Employment Myths & FAQs
Can a person with Down syndrome work?
Most people with Down syndrome can work. The first step is finding out what the person wants to do then finding a job that fits each individual so that they can do their job successfully.
What kind of support do you need to offer an employee with Down syndrome?
While people with Down syndrome have an intellectual disability, each person is an individual and brings their own strengths, skills and qualities to their job as well as having areas where they may need more support. With the right opportunity, every person can make a valuable contribution.
What is the best job for people with Down syndrome?
Each person with Down syndrome is unique and has specific interests and skills, therefore there is no job particularly suitable for people with Down syndrome. It varies from person to person. With training and support, people with Down syndrome can carry out a number of different tasks including jobs that require complex thinking, and do things that require some initiative.
Some people with Down syndrome work in restaurants, others work in childcare, retail, admin, and hospitality. Others may work in a family business, in a microenterprise or a large company. In all cases, job training and support is crucial.
Why hire a person with Down syndrome?
Research shows that employees with Down syndrome bring important qualities to their working environments and have a positive impact on those around them. Like all of us, when a person with Down syndrome has a job they enjoy, has been properly trained and receives the support they need, they will do their job well. Participation, work performance and productivity are not an issue and research shows that people with Down syndrome are highly engaged and loyal employees and bring other qualities like enthusiasm and punctuality.
What value can employees with Down syndrome add to organizations?
Employers and companies employing people with Down’s syndrome report significant improvements in their ‘organisational health’, particularly with regard to leadership, customer satisfaction, company climate and motivation.
Reed it in Italian
What’s CoorDown
CoorDown is an Italian organization that works to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. In the last 9 years CoorDown has transformed advocacy about these issues by creating innovative and brave social campaigns. CoorDown campaigns have opened up conversations on social networks and have had a huge impact on the public, helping to dismantle prejudices and stereotypes about people with Down syndrome. Every year on the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day, CoorDown creates an international communication campaign.
Learn more about CoorDown and how to be the change for people with Down syndrome at: hiringchain.org.
