Down’s syndrome project promotes black visibility

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September 14, 2026

Jess Warren and Rob Taylor, BBC

Bartlett-Grant said she wanted the children they support to be seen on a billboard

The founders of an advocacy initiative for black children with Down’s syndrome have said they launched their project two years ago due to a “lack of representation”.

Danise Bartlett-Grant, who is one of four mothers who co-founded the Black Child Down Syndrome Project, said they wanted to create a platform for parents and carers to find advice, help and “have conversations outside of the larger disabled community groups”.

She said: “We have created this sense of community amongst those of African heritage where they can meet like-minded families.”

She added that it was “incredible” that the initiative had been nominated by a parent for a BBC Make a Difference Award for Best Community Project.

“The project began because of the lack of representation and we felt the need to plug that gap,” she said.

“We felt that one of the best ways to do this was to take images of individuals who have Down’s syndrome from the black community and put them out there.

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