Ireland’s only charity dedicated to clinical, educational and wellbeing services for children with Down syndrome from birth to 18 - and their families!
We operate full-service centres in Sandyford and Swords in Dublin. There are also centres in Cork, Carrickmacross and Portlaoise, along with the Together Academy employment & certified training centre for young adults with Down syndrome in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
We provide approved approaches at the earliest opportunity to assist children with Down syndrome in achieving developmental milestones throughout their journey to adulthood – reaching their full potential and participating in society. Our team of qualified speech & language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and teachers provide personalised services that evolve with each child’s growth.
Take three minutes to meet our team and see what a day at the Centre looks like for the children and families we support.
Meet our Service Users
Noah
I started walking at 14 months and now I'm 2 years old and starting to say words!
The Down Syndrome Centre has been our safe harbour since Noah was 6 weeks old, supporting Noah through early interventions and guiding us as a family with so much care and understanding. We’ve made lifelong friends there, and thanks to their support, Noah has thrived. It truly feels like a home from home, we would be lost without the centre and the amazing people who work there.
Joy, Noah's Mum
Annie
I have sang in front of 200 people at the Fleadh!
Annie loves going and is learning lots in maths and typing. It’s a great place for parents to catch up and learn from each other in comfortable surroundings. Staff are always welcoming and happy to see us!
Mary, Annie's Mum
Conall
I love coming first in my gymnastics competitions!
Team Tots 21 help set Conall up for life. The friends he made, the people he met has all helped him to achieve everything so far. His typing class is helping him communicate with teachers and his class
David, Conall's Dad
Sorcha
I love competing in special olympics, going training and hanging out with my friends. I love dancing and I performd on the big stage with my theatre school!
Sorcha attends Teen Club in the Swords Centre and it has brought on her confidence tremendously, she looks forward to class and learning with her friends, she has worked on so many important independence skills without even realizing that she’s learning because it’s so much fun
Colette, Sorcha's Mum
Rían
I started in mainstream school and I love it!
We would be lost without the Down Syndrome centre, they have provided Rían with speech and language, physio and summer camps helping him to prepare for school. It's a home away from home where Rían gets the therapies he needs and we as a family get support and a kind ear when we go.
Sharon, Rían's mum
Isabelle
I'm super independent and determined. I love going to school and hanging out with my friends!
The Down syndrome Centre is part of our family and without them Isabelle wouldn’t be where she is today. From SLT, OT, SKIP, camps & SibShops (for Emily) the Centre has provided a place where Isabelle can thrive & learn at a pace suitable to her. Her speech has come on so much and her fine motor skills are incredible. Her teacher is so impressed. Isabelle loves going to her appointments in the Centre, especially when she gets to use the gym after! The swings & climbing wall are her favorite. We will be forever grateful to Peter & Mary for setting up the Centre.
Caoimhe, Isabelle's Mum
Jack
I won a trophy in my 1st dancing competition!
It means that Jack get vital resources that wouldn't be available otherwise. SLT & OT are vital to Jack. As a family it's a wonderful community knowing staff are always at the end of the phone with advice, knowledge & other resources. Our eldest is always asking when the Sibling Workshop is on 😂 And the families you meet, we are all in the same boat but at different stages etc. And its wonderful to chat with parents who really understand. In Jack's words "its the best centre in the whole world" and we as a family wholeheartedly agree
The Down Syndrome Centre is compliant with all regulatory requirements for care of children, clinical practice, teaching and governance.
Memberships include: Down Syndrome International, the Wheel and the Charities Institute Ireland, from whom we have Triple-Lock status for fundraising, governance and financial management.
We are registered with the Charities Regulator to whom we submit our annual report.
