Support & empower 1400+ persons with Down syndrome

Dear Supporters,

The last quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program has been very eventful. With KDSP Learning Centre (KLC) up and running, we’ve also opened up another facility called the KDSP Development Centre (KDC). Whereas KLC is dedicated to Education and Skills’ Development, KDC looks after the entirety of Early Childhood Intervention and Healthcare services – alongside our operations teams. With this, we’ve been able to expand the scale of our services and cater to more families, effectively reducing our waitlist. This quarter KDSP also hosted a concert featuring renowned Pakistani singers Bilal  and Hasan; this was the first ever concert hosted by a not-for-profit organization in Pakistan! All proceeds from the concert went towards empowering individuals with Down syndrome.

Below mentioned are more highlights from this quarter, from each service

Family Support:

• Family Support Group Sessions

KDSP organized two informational Family Support Group sessions addressing mental healthcare needs of individuals with Down syndrome and on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) awareness. The sessions, delivered by experts, equipped parents and caregivers with the tools to improve the mental wellbeing of their loved ones with Down syndrome and address emergency situations where they may require CPR. The sessions benefited 50+ parents and caregivers.

• Emotional Support Groups:

Emotional support groups continued for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in KDSP preschool program by the Integrative Psychotherapist and Counsellor Ms. Zahabia. Additionally, a support group was also launched for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in KDSP afterschool program. The support group was aimed at providing parents with a safe and open space to share their thoughts, challenges, and emotions, and then to find strength and motivation for this journey. 6 sessions have been conducted which have benefitted 21 parents and caregivers.

• KDSP Beach Retreat:

A fun-filled beach retreat was organized for those with Down syndrome and their families in November. The retreat provided a day long opportunity for 50 families to connect with one another and for individuals with Down syndrome to develop new friendships over exciting activities and delicious food.

Awareness:

• KDSP’s Down Syndrome Awareness month Campaign – “Pyaar Baanto”

During October, which is the international Down syndrome awareness month, KDSP's annual awareness campaign was titled Pyaar Baanto (Spread Love). The campaign aimed to spread the message of love, inclusion, and diversity. It not only focused on celebrating the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, but also aimed to raise awareness for their right to inclusion in the mainstream society. As part of this campaign, KDSP released a new anthem, "Pyaar Baanto". The anthem is a catchy tune about spreading love; it is produced by Hamza Production House, directed by Zeeshan and sung by acclaimed singers: Ali, Haroon, Natasha, Nafisa, and Bilal "Pyaar Baanto" was officially released on a number of streaming platforms: YouTube, Spotify, Patari, iTunes, Deezer, Amazon Music, Sound Cloud, and Tidal.

• “Pyaar Baanto” - Launch Event

The Launch Event for KDSP's Anthem, "Pyaar Baanto" took place at the KDSP Learning Centre (KLC) on 1st October 2022. It was an eventful evening where the donors, celebrities, individuals with Down syndrome and artists from the "Pyaar Baanto" anthem came together to celebrate its release. The event was hosted by Khalid and a number of people from the media fraternity graced the event with their presence. Media partners for the event included a number of local publications and mainstream and digital media channels.

The anthem has been widely shared on social media by digital publications. These include Fuschia Magazine, Paperazzi Magazine, Dawn Images, Runway Pakistan, Mangobaaz, Billboard, People magazine, Weekly wit, Click to update, Everyday Crunch, News Bytes, Central bytes 1, Trendtab, Hourly Updates, Pakistandigitalnews, Elite Class Magazine, Pakistan Scoop, Cutacut, and Nichelifestyle. Instagram influencers and artists from the Pakistani media industry also helped us spread our message of love by sharing the anthem on their respective social media handles.KDSP Team and artists for "Pyaar Baanto" made multiple television and radio show appearances in the month of October. These included shows on the following channels/platforms.: FM 91, Bol TV, Hum News, Geo TV, Aaj News, and Fuschia Magazine.

KDSP and its new anthem was able to get media coverage through different digital and print media platforms as well. These include Jang Magazine and Dawn Images.

• Awareness Sessions in Schools

As a part of the “Pyaar Baanto” campaign, KDSP conducted awareness sessions and fundraising drives in schools all over Karachi. The sessions focused on raising awareness about Down syndrome in specific and the need for an inclusive society in general.

These session were conducted in the following schools:

1. The City School
2. Foundation Public School
3. Nixor College
4. Karachi Grammar School
5. Happy Home School
6. The AMI School
7. Mama Parsi
8. Bay View High School
9. Nixor College
10. Dawood Public School
11. Beaconhouse School System

• “Pyaar Baanto” screening at the IVY School

A special screening for “Pyaar Baanto” was also held at the IVY School. KDSP’s ambassadors, Ali and Nafisa along with the cofounders, Ali and Farzeen visited the school for an engaging session with students and parents. The audience really enjoyed “Pyaar Baanto”; they sang along, and were accepting towards the message of inclusivity the anthem aimed to convey.

• KDSP Concert – A night for inclusion

In celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, KDSP hosted its first ever concert at Beach Luxury Hotel on 3rd December 2022. It was a fun night where the 90’s heart-throb Bilal and the new music sensation Hasan performed live! More than 2000 people came together to celebrate the ‘Night for Inclusion’. All proceeds from the concert will go towards supporting individuals with Down syndrome at KDSP.

• Wall of Inspiration at “Inspire Dental”

On 5th October, Ali and Farzeen, co-founders of KDSP, inaugurated the "Wall of Inspiration" at Inspire Dental. KDSP was featured on Inspire Dental’s "Wall of Inspiration" for Down syndrome awareness month. Inspire dental also provided free dental consultations to kids with Down syndrome.

• Jazz’s Video for T-20 Cricket World Cup 2022

In October, Individuals with Down syndrome associated with KDSP were featured in the music video of of a sports anthem produced by a telecom company Jazz’s sports anthem ‘Khel Dil Mein Hai’ – ‘Sports is in our heart’ -  for T20 Cricket World Cup 2022. The anthem is sung by country’s esteemed artists: Asim, Meesha, and Eva, produced by SeeMe Productions, and is directed by Hassan. This sports anthem not only showcases the passion and enthusiasm our nation has for cricket but also adds in the spirit of inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in the domain of sports.

• Children’s Day Celebration - Visit to Sindbad and Chop Chop Wok

In November, to celebrate Children’s Day, kids with Down syndrome visited Chop Chop Wok, a restaurant, and Sindbad, an amusement park for a fun day out. These visits were arranged by Chop Chop Wok in collaboration with Sindbad. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed themselves to the fullest! With this, Chop Chop Wok aimed to highlight, how fostering inclusion and tolerance can help support and improve the outcome of the lives of individuals with Down syndrome. 

