<ref name="vatican">{{cite news | title = Religious Sisters with Down syndrome: the joy of shared contemplative life | vauthors = Vet C | date = July 24, 2019 | access-date = July 31, 2019 | publisher = Vatican News | url = https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2019-07/stories-religious-sisters-with-down-syndrome.html }}</ref>

The first [[World Down Syndrome Day]] was held on 21 March 2006.<ref name=WDSD2014>{{cite web|title=World Down Syndrome Day|url=http://www.ds-int.org/world-down-syndrome-day|work=Down Syndrome International| access-date=2 February 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314001941/http://www.ds-int.org/world-down-syndrome-day|archive-date=14 March 2014}}</ref> The day and month were chosen to correspond with 21 and trisomy, respectively.<ref>{{cite book| vauthors = Pratt G, Rosner V |title=The global and the intimate feminism in our time|year=2012|publisher=Columbia University Press|location=New York|isbn=978-0-231-52084-3|page=113|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWGPe649QjIC&pg=PA113 |url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170123082556/https://books.google.com/books?id=bWGPe649QjIC&pg=PA113 |archive-date=2017-01-23}}</ref> It was recognized by the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in 2011.<ref name=WDSD2014/>

Special21.org, founded in 2015, advocates the need for a specific classification category to enable Down syndrome swimmers the opportunity to qualify and compete at the [[Paralympic Games]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portugalresident.com/special21-celebrates-world-down-syndrome-day-in-albufeira/|title=Special21 celebrates World Down Syndrome Day in Albufeira|publisher=Portugal Resident|date=March 25, 2022|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>  The project began when International Down syndrome swimmer Filipe Santos broke the world record in the 50m butterfly event, but was unable to compete at the Paralympic Games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portugalresident.com/algarve-swimmer-with-down-syndrome-breaks-world-record/|title=Algarve swimmer with Down syndrome breaks world record|publisher=Portugal Resident|date=February 27, 2019|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://special21.org/sobre-nos/
|title=Special21 About Us|publisher=Special21.org|access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>