Canadian Down Syndrome Society Seeking Public Support for a Petition

As an article featured on CTV highlighted, the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) has  launched a campaign calling for people with Down syndrome to be put on the endangered species list.

CDSS is seeking public support for its “endangered syndrome” petition, saying that by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s criteria, the Down syndrome community qualifies as endangered in many parts of the world. The main argument from the Society is that as the population with the syndrome shrinks, so too does funding for services like housing, the charity said.

The CDSS launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of the petition, with people dressed as endangered animals. The goal is not to compare individuals with Down Syndrome to animals but they are trying to \”put a comparison in the world that says when someone gets put on the endangered species list they’re given all the support to help that species thrive and that’s what we want for our kids, for our community, is the ability to thrive,” Ben Tarr from the CDSS told CTV’s Your Morning. Largely the campaign is to raise awareness. CDSS said animal welfare groups have 90 per cent more funding than Down syndrome charities in North America.

To read more about this campaign or to support the petition, visit the original article by clicking here.