• Grooming Day by Cosmo Group

On 8^th December 2022, Cosmo Group organized a grooming day at the KDSP Learning Center for kids and adults with Down syndrome. They set up a hairstyling and nail bar where everyone came in to get pampered for the day! It was surely a fun-filled event for all and girls and boys with Down syndrome were happy to get fancy nails and hairdos.

Skills Development:

• 36 new children enrolledin different children skills’ development programs.
• 21 new adults enrolled in different children skills’ development programs.

• Agha Khan University Swimming Training:

On 17th September, KDSP in collaboration with Aga Khan University Hospital started a 6 weeks’ Swimming Training at AKU Sports and Rehabilitation Centre and 12 participants were facilitated

• KDSP Shop Opening at KLC Launch:

On 24th September, KDSP officially opened up its Crafters' Shop located in KDSP Learning Center.

• Elan Bazaar:

On 1st October, KDSP set up its crafters' stall at Elan Bazaar. KDSP made sales of Rupees 27,000 and was able to spread awareness about individuals with Down syndrome. All the proceeds went back to the crafters who crafter these products

• The Crafter's Expo:

On 13th November, KDSP set up its crafters' stall at The 10th Crafters' Expo. It was a great opportunity for us to empower our crafters with Down syndrome, while also spreading awareness about KDSP and its work.

• Soul Fest, 2022:

Between 9 to 11th December, KDSP put up its stall at Soul Fest, 2022 to raise awareness about the skills of KDSP crafters.

• Institute of Business Administration Cricket and Football Trainings:

On 13^th October, KDSP, in collaboration with Institute of Business Administration (IBA) started football and cricket trainings for individuals 8 years and above in which 30 participants were facilitated

• Education for Life Students Visit to Chop Chop Wok:

On 16th November, Chop Chop Wok invited 10 Education for Life students for lunch alongside a dumpling cooking tutorial class at their Tipu Sultan Branch. It was a fun day with great food and company!

• Spark Playcentre Visit:

On 24th November, Spark Playcentre invited 20 participants from for fun day visit to their newly inaugurated early learning centre. Participants and their parents had fun and enjoyed to the fullest.

• Rangoonwala Jewelry Making Course:

On 8th December, KDSP, in collaboration with Rangoonwala Community Center started a 3 months’ Jewelry Making Course; 10 individuals with Down syndrome benefitted.

• Annual Sports Day at JS Academy for Deaf:

On 15th December, 4 individuals with Down syndrome from KDSP took part in the Annual Sports Day at JS Academy for Deaf. They participated in races and tug of war.

• Self Defense Class:

On 16th December, 7 individuals with Down syndrome visited Arthouse by Sarwat Gillani for a Self Defense Class.

Early Childhood Intervention:

• 20 New children were enrolled in occupational, speech and physical therapies
• 275 Occupational therapy sessions were conducted
• 273 Physical therapy sessions were conducted
• 265 Speech therapy sessions were conducted

• Parent Empowerment Program

This year the tremendous growth of KDSP has had a domino effect on the turnover of parents reaching out. Consequently, the parents on the waitlist for ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) therapies increased. Parent Empowerment Program was initiated by KDSP as a mean to provide such parents with self-help guidance. The program started on the 17th of September and continues to be centered on the concerns of these waitlisted parents. Each interactive session is an informative guide to better equip the parents to deal with their concerns whilst they wait for their child’s turn to receive services. The program is not only informative in nature but is fueled from an intention to uplift the parents’ spirits and remind them that though they have been on the waitlist for a while, they are extremely valued members of KDSP.

• Professor Annette’s collaboration with Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Department

At the start of September, the ECI department had the pleasure of collaborating with a well-known Physical Therapist Professor Annette, from Philadelphia with 24 years of experience. This collaboration was tailored so it could facilitate the needs of children with delayed results. Every week, Dr. Annette observes and assesses session of these kids with their respective therapists and parents on how better results could be achieved. Furthermore, Dr. Annette has also been helping therapists with further diagnosis and assessment of these children. Aside from the observatory work, the upcoming 4 weeks will consist of Dr. Annette hosting educative sessions on topics such as common comorbidities of children with Down syndrome.

• ECI Celebration Milestone event

This year, KDSP hosted a milestone event in November for all those brilliant individuals that had been discharged from two or more ECI therapies after achieving their milestones. The event had multiple stakeholders, including families of individuals with Down syndrome and KDSP’s donors. The afternoon celebrated not only these individuals and their hard work but also the persistence of their parents and therapists.

• Occupational Therapy Training

Ms. Anjum, an MS in Occupational Therapy and a licensed OTR/L from University of Illinios, Chicago, is a manager at the Essentia Therapy Solutions (North Carolina, USA). She conducted a training in November for therapists at KDSP. It was a great learning experience for the therapists.

Education:

• Ongoing Professional Development for Educational Facilitators:

On 20th, 21st and 26th October, A 3-day training session by Speech Therapist, Saamia was organized for the TAP facilitators to help them share and learn new strategies to facilitate the children with Down syndrome in their classes.

• Parents’ Involvement day:

On 10th December, Tailored assistance program (TAP) team celebrated Parents’ Involvement Day and TAP Bazaar with TAP students. Students came with their parents and enjoyed many activities and games. They also set up a Bazaar to sell items to their parents made in TAP class to reinforce the concept of money.

• Working to increase the pool of service providers within Inclusive Education:

1. KDSP and the Aga Khan University - Human Development Program (AKU-HDP) delivered a 4-month long course, between July 2022 and October 2022, titled “Inclusion Matters” The enrollment for the course comprised of teachers, caregivers and organizational staff members working within the disability sector.

1. KDSP and the Center for Executive Education (CEE) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) collaborated for a 3-day Annual Inclusive Education Training scheduled for Dec 29th, 30th and 31st. It was intended to provide teachers, caregivers and educational specialists the knowledge and skills required to work with individuals with intellectual schools.

Healthcare:

• Behavior Therapy:

KDSP’s Behavior therapy team successfully observed over 48 children. The team identified a tool that could be used for further assessment of children with behavioral difficulties. Lastly, the team set the criteria a child needed to meet before getting enrolled in behavioral therapy. Following their contribution, this quarter KDSP got on board a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) making it possible for us to offer one on one behavior therapy sessions, classroom and therapy observations, and parent assessments.

