Our Disability Representative Organisation work
The Down Syndrome Australia DRO Consortium is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services as a Disability Representative Organisation (DRO).
Down Syndrome Australia leads a consortium of organisations to represent people with intellectual disability and their families and supporters, with a focus on intellectual disability caused by chromosomal variations.
People with these chromosomal variations experience intellectual disability varying from mild to severe, often accompanied by degrees of physical disabilities, higher rates of co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions, communication disabilities and health issues.
It is important that the views of people with chromosomal variations and their families and supporters are represented in the development of policies and services that affect their lives.
For people with these chromosomal variations, their families and supporters play a significant role in their lives from advocacy to skill development and providing supports and care. They are a critical part of the lives of a person with intellectual disability and form an important part of our advocacy work.
All our work is within the human rights model of disability and informed by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Our Consortium
Our consortium members are:
- Down Syndrome Australia and its member organisations – ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome QLD, Down Syndrome Tasmania, Down Syndrome Victoria and Down Syndrome Western Australia
Our Work
People in the cohort we represent have historically been among the most marginalised and have had limited opportunity to be appropriately represented in government policy and decisions. It is important that the views of people with chromosomal variations and their families are represented in the development of policies and services that affect their lives.
- We actively consult people with disability, their families and carers around matters that affect them, specifically as it relates to people with these chromosomal variations.
- We work professionally and constructively with the Australian Government to achieve positive outcomes for people with disability in areas such as the NDIS Review and Disability Royal Commission outcomes.
- We participate in consultation and engagement activities to inform Australian Government policy reform and actions, such as participating in meetings, providing feedback on strategies and plans, facilitating consultation and engagement with people with disability and providing submissions on matters that are the responsibility of the Australian Government.
- We promote an understanding of the lived experiences of people with disability.
- We regularly communicate and actively collaborate with other DROs, particularly those who represent cohort groups that experience similar systemic issues or have intersectionality with our cohort, to collectively address social barriers.
We work to create change and make sure people understand the lived experiences of people we represent as part of the DSA Consortium, including their families.