Who are we

The Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation is a non-profit organisation with tax-exempt status. It relies totally on donations to fund its various activities.
It started with its first Down Syndrome Centre at Petaling Jaya in 1989 and expanded to Johore Bahru, Klang in Selangor, Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and Ipoh, Perak.

Besides its official website www.kdsf.org.my, Kiwanis has a disability information  website which is very informative and helpful, here.

Our mission
The Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation is committed to the welfare of children with Down Syndrome, its main focus being the education of these children below 6 years old.

What is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is a result of an extra chromosome on Chromosome 21. It is the most common form of intellectual disability with a frequency of 1 in 660 live births. Individuals with this syndrome can be helped through special needs education.

Our activities

• Its activities are geared toward the setting up and management of Centres of Education for Children with Down Syndrome below six years old where emphasis is on:
• Maintaining and upgrading Special Education Programmes
• Training of teachers in Special Needs Education
• Counselling of families of children with Down Syndrome
• Maintaining a comprehensive Information & Toy Library Resource Centre which is open to the public
• Creating public awareness of Down Syndrome through its quarterly newsletter The Down’s Update Education at Kiwanis Down Syndrome Centres

Each Centre provides the Early Intervention Programme, a Special Needs Educational programme that largely uses the MacQuarie Small Steps Curriculum. The programme covers gross and fine motor skills, social development, academic skills, cognitive skills, self-help skills and speech therapy. A formal physiotherapy and occupational therapy programme will be included from 2006 onwards

Parents Support Group (PSG) A Parents Support Group is established at each Centre and they liaise with the Management of the Centres and provide peer counselling to new parents who may need such services. The PSG act as a support group for parents and families who have individuals or children with Down Syndrome. They organize activities such as talks, family gatherings and special meetings to plan and handle issues related to Down Syndrome.

Our needs
Cash donations and donations in kind welcomed
Any Volunteer Services Needed: Yes
Cheques Made Payable to: Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation

Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation – Selangor Centre