• General Pediatric Clinics

The general pediatric clinic was created this quarter to cater to the numerous general health concerns of individuals with Down syndrome through onsite consultations, thorough clinical checkups and follow-up appointments:

1. 13 children benefitted from Dr. Razi’s clinic who works as Senior Clinical Instructor in Child Life Found Graduated from Sindh Medical College (DUHS).
2. 33 children benefitted from Dr. Sidra’s clinic in November, a renowned Developmental Pediatrician.
3. 11 families benefitted from a clinic in October wi
4. th Dr. Salman (Director and Chair of Healthcare committee at KDSP, a Clinical Geneticist and Pediatric Endocrinologist, and also leads the Division of Women & Child Health at the Aga Khan University Hospital).
5. 4 children benefitted from Dr. Anookhi’s clinic (Apple Tree Practice). The Apple Tree Practice was created to deliver top quality healthcare for all families holistically. Following their practice as the ‘The Pediatric Pod’ in Houston, they decided to bring that level of quality of care to Karachi as the Apple Tree practice. The clinic also introduced well baby and child checks which require specialists to review the growth and development of a child.

• Aga Khan University Hospital Eye Camp

Over 25 children benefitted from Aga Khan University Hospital Eye Camp in November by Dr. Irfan. Considering the persistence of eye issues in children with Down syndrome the camp benefitted all those that needed to have their concerns addressed by ophthalmologists.

• Alvi Dental Camp

5 children benefitted from the dental camp in October and 2 children were further referred to orthopedic specialists. Following this camp, KDSP signed an MoU with Alvi Dental which allowed our children to avail free consultations and special discounts on numerous services.

Some stories from the field:

• “I had heard great things about the KDSP beach retreat, but this is the first time I got a chance to experience it myself with Ziyam and family. We had a great time and all arrangements were taken care of superbly. Lots of love and prayers for KDSP and its representatives.” – Ambreen, Mother of Ziyam

• “Hifza was 5 days old when we got to know that she had Down syndrome. We were taken aback when the news was broken to us. Back then, we had no knowledge about Down syndrome; we were told our daughter was not “normal” and that she would never be able to lead a happy life. We visited a number of hospitals but were unable to get any help. Finally, one of the hospitals referred us to KDSP and this place truly became a ray of hope for us. We were educated about Down syndrome in detail. Unlike before, we now saw Down syndrome differently and we knew that our daughter could do all that a typical child could. Seeing kids with Down syndrome coming to KDSP to receive various services and eventually showing improvement is always a reassuring sight. At KDSP, we know Hifza is in the right hands! I also try to play my part in creating awareness about Down syndrome at a personal level; I also tell my friends and family about the phenomenal work KDSP is doing.”

 - Gulzar, Father of Hifza

• “Getting to know that your first born daughter has a condition that you know nothing about was surely a stressful thing to deal with. When I got to know that Anabia had Down syndrome, I was not just extremely worried about my daughter’s future but had no clue how to go about it. The doctors did not tell us anything in detail rather scared us even more. People around us would tell us that there is not much you could do for kids with Down syndrome in Pakistan. However, when Anabia was around 3 years old, a friend of mine told me about KDSP. Coming to this new place changed everything for us; not only all our confusions were cleared but it gave us a new way to view Down syndrome, a view that unlike the society, did not make us think of the condition as a curse rather a way of life for our daughter. I have to say that the KDSP carnival is one of my most favorite things that happen here. The first ever carnival I attended was an eye-opener, I wasn’t expecting it to be this grand. With every passing year, it just kept getting better. I always urge all my family and friends to come along; I even set up a food stall at the last carnival. It is heartwarming to see kids with different kinds of abilities coming together to have a blast! We eagerly wait for the carnival every year! I think I would not have been able to do anything for Anabia if it wasn’t for KDSP.”

- Abdul, Father of Anabia

You can tell this was a rather eventful quarter for us at KDSP and this has only been possible by your support! Here’s hoping the next quarter will be better and busier!

Love,

Team KDSP

Dear Supporters,

The last quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program has brought new horizons of growth and a new facility, called the “KDSP Learning Centre” (KLC) - A second KASHTI* joining KDSP’s fleet. The theme of ‘Pyaar Baanto’ continues this quarter and is manifested into reality with KLC, a feat only possible with the love and support of you, our supporters. With this new facility, KDSP now has the infrastructure to expand the scale of their services and offer more programs. The facility hosts two of KDSP’s essential services – Education, and Enrichment & Skills Development.

Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:

Family Support:

• KDSP organized a training on Supporting Your Child with Down Syndrome through Puberty on the 11^th and 12^th of March which benefited 17 parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome. The session was conducted by renowned professionals within their fields working for individuals with Down syndrome, including Dr. Salman - Pediatrics, Ms. Aamna - Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Kishwar - Pediatrics and Ms. Mahrukh - Psychologist. 
  
  Review:
  
   “The sessions were very impressive and motivational. They surely are very helpful and informative for guardians of individuals with Down syndrome. I appreciate KDSP’s efforts in arranging these sessions and I look forward to attending more in the future”. – Shahnaz, mother of Mahad

• Early Preschool Program Parents Support Group:
  
  An emotional processing support group was launched for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in Early Preschool Program in May 2022. The group was led by an Integrative Psychotherapist and Counsellor Ms. Zahabia. The support group was aimed at providing parents with a safe and open space to share their thoughts, challenges, emotions and feelings and to find strength, motivation and support. So far 4 sessions have been conducted which have benefitted 15 parents and caregivers.

• An abstract Art Workshop for siblings ofindividuals with Down syndrome to provide them an opportunity to gain peer support was held on 11^th June. Although being a sibling of a person with Down syndrome can be a wonderful experience, it may sometimes feel isolating. This workshop enabled 11 participants to learn Abstract Art techniques led by Ms. Fatema, in a safe and positive space while also allowing them to creatively express themselves and seek support from shared experiences. After the art class a Sibling Mentor- Ms. Fizza also spoke to other siblings about her journey of being a sibling of an individual with Down syndrome.

Awareness:

• KDSP continued conducting awareness sessions at schools and organizations. The purpose of these sessions is to sensitize students and employees on what Down syndrome is, the preferred language that should be used and showing to them the importance of including such individuals within society.
  
  Sessions in the past quarter have been conducted in multiple organizations such as Total Parco, and The Body Shop amongst other local organizations. Along with this, we had guided tours within KDSP for people to experience firsthand interactions with beautiful souls while being part of different activities and for them to learn more about our journey. As we believe in integrating individuals with Down syndrome into mainstream society, awareness sessions were also conducted at different educational Institutes.
  
  A total of 1050+ individuals in the past 2 months have been educated regarding Down syndrome.

