The world is undergoing deep and rapid changes that are often difficult to fully understand.

In recent years there has been real progress in the rights, participation and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. We can say that today we are in a better place than we were a few decades ago.

However, this progress sits alongside new social, cultural, technological and economic challenges. These changes shape everyday life, relationships, opportunities and the way we imagine the future.

For this reason, we need to rethink how we approach inclusion, autonomy and social participation. The challenge is to make sure the future finds us in a better place. To achieve this, we must acknowledge everything that still needs to be resolved.

Thinking about the future means opening up a serious and honest conversation. A conversation without closed answers, one that includes people with Down syndrome, their families and professionals from different fields.

All of these issues will be part of the 2027 World and Ibero-American Down Syndrome Congress.

It will be an inclusive plural and well-informed space to share what we have learned, to discover new research and current experiences, and to build new perspectives collectively.

The Congress will also have a special significance. It will be the first time the World Down Syndrome Congress is held in Latin America. This represents a unique opportunity for the region to share its experiences and engage in dialogue with the world.

Message from the Advisory Commission of People with Down Syndrome of ASDRA

We would like to invite you to take part in this Congress, a very important space for us to come together, share and work together. We believe it is a great opportunity to learn more about the lives of people with Down syndrome and to build networks that help us grow and develop.

It is also essential that families continue to be part of these spaces, always placing people with Down syndrome at the centre.

This Congress aims to raise awareness about our lives, so that the supports we need are understood and we can fulfil our dreams: living on our own, with friends or with a partner, having a job and sharing life with others.

It is important that you know everything we can do and achieve. That is what true inclusion is about — being part of society like anyone else.

So we invite you to join us, to keep informed and to support the building of a fairer society with good coexistence for everyone.

Nothing about us without us, because we are the main characters of our own lives.