Brazilian Federation of Down Syndrome Associations (FBASD)

FBASD’s 30 Years: Tireless Advocacy for People with Down Syndrome

In August 2024, the Brazilian Federation of Down Syndrome Associations (FBASD) celebrated its 30th anniversary.

FBASD was founded under the banner of inclusion, particularly in education. Its core mission is to contribute to the overall development of people with Down syndrome, ensuring full citizenship, legal guarantees, and leadership in advocating for their rights.

Together with its affiliated organizations, FBASD has organized congresses across various regions of the country to promote inclusion and the empowerment of individuals with Trisomy 21 (T21).

It brings together 52 organizations across all five regions of Brazil and acts as an observatory to monitor compliance with the Federal Constitution and other laws. Since its foundation, FBASD has been an unwavering advocate for guaranteeing education in mainstream schools for all students, including those with disabilities, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In 2016, the Federation established the National Group of Self-Advocates, composed of young people and adults with Down syndrome. This group meets regularly to study disability rights and discuss key issues such as school inclusion, health, employment, culture, and more.

Since then, FBASD has offered training programs to develop self-advocates and mediators, strengthening the self-advocacy movement. As a result, in 2024, the National Network of Self-Advocacy Against Ableism and in Favor of Inclusive Education was created within the Ministry of Education. FBASD was the visionary and key organizer behind this initiative—a historic milestone for the rights movement of people with Down syndrome.

With the support of regional boards, national coordination, and mediators, FBASD has self-advocacy groups in the Northeast, South, and Southeast regions and actively encourages the creation of new groups within its affiliated associations.

Self-advocates play a frontline role in defending the rights of people with Down syndrome, representing the movement at events and public ceremonies, in the National Congress, State Assemblies, City Councils, and within civil society institutions.

On multiple occasions, FBASD has been represented by self-advocates at the United Nations (UN) Assembly in New York and Geneva to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (March 21). In the past two years, speakers have addressed the role of self-advocacy and the importance of plain language—a crucial tool for people with intellectual disabilities.

Throughout its history, FBASD, alongside society and public authorities, has achieved significant milestones. In addition to the aforementioned National Network of Self-Advocacy, the Federation contributed to the creation of the "Living Without Limits" Program, the national policy on inclusive education, and healthcare initiatives for people with Down syndrome, such as the Therapeutic Guidelines established by the Ministry of Health.

FBASD has also fought for the right of people with intellectual, mental, or severe disabilities to receive survivor pensions from deceased parents while maintaining earnings from work under the General Social Security Regime. Additionally, it played a crucial role in drafting the Brazilian Law for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.

A recent achievement is the approval of the Echocardiogram Law, which guarantees pregnant women the right to an exam within the Unified Health System (SUS) to detect Down syndrome and congenital heart defects in their babies—conditions that have a high prevalence in this population.

FBASD is structured with an Executive Board, five Regional Boards (each with a Deputy Director who has Down syndrome), and a Fiscal Council. It relies on a network of volunteer professionals across its Technical-Scientific, Legal, Education, Employment, and Communication committees.

The Federation has played a key role in the National Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CONADE), firmly advocating for inclusive education. It is also a member of the National Health Council, the Technical Advisory Committee on Congenital Anomaly Surveillance (CTA-VAC) at the Ministry of Health, and the National Commission on Special Education Policy in the Perspective of Inclusive Education (CNPEEI) at the Ministry of Education, as well as the National Network of Self-Advocates. It is a signatory of the National Pact for Early Childhood under the National Council of Justice (CNJ).

FBASD is part of Agenda 227, the Legal Framework for Children and Nature, the Buriti Network, the Brazilian Network for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (RedeIn), and the Brazilian Coalition for Inclusive Education. It has partnerships with the Jô Clemente Institute, the National Association of Public Prosecutors for the Rights of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (AMPID), the National Association for Supported Employment (ANEA), among others. It is also affiliated with the Ibero-American Federation of Down Syndrome Associations (Fiadown), the Regional Network for Inclusive Education (RREI), and Down Syndrome International (DSI).

A round of applause to the pioneers of this movement and to all those dedicated to the associative movement! Long live the Brazilian Federation of Down Syndrome Associations!