• Every year, in the holy month of Ramadan, KDSP runs a campaign to build awareness about KDSP and raise funds. This year the campaign took place in April 2022. 

• The CEO, Co-Founder & Director and the Head of Speech and Language Therapy at KDSP attended TV shows to raise awareness about Down syndrome along with families from our Family Network.

• KDSPs CEO - Ms. Samar and KDSP’s Co-Founder and Director – Mr. Ali  were on several popular local podcasts where they talked about KDSP.

• Renowned Pakistani Politician - Ms. Sharmila,visited KDSP to co-conduct a storytelling session in June 2022

Healthcare:

•  In April, the Healthcare Department at KDSP signed a MoU with Aga Khan University Hospital to provide high quality healthcare services at subsidized costs for individuals with Down syndrome all across Pakistan. 80 individuals have already benefited via this fruitful partnership, and we hope to continue aiding many more.

• KDSP organized a one-day workshop at Indus Hospital in April 2022. The workshop invited physicians and residents of the hospital to attend a training covering the basics of care delivery for individuals with Down syndrome. The workshop was divided into three parts – awareness, family support and health care - because it is vital to involve multidisciplinary personnel to contribute to the team approach that is required to provide effective care and management of health concerns faced by individuals with Down syndrome as we make the shift to a more inclusive society.

• KDSP hosted a Pediatric Cardiology Clinic with Dr. Fatima (Pediatric Cardiologist, Aga Khan University Hospital) in June 2022. 10 individuals with Down syndrome consulted with Dr. Fatima at the clinic, while 12 individuals had their test checkups completed. Dr. Fatima provided guidance on precautionary measures and future steps for individuals requiring treatment.

Enrichment and Skills Development:

• Education for Life Program was officially launched in May 2022. The program offers life skills classes, vocational training and physical activities for young adults with Down syndrome. This Program has 10 participants.
  
  
• For the first time, KDSP has also introduced Photography classes as part of the Education for Life Program. This class is conducted by a photojournalist, Ms. Ayesha. She provides individuals with Down syndrome the opportunity to learn about camera angles, lighting and editing. The class incorporates field trips to allow students to photograph new spaces and landscapes. Students are also taught and encouraged to create a curated photo gallery which can be edited and showcased to parents, teachers and peers. 10 participants are benefitting from this currently.
  
  
• Another exciting new venture is the introduction of Cooking and Baking classes conducted by culinary student Ms. Zainab. Students learn a variety of different skills such as using kitchen equipment in a safe and independent manner, accurately measuring ingredients, and using their sense of taste, touch and smell to create their own food items. Students are encouraged to create their own recipes and take pride in their achievements. 10 participants are benefitting from this currently.
  
  
• Another addition to the program is the Pottery & Painting class conducted by Ms. Sadaf. The class provides students with a creative outlet and the opportunity to use a range of painting mediums and clay art material. The goal is for students to communicate through art and create sculptures, decorative pieces and functional items that can be used in their own households or sold elsewhere. 18 participants are enrolled in this.
  
  
• The Enrichment department in collaboration with the Education department planned a summer camp, in the month of June, for children with Down syndrome between the ages of 7-14. Daily classes focused on crafts, painting, storytelling, music, field trips and endless opportunities for these children to learn and have fun. This program has a total of 27 participants.

Education:

• KDSP arranged a field trip for the Early Preschool students and their parents to the Spark Play Center on 19 April, 2022. Their facility has different activity rooms for the kids like an art room, a ball pit, and reading room, pretend play area, sand play, pottery, free play with a child-sized playhouse and cars. 27 children enjoyed maneuvering from one room to another exploring the variety of different activities that each room offers.

• We had our open house with the new Early Preschool batch on 28^th April. We had different activities such as circle time with everyone, mess-free painting, hand-print caretaker-and-child activity and Eid cards. This event allowed 14 parents to get to know the team and for teachers to have their first proper meet up with the children.

• KDSP celebrated Mother’s Day13^th May by arranging different activity stations including an art corner where children made a mother’s day card and headband with their mother or caretaker, a face painting station, and a hairstyle and nail painting station and a food corner. There were 27 participants.

• The Early Preschool Program Team arranged a graduation ceremony for the August Batch of 2021-2022 on 12^th June, 2022 where 13 kids graduated. Parents of the graduating students and donors were present along with the Education Department. There was a puppet show followed by a photo shoot for the families and refreshments.

• KDSP organized a parental involvement day on 28^th May, where 21 students along with their parents made crazy hats and enjoyed the activity to its fullest. Kids were eager and excited to indulge in the crazy hat activity. Both the kids and their parents showed their extraordinary creative skills and had a fun time together. The kids also did a fun parade wearing their colorful crazy hats!

• A comprehensive online training session was conducted for the third batch of one of our educational program’s candidates. 21 candidates were given a detailed overview and step-by-step guideline on how to write SMART goals and develop effective Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs) for their children.

• An in-person training session was conducted for the outgoing Early Preschool Program’s batch parents by the educational team. It focused on making parents aware of the importance and use of Individualized educational plans in mainstream schooling and also trained parents on how to write SMART goals and develop Individualized educational plans

Early Childhood Intervention:

• 13 new children were enrolled in physical, occupational and speech therapies during this quarter

• 275 occupational therapy sessions were conducted during this quarter

• 273 physical therapy sessions were conducted during this quarter

• 243 speech therapy sessions were conducted during this quarter

Some stories from the field:

“The session was really nice, I had a lot of fun. The entire workshop had a really positive vibe. I personally enjoyed the painting session but the latter session was very insightful. Even though I myself am a sister to a brother with Down syndrome, I learnt so many new things today. I feel great” – Momina , sister of Yahya on the abstract art workshop for siblings

“Immediately after coming into this world Ali got extremely sick. Doctors’ visits soon became the norm. It was during one of these visits that we were told by the staff that Ali had been diagnosed with Down syndrome. As new parents, we were overcome with fear and anxiety. Ali kept getting sicker and soon caught pneumonia. To make matters worse, we were told there was also a hole in his heart and would probably need injections for the rest of his life. At the recommendation of one of the doctors, we found our way to KDSP and they provided us these injections Ali needed for the next 7 to 8 months absolutely free. We enrolled Ali in Occupational, Speech and Physical therapies and saw tremendous progress and Ali now walks independently and has developed a very active personality. I recommend KDSP to everyone who has a child or knows someone with Down syndrome. KDSP is the chance my child deserved.” – Mother of Ali

“My daughter started off with mainstream schooling however, after a while she had to leave as the school did not cater to my child’s needs. But then it was here at KDSP through which my daughter had a significant change in her development! Eman was home-schooled because of the educational programsand taught skills I would not have imagined my child would develop, if it wasn’t for the support we found at KDSP.” – Mother of Eman

