We are stronger together.
We are parents, guardians, self-advocates and caregivers to someone with Down syndrome, and we are stronger together.
The origin of Down syndrome BC is, sadly, based in tragedy. The news of Florence Girard’s death made headlines in January 2020 and for many families who love someone with Down syndrome, it was reading their greatest fear in print. Families across BC were saddened and enraged by this horrific and preventable death and began to band together to see a different future for their loved ones with Down syndrome. A series of working group meetings were held and the next steps were clear: the DSBC community would have to become the driving force behind the changes that we want to see in our province.
The Down Syndrome Society of British Columbia (or Down syndrome BC for short) was incorporated as a society on March 24, 2021. We are organizing and coming together, because the past year has brutally highlighted what we already know; that people with Down syndrome are discriminated against in every facet of society. So many of us have been tirelessly working on our own for recognition, inclusion, and support for individuals with Down syndrome, but it’s exhausting and difficult work to make change for one person at a time. We hope that collectively, we can make a difference for our entire provincial community.
We are parents, guardians, self-advocates and caregivers living in British Columbia. We all love someone with Down syndrome, and we have a common goal: to see the members of the BC Down syndrome community living their best and fullest lives.
Because of Florence, we will do better.
Her name was Florence.
She was 54 years old and lived in care for most of her life. Florence died October 13th, 2018 in her caregiver’s home from malnutrition and starvation. There is unbearable pain in our community, when we see Florence, we see our own loved one with Down syndrome.
Society neglects people with disabilities, we know this, and we are not afraid to be disruptive, to demand better - but we need to do better, together. We have to take matters into our own hands, and make sure that basic human rights for people with disabilities are met at every single turn. Our systems and supports are fragile and broken, people with disabilities live in poverty and in isolation.
We need to change something.
Florence starved to death.
Our hope is to let Florence’s legacy motivate us all to look in the mirror and acknowledge our own part in her death; whether through active discrimination or simply by looking the other way while people with disabilities are excluded, ignored, shut away. We hope everyone decides to do better.
Because of Florence, we will do better.