Promoting the integration and inclusion of people with Down's syndrome in society

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Extract from the article: The world celebrated International Down Syndrome Day on 21 March. This disease is the first cause of mental deficit of genetic origin. To mark the event in Togo, the Association Mères Amis des Enfants Trisomiques (AMAETRI) in collaboration with Junio

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The world celebrated International Down Syndrome Day on 21 March. This disease is the first cause of mental deficit of genetic origin. To mark the event in Togo, the Association Mères Amis des Enfants Trisomiques (AMAETRI) in collaboration with Junior Chamber International (JCI Agoè Nyivé Piooner) organised a conference-debate under the theme: "The place of Down's syndrome children in the school environment". The objective is to make people understand the differences and raise awareness on the importance of including people with Down's syndrome, especially children in schools.

In Togo, 1 in 1000 children are born with Down's syndrome. Despite awareness-raising about the disease, people with Down's syndrome continually face prejudice. They do not suffer from their disease, but from social exclusion. School life is a crossroads for these children. For the president of AMAETRI, this year's theme is a good illustration and calls for more attention to be paid to children with Down's syndrome, especially in terms of education. « Schools refuse to accept children with Down's syndrome. Other parents threaten and refuse to allow their children to attend classes with children with Down's syndrome. Children with Down's syndrome still face social exclusion and stigmatisation », said Agbassi Tchatchein, President of AMAETRI.

According to Krytel Dicoh, AMAETRI's patron, the key to the inclusion of people with Down's syndrome in society is to accept their differences. « We have to accept these children. You have to accept their differences. Children with Down's syndrome also have a role to play in society. It is acceptance and inclusion that will make it possible to live with these children », she said. During the meeting, the audience followed a presentation entitled « Early multidisciplinary management of Down's syndrome children » by Faysal Hamzah, a speech therapist at the CHU Campus in Lomé.  The specialist explained the risk factors, the symptoms of the disease and the different innovative therapeutic approaches to cognitive deficits of people with Down's syndrome.

Arnaud KONDO