“Wajiha was diagnosed with Down syndrome soon after her birth, but it took around six months for us to process it. Wajiha’s physical and behavioral development has been incredible from the beginning, however her intellectual development in regards to education was tough as I was not sure where and if my child could get education. However, when we came to KDSP those worries of mine went away as my daughter is doing so well in this regard due to her educational programs at KDSP.” - Mother of Wajiha

“Muhammad was a premature baby born in Lahore. Soon after his birth he was diagnosed with Down syndrome and not long after battled double pneumonia. Due to his compromised immune system he was kept in the Intensive Care Unit. As a mother, this period of my life was especially difficult. Muhammad’s diagnosis was one matter but societies faux sympathies were another matter altogether but neither me nor my husband lost hope. With the support of our close family and friends, and on the recommendation of Dr. Kirmani, we moved to Karachi and came to KDSP. Now at age 4, drastic improvement can be seen in Muhammad’s behavior. He benefits from the Occupational, Speech and Physical therapies at KDSP and is also enrolled in the Early Preschool experience Program there. My son now walks independently and love spending time with his peers and therapists. We believe that children with Down syndrome have incredible potential and advise new parents to seek early intervention for their children and invest in them while paying no heed to what society dictates, so that these children can have a far better shot at life than what the society affords them currently.”

All of these amazing feats of were possible only with your love and support! Here’s to a more inclusive society. Slowly but surely!

Love,

Team KDSP

* KASHTI : An acronymn for our services. The word originally means boat and is metaphorically used for the journey the family takes with us. 

Links:

• What is KASHTI?

Dear Supporters,

This quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP), we tried to build a more loving world, with celebrations, creating relationships and awareness featuring the World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March. KDSP celebrated the day with great enthusiasm by holding the Annual KDSP Carnival in March, an inclusive event with entertainment and activities for the community. The theme of this quarter was, “Pyaar Baanto” which means to spread love and all our activities were designed around this theme. Your support is a commitment to our shared goals and collective values of an inclusive society.

Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:

Early Childhood Intervention (physical, occupational and speech therapies):

• 360+ therapy sessions were scheduled weekly.
• 22 children enrolled in therapies this quarter.
• KDSP hired two new physical therapists, three new speech therapists as well as six speech therapy interns to meet the demand for therapies, ensuring that young children with Down syndrome receive interventions timely.
• KDSP presented its paper, ‘The Virtual Shift: Early Childhood Intervention Therapies for Pakistani Children with Down Syndrome During COVID-19,’ at two conferences:   
• ICON 22, a conference hosted by The Indus Hospital (TIH).
• International Annual Conference at Centre for Business and Economics Research (CBER), hosted by the Institute of Business Administration (IBA).
• Dr. Nadia Ashiq, Head of Physical Therapy at KDSP delivered a session at Indus University (IU) on, “Child Growth & Development Patterns.” Engaging the audience with the latest research in the field, Dr. Nadia guided attendees on principles of typical and neurodivergent developmental trajectories.
• Ms. Samar Naqvi, CEO at KDSP and Dr. Nadia Ashiq, Head of Physical Therapy at KDSP were invited by Iqra University for a seminar on World Down Syndrome Day, as more organizations shift to adopting inclusive practices.

Healthcare:

• 48 children benefitted from KDSP referrals to the Down Syndrome Clinic at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), where they received appropriate medical intervention from renowned specialists.
• 9 medical tests were facilitated at AKUH through KDSP’s referrals.
• 2 life-enhancing medical procedures were sponsored by KDSP.
• 29 children benefitted from the Developmental Pediatrics Consulting Clinic at KDSP led by Dr. Sidra Kaleem, a renowned developmental pediatrician.
• In February, the healthcare department at KDSP signed an MoU with Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Centre, to provide medical testing services at subsidized costs for individuals with Down syndrome all across Pakistan.
• KDSP organized an Eye Testing Clinic in March, to help screen for common ophthalmological problems faced by individuals with Down syndrome.Testing was also done for refractive errors, and attendees were prescribed their glasses accordingly.
• Through a collaboration with US-based eyewear company, Specs4Us, KDSP also distributed free of cost eye-glasses to the attendees requiring prescription glasses. These glasses have been specially designed for individuals with Down syndrome.

Education:

• A fun-filled day was organized on Christmas, a tree was placed in the classroom with little presents under the tree, to promote the concept of inclusion and acceptance in every form.
• In December, a Fun Gala was organized on the last day of term for students on the fifth floor activity room. The event included bowling for kids, hair makeover, nail painting, face painting, art and craft station and snacks. It was a fun-filled event for both the parent and child!
• In March, on World Down Syndrome Day, the team arranged a field trip for students and their parents to a renowned Cafe. Children got to explore and have fun in their play area with the help of the team and the employees there. The whole place was decorated with KDSP themed colours and nursery rhymes by a famous Pakistani musician, Bilal Maqsood.
• In January, KDSP established a partnership for inclusive education with Dawood Public School.
• In February, Meet and Greet for Tailored Assistance Program (TAP) Batch of 2022 was organized. Pre-test assessments on the performance of all new TAP students in the batch of 2022 were conducted during a two hour session which included various activities to help the children bond with their facilitators and adjust to the classroom.
• In January, winter activity, “Hot Milk and Mittens”, was conducted for TAP students. They learned that because winter is the season of snow, frost and cold winds, we should wear coats, jackets, gloves and caps and drink hot tea, coffee, and soup to stay warm. 
• In January, ‘First Aid Kit Making’ activity was held. Students made first aid kits to help them understand that injuries happen, and that the adults around them can help them heal. Students learned about the importance of preventing injuries before they occur and how to handle emergencies with basic supplies to help their loved ones when they are hurt.
• Students participated in the 23rd March Pakistan day activities, which were full of celebration and where they learned patriotic songs and about the historical monument, Minar-e-Pakistan.
• In January, a meet and greet session for the first and second batches of Remote Education and Learning for Youth (RELY) parents was held over Zoom with the objective to hear out the parents’ responses to RELY and to sort out any queries they may have.
• In February, an orientation session and the first parent training session for the new batch was held in order to give parents a brief introduction of the program along with basic home schooling tips.
• In March, students of TAP and RELY went on a field trip to the Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP) Playroom, where they engaged in numerous hands-on activities.

