About Us
It was just over ten years ago that the Rotherham Organisation for Down’s syndrome (R.O.D.S.), was formed by a group of parents who felt there was little in the town to help or advise anyone. Other than the excellent work done by Portage, special schools and the National Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA), there was no other means of exchanging views and communicating with other local people on the varied topics that having a special needs child or adult required.
Steve and Glo Brookes had, in 1997, lost their daughter Yasmin shortly before her third birthday and had been involved in a complaints process against the hospital that resulted in the Ombudsman at government level getting involved and ruling against the methods of care used. Instead of going the way of claiming compensation, they instead chose to work with the trust to ensure that the lack of care and direction they had received would not be replicated for parents in the future. They joined forces with the parents of another Down’s child, Paul and Sheron Critchlow who themselves met Steve and Glo through their common bond and all felt there needed to be something local to bring people like this together.
In those ten years a lot has happened! There are now full information packs held at Rotherham Hospital for new parents and professionals. We have held Education and Advocacy conferences in the town, attended by health and teaching professionals from all over Britain as well as attracting some of the most learned speakers on the complexities of the syndrome. We also have a far closer relationship with the local education and health bodies and are always trying to improve things in our local schools for our children.
We are also very active socially, planning trips out, Christmas Parties, pantos, coffee mornings, fund raising events and loads more! We have our own library our members can use free of charge as well as being in touch with many influential bodies with the sole aim of helping our members and striving to improve the lives of people with Down’s Syndrome in the Rotherham area- here’s to another ten years of success!
National Association
Down's Syndrome Association
Tel : 0845 230 0372
Fax: 0845 230 0373
Email: info@downs-syndrome.org.uk
Web: www.downs-syndrome.org.uk
Down's Heart Group
Tel: 0845 166 8061
Fax: 01525 221553
Email: info@dhg.org.uk
Web: www.dhg.org.uk