Down Syndrome Research Foundation

1409 Sperling Avenue, Burnaby
British Columbia, Canada V5B 4J8

email: info@dsrf.org

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Adult Issues
The UK based Down Syndrome Education International has produced a series of booklets on adult issues in the series Down Syndrome : Issues and Information - Adult Living. Titles in the series include;

• Life for adults with Down syndrome - An overview
• Information Communication Technology for adults with Down syndrome
• Advocacy for adults with Down syndrome
• Spiritual well-being for adults with Down syndrome

Community Building
Canadian Down Syndrome Society - Forum : a website for adults with Down syndrome. There are two sections on the forum; Awesome Adults and VATTA Advocacy Talk.  Awesome Adults; you can discuss things that are important to you.  VATTA Advocacy Talk; you can learn about the VATTA program and talk about how to advocate in your community.

Down's Syndrome Association - Down 2 Earth : is a section on the Down Syndrome Association website for adults with Down syndrome. The back issues of their newsletter, Down 2 Earth, are available to download.

National Down Syndrome Society - Club NDSS : a website specifically for teenagers and adults.  The site contains a computer page, a page on healthy living, an advocacy page, a page about school & free time and a page about independence.

Community Living
British Columbia Association for Community Living is a federation that advocates for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities and their families to ensure justice, rights and opportunities in all areas of their lives.

Camphill is a worldwide movement dedicated to community living that supports and values the contributions of all community participants without regard to their financial assets, or their intellectual or physical capabilities. Visit Camphill Association of North America to find out about the two BC Camphill organizations; Cascadia Society (North Vancouver) and Glenora Farm (Duncan).

Canadian Association for Community Living is a Canada-wide association of family members and others working for the benefit of persons of all ages who have an intellectual disability.

Entertainment
Access 2 Entertainment Card - The Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada and the National Advisory Council of Disability Organizations have developed a program that will provide discounted admission to the support person accompanying a person with a disability to member movie theatres across Canada.

Employment
Beginning a career - Stefanie's story / Cheryl Ward.  Disability Solutions 2004 Sep/Oct;6(1):3,13-14.  

The invisible workforce / Down's Syndrome Association.  London, UK : Down's Syndrome Association, 2008.

Job satisfaction / Vikki Horner.  Down Syndrome News and Update 2006;6(1):6-7.

Financial Planning
PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network) is a registered non-profit charity created by and for families who have a relative with a disability. They have two main functions:

• to assist families plan a good life for their relative with a disability both now and in the future.
• ensure a safe and secure future by fulfilling the wishes of parents, after they die, or are otherwise unable to. They do this by supporting, monitoring and advocating for their son/daughter for the rest of their lives.

PLAN was instrumental in the development of the federal government tax savings program, the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).

Registered Disability Savings Plan - a savings plan designed specifically for people with disabilities in Canada.  The first of its kind in the world, this new tax-deferred savings vehicle will assist families in planning for the long-term financial security of their relatives with disabilities.  

Government - Federal
Advancing the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities 2008 / Human Resources and Skills Development.  Ottawa, ON : HRSDC, 2008.  The Government of Canada’s comprehensive report on disability in Canada.

Canada Revenue Agency - Persons with Disabilities - The Canada Revenue Agency has a Persons with Disabilities section of their Web site. This page provides answers to questions you may have about your taxes and disability credits. Included on their site is an information page on the Registered Disability Savings Plan. 

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada - Persons with Disabilities

Persons With Disabilities Online - Access a world of information for persons with disabilities. A site where persons with disabilities, their family members, caregivers and service providers can access a full range of information on disability-related programs and services in Canada.   

Government - Provincial 
Community Living BC - provides a range of support services for adults using either residential or family and day support services, or both.  

Ministry of Children and Family Development - Special Needs - the services provided to children by the BC provincial government are found on the Special Needs page of their website. 

Ministry of Housing and Social Development - Persons with Disabilities - on the Ministry website are the application forms for Persons with Disabilities benefits, for adults 18 years of age, and the employment programs for those with disabilities.

Transitions 
Thinking about tomorrow - the transition to adult life / Jo Ann Simons. Disability Solutions  2004 Sep/Oct;6(1):1,4-12.  

Transitions - Future Planning
The Down Syndrome Research Foundation has a workshop series of information on the topic of Future Planning.  You will find the list of resources from this series on the Planning for the Future page of our website. Topics covered in the series include; Life after high school,  Residential options, Adult guardianship, Individualized funding, etc.