Awareness:

• A total of 1050+ individuals were educated regarding Down syndrome in this quarter. KDSP conducted awareness sessions at educational institutes, corporations and organizations. In these sessions, the audience was sensitized on what Down syndrome is, the preferred language that should be used and the importance of including such individuals within society.
• Guided tours within KDSP were also conducted for people to experience firsthand interactions with these beautiful souls with Down syndrome while being part of different activities.
• In March, KDSP and NOWPDP collaborated to create a roadmap to address and dispel the myths and stigmas related to individuals with disabilities thought a Media Sensitization Workshop. This event was hosted at KDSP with a gathering of about 15+ individuals from different news channels coming together for this workshop.
• KDSP Carnival, the biggest occasion of KDSP took place after a year on the 20th of March in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. The purpose annually is to create a safe and inclusive space for not only individuals with Down syndrome but also for individuals with other forms of disabilities. The KDSP Carnival is a snapshot of what we hope for society to become one day. 
• For this World Down Syndrome Day, KDSP created a video showing a different perspective- the importance of mainstream inclusive education and its benefits for typical children as well as children with Down syndrome.
• KDSP participated in Karachi Eat 2022 held on 14th - 16th January 2022. People showed great love towards the enrichment products and children and adults alike contributed generously to the cause of KDSP. Enrichment and Skills Development:
• KDSP launched a new program called, the Playhouse Club. It is for children in the age group of 4 to 12, with fun activities which can help them grow their creative minds and allow them to let their creativity/thoughts out in any way possible.
• Students with Down syndrome enrolled in KDSP’s Life Skill program graduated and completed one year long coursework (Feb 2021 to March 2022). Throughout the year, students learned and practiced daily living skills such as self-care, communication, social, money and time management skills to become a functional member of the community. The students were provided with certification for successful completion of the module.
• The Body Shop and KDSP collaborated to arrange a week full of fun and learning for individuals with Down syndrome in December 2021. The week consisted of clay art sessions, storytelling, block printing, a trip to the beach and The Body Shop store in Dolmen Mall. It was an experiential learning for our students who learned the main functions of running a successful beauty & skincare store. They also got the chance to try some new catchy lip colours, and some delightful fragrances at the store. The activities also offered an opportunity for The Body Shop team to bond with the participants.
• KDSP arranged a fun-filled day for our individuals with Down syndrome enrolled in the Tailored Assistance Program and Life Skills Program, where they visited the ‘TDF MagnifiScience Centre’ on Wednesday, 12th January 2022. The students enjoyed exploring and learning about various scientific concepts and technology.
• After two years, KDSP was able to revive its beach retreat event on 12th December 2021. It was a bright sunny day and we along with our family network made sure to make a beautiful picnic of it. There were fun activities, food, music and waves. There is nothing better than some sea breeze and our children enjoying it along the way.
• Team of our KDSP athletes went to a sports day on 16th December 2021 for 25 meter race. It was a new, fun experience for our children! They made new friends and won different positions and medals.
• In January, KDSP conducted a jewelry making class on where students got exposure to basic knotting techniques to make handcrafted jewelry.
• KDSP started a new batch for its ‘Fit 5’ program with Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP). While the previous batch was shifted to Fit and Fun program at KDSP, which is an advanced level of exercises and activities.
• Dreamworld Family Resort is providing free of cost one year program to KDSP’s family network, providing individuals with Down syndrome with recreational facilities.
• KDSP and Karachi Vocational Training Center (KVTC) signed a MoU on 14th Jan 2022 for the larger goal of initiating and running collaborative programs that will benefit individuals with Down syndrome through the exchange of professional expertise and information.
• Crafters with Down syndrome had their products displayed for sale at the Karachi Eat Festival (14th - 16th January 2022) and KDSP Carnival (20th March 2022).

Family Support:

• A total of 1439 families have now become part of the KDSP Family Network.
• Since January, 89 new families have been enrolled into our Network via the Family First Contact meetings
• 62 parents benefitted from monthly informational family support group sessions on diverse topics related to speech and physical therapy.
• 10 new parents completed the parent peer counseling program taking the total number to 30 trained parent peer counselors. 
• 10 new families have been connected with peer support mentors through parent peer counseling program enabling KDSP to offer informational and emotional support. 
• 80 households have been supported bimonthly through disbursement of grocery bags within the quarter and 45 families have been supported through monthly Easy Paisa cash transfers.
• In January, a workshop was organized on “Behavior Management for Caregivers of Individuals with Down Syndrome” which benefitted 15 parents. The workshop led by experts was divided into two sessions, understanding parents’ perspective and understanding, managing and teaching behaviors.
• In March, KDSP organized a training for parents and caregivers on puberty and psycho-sexual awareness “Supporting Your Child with Down Syndrome Through Puberty”. The training benefitted a total of 21 parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome
• In April, KDSP launched an emotional support group for parents and caregivers of children enrolled in The Early Pre-school Experience Program (EPEP) to provide a safe space for them to share their worries, challenges and emotions.

Some stories from the field:

“We eagerly wait for the KDSP Carnival just as kids wait for Eid (a religious festival). We are always excited for this day. This particular day we feel a different kind of happiness as we know that it is a place where my child is celebrated.” -Ambreen, mother of Ziyam.

“The family support sessions are very impressive and motivational. They surely are very helpful and informative for guardians of individuals with Down syndrome. I appreciate KDSP’s efforts in arranging these sessions and I look forward to attending more in the future.” Shahnaz, mother of Mahad.

“Fahad is 9 years old. He is very fond of sports and outdoor activities. Fahad and his parents’ efforts have been a source of motivation for both the facilitators and other students. His ability to learn quickly and put his heart and soul into all his tasks is the reason behind his progress in all aspects of literacy, numeracy and life skills.”- Sana, Tailored Assistance Program facilitator at KDSP.

“We were looking for homeschooling for Rameen and were unsuccessful. In the pandemic we were really afraid of sending her to a regular school. Remote Education and Learning for Youth (RELY) at KDSP is the best school for her. The way facilitators conduct the program, understand her and other students’ needs, it has helped all of us. The curriculum selected is also great. We really appreciate all the efforts that you and the entire team have put in!” – Mother of Rameen.

“Finding KDSP was like a ray of hope in the dark. My daughter was a weak child when she was born and her heart condition put her under a lot of stress. Despite residing in Shikarpur, I travelled to Karachi after registering at KDSP to get Umaima the best help possible. KDSP not only provided financial assistance for her angiography but now also support us regularly with her medicines which she must take until she is stable and healthy enough to undergo heart surgery. The team at KDSP has always been there to listen to our concerns and provide for my daughter. I do not have the words to thank them for their support.”- Mazhar, father of Umaima.

