About us

Down Syndrome Education USA is a new nonprofit working to improve the quality of early intervention and education for children with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome Education USA was established in partnership with Down Syndrome Education International and the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County.

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Down Syndrome Education USA and Down Syndrome Education International work to ensure successful education for all children with Down syndrome by advancing understanding of their learning needs, identifying the most effective ways to meet these needs, and by helping their families and teachers to best support their development and education.

Focused on evidence-based approaches to education

We are the only organizations in the world that are specifically focused on research-led improvements to education for young people with Down syndrome. Uniquely, we support teams of researchers (focused on understanding development for children with Down syndrome and evaluating interventions) and expert practitioners (with many years of practical experience working with children with Down syndrome). These strengths have resulted in a successful 30-year track record of life-changing improvements in education that continue to transform the lives of thousands young people with Down syndrome throughout the US, the UK and around the world.

International recognition

Down Syndrome Education International is widely regarded as a world leader in its field: according to New Philanthropy Capital, "The charity is now central to the worldwide understanding and sharing of research from many academics and the longer-term experience of those working with generations of children with Down syndrome." Down syndrome organizations around the world recognize our unique contributions: according to Down Syndrome New South Wales, "Down Syndrome Education International is one of the leading centers in the world in research and practice about development, learning and communication in children and adults with Down syndrome for many years. The charity is renowned for its publications and teaching."

Down Syndrome Education International’s particular expertise was recognised by the UK government in 2005 when it chose us to lead the development of the Early Support program materials for children with Down syndrome. In 2008, the charity was awarded a major grant by the UK BIG Lottery fund to conduct the largest ever multicentre, randomised controlled trial of an educational intervention specifically designed for schoolchildren with Down syndrome.

US recognition

Our expertise and the impact of our work are also widely acknowledged in the USA: according to Professor Deborah Fidler at Colorado State University, "The charity has had a profound impact on the Down syndrome research and practice community for the past three decades. It combines a scientifically grounded approach to educating individuals with Down syndrome with a passion for improving the life of each child." Jon Coleman, President of the National Down Syndrome Society, has remarked that "Sue Buckley is one of the foremost global experts on education for children with Down syndrome. Her pioneering work over more than 25 years has enabled thousands of children in the US, the UK and elsewhere to learn with their peers and receive the education they deserve."

We have received prestigious awards from both the National Down Syndrome Society and the National Down Syndrome Congress, our publications have been translated into several languages and our research is widely cited in the scientific literature.

Legal structure

Down Syndrome Education USA, also known as DownsEd USA, is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in California and exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Down Syndrome Education International, also known as DownsEd International (and formerly known as The Down Syndrome Educational Trust), is a UK-registered charitable company limited by guarantee (charity number 1062823, company number 3266266).

The organizations are independent but have share a common purpose and goals, and collaborate to advance their vision of successful education for all children with Down syndrome.

Board of Directors

William E Halle, JD: Chairman. Bill Halle is a Partner at Hewitt and O'Neil LLP in Irvine, CA, and the parent of a child with Down syndrome. He is Co-Founder/President of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County, a former Board Member of the  National Down Syndrome Society, Co-Chair of the Down Syndrome Coalition of California, and a former Board Member of the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County.

Dana L Halle, JD: CFO/Treasurer/Secretary. Dana Halle is the Co-Founder/Chief Financial Officer/Director of the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County, the Developer and Lead Instructor of The Learning Program and mother of a child with Down syndrome. She is a member of Down Syndrome Education International's Science, Research and Practice Advisory Board and a Board Member of Project Independence.

Joan Guthrie Medlen, RD, LD: Vice-President. Joan Guthrie Medlen is a registered, licensed dietician and the mother of a young man with autism and Down syndrome. She is the author of The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles, Clinical Advisor for Health Literacy and Communications for Special Olympics Inc. Healthy Athletes Health Promotion Program, the Editor of Disability Solutions, a member of the Professional Advisory Committee of the National Down Syndrome Congress, a member of the Clinical Advisory Board for the National Down Syndrome Society, and a member of the Professional Advisory Board for the Canadian Down Syndrome Society. 

Professor Sue Buckley OBE, BA (Hons), CPsychol, AFBPsS: Vice-President. Sue Buckley is one of the world's leading researchers in the education and development of children with Down syndrome, the founder and Chief Scientist of Down Syndrome Education International and the mother of a woman with Down syndrome. Sue was awarded a personal chair and appointed Professor by the University of Portsmouth, UK, in 1994 in recognition of her work in research and teaching in developmental disability. She has published widely and received numerous awards for her work, including the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to special needs education in Her Majesty the Queen's 2004 Birthday Honours List.

Frank Buckley, CEO/President. Frank Buckley is the CEO and Company Secretary of Down Syndrome Education International, CEO and Company Secretary of Down Syndrome Education Enterprises Ltd (a social enterprise subsidiary of Down Syndrome Education International) and the brother of a woman with Down syndrome. He also serves as a Vice-President of the European Down Syndrome Association. Frank has worked for Down Syndrome Education International since 1996. From 1997, as Director of Finance and Operations, Frank led the charity's growth from a small trust to a major international research and services provider. Since being appointed CEO in 2007, he has implemented a strategy to refocus and rapidly expand the charity’s research programmes and to dramatically extend the reach of our dissemination and advice services - both to accelerate the pace and widen the impact of scientific progress. Over the past two years, this strategy has helped the charitable group to further raise income by more than 50% - to over $1.8 million in 2009 and increase the number of people helped annually to over 100,000 in 180 countries up 30% in the past year alone.