At the Down Syndrome Association of Houston (DSAH), our mission is to build a bright er future for children and adults with Down syndrome (DS). Each year, DSAH continues to promote awareness through community outreach programs, monthly support meetings, semi annual educational conferences, and social events for the DS community.

We have been a part of the Houston community nearly 35 years and have assisted thousands of families. By offering support to new parents of babies with DS, assisting parents with challenges related to medical, therapeutic and educational issues, and working with educators and medical professionals, DSAH is committed to improving the lives and opportunities afforded to all persons with DS.

We reached significant milestones two years ago, when we partnered with Texas Children’s Hospital to open The Down Syndrome Clinic, a facility aimed at ensuring that all children with DS are receiving the proper medical care and the necessary therapies. About the same time, we opened the Down Syndrome Resource Center with the goal of continuing to expand our programs. We accomplished just that by adding a multitude of services for babies, toddlers and youth.

Our History

What is now known as DSAH was originally known as Parents of Mongoloids when it was incorporated in 1974. At the time, there was very little information about DS and a few mothers decided that a group needed to be formed to provide support to families. The group’s mission then was to help educate parents and others about DS. Soon after, the group was renamed Parents of Children with Down Syndrome (PCDS) and began meeting at Texas Children’s Hospital. As the organization began to grow, so did the understanding that education was the key to mainstreaming children. The founders would travel around the city visiting churches and schools to educate everyone they could about DS. The group advocated for infant stimulation programs and early childhood development programs in the schools. When a new baby was born, the hospital would call one of the board members who would then visit with the family.

In 1991, PCDS was renamed the Down Syndrome Association of Houston and began meeting at the Multi-Service Center on West Gray. The mission of the organization then and now is: “To build a brighter future for children and adults with DS”. As the years went by and our membership grew, so did the need for programs directly benefiting individuals with DS. Our dream was to open a resource center. That dream came true in January 2008 when we opened the Down Syndrome Resource Center and began offering Gymboree for babies, Mom’s Coffee, Music Therapy, a chapter of Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (D.A.D.S), Angels Craft Classes for adults, a summer school enrichment class, Bingo and Spaghetti Night for adults, Movie Night, and a collaborative effort with Houston Area Respite Centers allowing them to use our space every Friday night to offer respite care services to parents of children with all disabilities. We moved our monthly meetings to Saturday and added a Spanish speaking meeting held consecutively and we serve lunch between the two meetings to bring together parents of various backgrounds and cultures. All this in addition to the various events we were already having before we obtained the resource center. Among them Teen and Adult Dances, Noah’s Arc Pool Party, the Easter Eggstravaganza, The Annual Festival, a Christmas Party, a Gala, Camp for All Weekend, a Talent Show and of course, our Annual Buddy Walk.

DSAH currently serves over 1200 families. We are proud to say that in the last year our membership has grown 154.2%. We have made tremendous strides for people with DS and we have so much more in store.