“Therapies have made a huge impact on my son’s life. Although it has been only 10 months since Omer is taking therapies at KDSP, there have been so many improvements. Before we were worried with his behaviors, he was usually distracted in his activities despite our efforts. His therapists at KDSP however are a god-send, he is much calmer now and even helps around the house. He helps set the dinner table and plays with his brother. Through speech therapy, Omer has also started stringing words and can form single sentences at a time. I am extremely grateful to KDSP and so proud of all that my son has achieved.”-Nazish, father of Omer.

Thank you for your love and donations, it creates a pathway for success for individuals with Down syndrome and helps us build an inclusive society.

Love,

Team KDSP

Links:

• KDSP World Down Syndrome Day Video

Dear Supporters,

This quarter at the Karachi Down Syndrome Program (KDSP) was full of celebrations and creating awareness featuring the Down Syndrome Awareness month in October. The team took upon new ideas and initiatives to instill feelings of happiness and excitement in individuals with Down syndrome and their families, as they returned towards routine living. As a result, remarkable performances and faces that beamed with happiness were observed.

Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:

Early Childhood Intervention (physical, occupational and speech therapies):

• KDSP presented its paper, ‘The Virtual Shift: Early Childhood Intervention Therapies for Pakistani Children with Down Syndrome During COVID-19’ in the Virtual World Down Syndrome Congress 2021 held in Dubai. The research paper was further selected to be published in the Review of Disability Studies: An International Journal for their upcoming issue.
• In-person therapy clinics operated at full capacity for Karachi based members with 259+ therapy sessions conducted weekly. Virtual sessions continued for out of Karachi clients.
• Collaboration with Ethiopia based Deborah Foundation was established to offer Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy training to the Deborah Foundation.

Healthcare:

• 60 children benefitted from referrals KDSP made to the Down Syndrome Clinic at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) where they were able to receive appropriate medical intervention from renowned specialists.
• 17 medical tests were facilitated at AKUH through KDSP’s referrals.
• 4 children’s life-saving and life-enhancing medical procedures were sponsored by KDSP, facilitated at AKUH.
• 16 children benefitted from the Developmental Pediatrics Consulting Clinic at KDSP led by Dr. Sidra Kaleem, a renowned Developmental Pediatrician.

Education:

• Early Preschool Program held designated colour days to conduct activities to help children get familiarised with colours; 26 children benefitted from the activities. Resource packs were also given by teachers to parents for home assignments and for reinforcing activities at home, and trainings were held to explain parents the utilisation of materials from these resource packs.
• As part of the home-school program, 17 parents were given guidance on how to cultivate an environment at home that is conducive to the learning of their child.
• To celebrate Down syndrome awareness month 7 children attending the afterschool program were taken for a cruise trip along with their parents.
• An orientation session was also held to train 18 new teachers from various mainstream schools on the basis of the Down syndrome profile.
• 6 new children attended mainstream schools.

Awareness:

• The ‘Down Syndrome Awareness Month’ (October) themed “A ripple of change today, a wave of inclusion tomorrow” was celebrated through different initiatives and events throughout the month.
• Several awareness sessions were conducted with renowned organizations such as Ismail Industries Limited, Soorty Enterprises, 10Pearls, AAA Hospitality, Orange Tree Foundation, Legal Aid Society and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zaid School in which 343+ people were sensitized.
• Famous celebrities and KDSP’s Goodwill Ambassadors, Ali Hamza and Hasan Rizvi joined us for Music & Movement and Paper Crafts to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness month. The day was full of joy, sweet laughter and warm hearts!
• KDSP collaborated with different restaurants to help pave the way for an inclusive and equitable society by having donation boxes placed and giving customers complimentary Down syndrome themed customized cookies.
• Several appearances were made by representatives of KDSP on mainstream media throughout the month of October to create awareness amongst masses about Down syndrome.

Enrichment and Skills Development:

• KDSP and Pro Athletic Cricket Club collaborated for a fun and energetic Cricket class in September; around 22 individuals with Down syndrome ages 10 and above participated and enjoyed.
• Pearl-Continental (PC) Hotel Karachi organized a special event for children with Down syndrome and their families to promote inclusion. An inclusive painting activity in which the hotel’s staff also participated was enjoyed by all; 20 children and their families participated. Hi-tea was also arranged by the Hotel for children and their caregivers.
• KDSP and ‘7Chefs Institute’ collaborated for an amazing cooking & baking workshop at 7chefs' professional kitchen from which 12 individuals with Down syndrome learnt culinary skills. All participants were provided with material and equipment. Professional chefs guided them step-by-step to make delicious food, and participation certificates were also given to all.
• Handicrafts made by crafters with Down syndromewere displayed for sale at various events through which $38 were raised, and given back to the crafters with Down syndrome to instill a sense of financial independence.

Family Support:

• Since August, 102 new families have been enrolled into KDSP’s Network via the Family First contact meetings.
• KDSP has continued to offer monthly informational Family Support Group sessions to parents and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome on diverse topics including Developmental Needs, Toilet Training, Self-care and Ophthalmological Care Needs.
• In September 2021, KDSP launched ‘Yoga for Mothers’ which is a virtual weekly program that offers yoga sessions to mothers of individuals with Down syndrome.
• 79 households have continued to be supported through monthly disbursement of grocery bags and 40 families have been supported through monthly digital transfers for financial support.

Some stories from the field:

Ahmed is a 3 year old child with Down syndrome at KDSP. During a speech therapy session, his therapist suspected he had trouble hearing and referred him for an audiology assessment. Ahmed was diagnosed with severe hearing loss of the middle ear. In August 2021, with your support, KDSP sponsored a pair of hearing aids so Ahmed could continue to avail his therapy sessions and achieve his developmental milestones. His therapists have since then reported an improvement in his progress.

Sabeeka’s mother expressed, “The KDSP Early Preschool is a “happy home” for my child. She is learning a lot here and her progress is exceptional. The attention and love she receives from her teachers and the staff are like no other. It is the best educational platform we could find, with fun learning activities. I am thankful with all my heart for all the love, care and focus given to my daughter. I thank the KDSP team for all their efforts.”

“Noticing some good changes after yoga; I feel more active, the pain and stiffness in my shoulders has decreased and I feel this freshness on my face. I am sure it will also help manage the stress us mothers face, as we continue to attend classes. I was aware of these benefits but did not realize them until after practical application. This is all thanks to KDSP and Dhanak, our instructor!” - Shabana, mother of Aijaz – participant of Yoga for Mothers

“Hadi was diagnosed with an unclosed hole in his heart, for which he underwent a successful surgery under the care of Dr. Babar at AKUH. Thanks to KDSP, Hadi is now living a healthy life and is able to energetically partake various activities” - shared mother of Hadi emotionally.

