Please write a brief description of your association, organisation or company, of its aims and activities:

Down Syndrome Albania Foundation (DSA) was established in 2013, by a parent of a child with Down syndrome.

In 2014 it started to offer therapeutic services for children with Down Syndrome and support with information their parents. Since 2018 the Foundation provides these services also to children and youth with other types of disabilities such as to those in the Autism spectrum, or with other intellectual disabilities or development challenges. Thus, the foundation was born to provide services and to advocate initially for the rights and needs of persons with Down syndrome, while in the recent years it advocates for the rights of all persons with disabilities.

The main pillars of DSA’s work are:

• Raising Awareness
• Advocating
• Service Provision (for children and youth with disabilities).

Building Capacities (of the professionals working in the field of services, inclusive education, inclusive

Activities of DSA include:

Service Provision:

• Therapeutic services including child development assessment
  Social Autonomy courses for the ages 14+ (this service is provided only on project base opportunities)
  Parent and family Support including: Information, orientation, psychological support, training, and legal orientation and support (ex: for filing discrimination cases)

Inclusive Employment Program (started in 2023)

• Build an online platform to connect disabled job seekers to potential employers)
  Organize Job Fairs to connect disabled job seekers to potential employers)
  Organize the National Conference on the topic of inclusive employment as well as vocational education and training.
  Mediation services for disabled job seekers to find employment
  Train corporate HR staff and other executives on the topic of inclusi