“Ayan loves attending Music and Movement and BollyX (Bollywood dance class) at KDSP. He enjoys it a lot and gets to do these activities with his sister, which has brought them closer together. KDSP has provided an excellent avenue for my son to do what he loves.” - expressed Maryam, mother of Ayan

Links:

• KDSP Crafters' Shop
• KDSP Website

Dear Supporters,

While many of our services started physically in the last quarter, KDSP gradually resumed all of its services physically this quarter while ensuring the implementation of strict SOPs and keeping the health and safety of our wonderful stars at top priority. Below mentioned are some of the highlights from this quarter:

Early Childhood Intervention (physical, occupational & speech therapies)

• In-person therapy clinics continued at 50% capacity with 290+ therapy sessions conducted weekly.
• As part of KDSP’s partnership with the ‘Ziauddin College of Speech Language & Hearing Sciences (ZCSLHS)’, Audio-logical Assessments for Children with Down syndrome were introduced from April at subsidized rates to support and enhance the hearing capacity of children with Down syndrome.
• 11 families benefitted from the free Occupational and Speech Therapy training for parents of individuals with Down syndrome conducted by Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).

Healthcare

• 11 families benefitted from the free Behavior Therapy training for parents of individuals with Down syndrome conducted by Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH).
• KDSP partnered with an online medical store ‘Dawaai’ to offer benefits in terms of medicines, tests and consultation discounts to the families of children with Down syndrome registered in KDSP’s Family Network.
• 15 individuals with Down syndrome benefitted from the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic hosted by KDSP in June.
• 6 children benefitted from sponsored consultations at AKUH through the donations made to KDSP.
• 12 individuals benefitted from surgeries and other life-saving medical procedures e.g. Cardiac Surgeries and Intestine Obstruction Surgeries at AKUH.

Skills Development

• A variety of programs (Clay Art, Vegetable Planting, Weaving, and Teddy Tennis) resumed physically in June; 140+ children and adults benefitted.
• Zumba classes were started for individuals with Down syndrome to improve fitness and muscle coordination; 8 individuals benefitted.
• 811 handicrafts products were sold and the proceeds were handed over to our talented crafters with Down syndrome.
• KDSP’s E-Commerce Shop featuring products hand-made by our very own crafters was launched on KDSP’s website.

Family Support

• 155+ First Contact Meetings were scheduled with new families for enrollment at KDSP and more than 200 new families were enrolled reaching a total of 1200+ registered families.
• Informational support: 4 Family Support Group sessions have been arranged on topics including Behavior Management, Skincare, Effective Communication Strategies and Parental Involvement benefitting 65+ parents and caregivers.
• Emotional Support: The KDSP Parent-buddy program enabled 17 newly enrolled parents to find emotional strength and support through peer support pairing with experienced parents. An enclosed emotional support group session for parents and caregivers of adults with Down syndrome was also held under the mentorship of a Certified Humanistic Counsellor and Psychotherapist where participants had a discussion regarding their fears, challenges and joys of parenting an adult with Down syndrome.
• Financial Support: 32 families were provided with monthly digital cash transfers, and 77 households were supported through monthly grocery bags.

Education

• 90+ children benefitted from the early preschool, after-school and homeschooling programs. While the students who graduated from the early preschool program will be entering the next phase of mainstream schooling, the rest will continue to benefit from the after-school and homeschool programs that provide assistance for basic-level numeracy and literacy, consolidated with life orientation skills for self-sufficiency and independence.
• 19 new teachers were trained for inclusive education
• 14 students attended the Summer Camp that was conducted in the summer vacations for 4 weeks to help children with color recognition, social and emotional development, and teamwork attributes.

Awareness

• Awareness sessions were conducted with 220+ individuals across different organizations and institutes to ensure the inclusion and acceptance of individuals with Down syndrome within all spheres of society.
• Collaborations were formed with different organizations for disability inclusion by having children with Down syndrome featured in Television Commercials (TVCs) and Digital Video Commercials (DVCs). Short video documentaries were also made depicting the struggles and resilience of parents in overcoming the societal stigma and pressure associated with individuals with Down syndrome within the community.

Some stories from the field:

“The monthly grocery bags and cash transfers received through KDSP help us balance our expenses. We are grateful to God for making KDSP a channel to bridge the gaps in our day to day expenses. We are extremely satisfied with the service and are equally grateful to KDSP.” – shares Mother of Sami

 “I have followed KDSP’s awareness initiatives for up to three years now and never before have I seen an organization that is raising awareness to create a more inclusive society for individuals with Down syndrome. My family also became more understanding of the condition and the developmental interventions Essa would require after they saw some TV shows KDSP was a part of.  I, myself had the opportunity to attend an awareness session by KDSP which debunked a few myths surrounding Down syndrome I possessed.” – expresses Maryam, Mother of Essa

“The services that we received from AKUH were excellent. Dr. Salman and Dr. Babar were very understanding and listened to our concerns carefully. The staff at KDSP was extremely helpful in guiding us.”- shares Mother of Yourasha

“I have seen great improvement in Saeed - his walking and grip has improved a lot now that we are coming in physically for his physical therapy”- shares Mother of Saaed

“Through the carefully structured lesson plans and video tutorials, Kaneez learnt sign language and is now able to communicate her everyday needs to us, and even her feelings. The teachers invested their soul and heart into ensuring a safe, smooth and comfortable learning environment for all the children, even during COVID-19! The day she graduated from Early Preschool was a bittersweet moment for me as a parent; Kaneez is now ready to attend the mainstream school where she is enrolled, and will study alongside typically developing peers her age. I am confident that I will be able to provide a conducive learning environment to her growth in any school, through the information, tools and techniques KDSP empowered me with.” – expresses Ramooz, mother of Kaneez

“We enrolled Taha in multiple schools but none had the capacity to cater to him for long and teachers were unable to put in the effort. In his time at KDSP, he has been a part of many programs. The classes helped him increase his attention span as he is very focused on his tasks. Many of the products Taha has made in his classes have received much recognition via the KDSP Shop. The sales he makes via the shop contribute to his financial independence. Taha is also currently interning at an esteemed dental clinic in Karachi where his supervisors are most pleased with his hard work and determination. He is very excited about his work there and has great plans on how he will spend his stipend. KDSP has provided us with great support.” – expresses Hafsa, sister of Taha.

All of this has only been possible because of the constant support and love you have shown towards KDSP. With your continuous patronage, KDSP hopes to bring forward many more success stories and eventually a world where individuals with Down syndrome are accepted, included and celebrated!

Love,

Team KDSP

Links:

• KDSP E-commerce Shop