Choir 21 – Makaton Choir! Wednesday 7th May from 4.30-5.15pm
Our online Choir 21 song group is for anyone aged 10+ to join us to sing along to a mixture of pop songs and songs from favourite musicals and stage shows and learn some Makaton signs* too!
*These sessions will teach Makaton signs but don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with Makaton, or you use other sign-supported communication, you can still join in and have fun!
All members with Down’s syndrome aged 10+, siblings and family members welcome!
The Zoom details, along with any song lyrics and information for this session, will be emailed to attendees ahead of time or on the day to those booking on the day.
Important Information for Choir 21 Attendees
Our Choir 21 sessions will be filmed. This allows you to practise between sessions and those who missed a session won’t miss out!
Attendees who do not wish to be filmed can turn their cameras off prior to filming starting. The recording of each session will be emailed via secure Vimeo link to each attendee. This will be for your own personal use, cannot be downloaded and should not be shared.
If you can’t attend a session one week, please contact Katy directly at katy@dsscotland.org.uk and request a copy of the week’s recording instead.
Any recordings/photos from Choir 21 may also be used occasionally for promotion purposes on DSS social media and/or Hub 21. Please contact Katy if you do NOT consent to this.
Any other questions on Choir 21, please send to ABC@dsscotland.org.uk and we will be happy to respond.
Choir 21 – Makaton Choir! Wednesday 30th April from 4.30-5.15pm
When: Wednesday 7th May
Time: 7-8pm
Online via Zoom
At this session we will be joined by Isla Ross, Additional Support for Learning Service with City of Edinburgh Council for a ‘Ready Steady School’ session.
Isla helps support staff in mainstream schools who have pupils with additional support needs in their class. Isla is also a Signalong Tutor as well as a teacher in the Forest School for Care Experienced Young People.
At this starting school session Isla will chat about what to expect going into primary school and provide some practical ideas to parents/carers to help make that transition to Primary 1 a positive experience for the whole family.
When: Tuesday 6th May
At this session we will be joined by Salena Begley, Partner Engagement Manager at Family Fund to learn about Take a Break Grants and how to apply.
Salena will also share information about the services and support available from Family Fund and answer any questions you may have.
Salena joined Family Fund full time in 2010 as Scotland and NE England Development Manager having previously worked as Independent Assessor. As Partner Engagement Manager, Salena promotes and develops the work of Family Fund in Scotland, focussing on public affairs, partnerships and family outcomes.
Take a Break is Scotland’s short breaks fund for carers of disabled children, young people and their families. Take a Break grants can be used for a break away, towards leisure activities or outings, sports equipment and much, much more.
At this session we will be joined by Jenny Purdie and Sophie Williamson from Gillespie Macandrew to talk about Wills and Trusts.
Jenny and Sophie are Solicitors in the Private Client team at Gillespie Macandrew. They advise individuals, families and trusts on a range of succession and tax matters. Their work involves the preparation of Wills and Powers of Attorney and administration of trusts and executries.
Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026
Attendance Mode: Online via Zoom
Cost: Free
When: Tuesday 15th April
At this session we will be joined by Gillian Hyams from Gillespie MacAndrew to talk about the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act and the importance of applying for Guardianship or Power of Attorney (POA) for people with Down’s syndrome from age 16.
Gillian is an Associate at Gillespie MacAndrew and advises clients and their families on a wide range of private client work. She is particularly interested in Adults with Incapacity law, and often advises clients on Powers of Attorney, Guardianships, and other issues around Adults with Incapacity Law.
When: Thursday 21st August – Thursday 25th September 2025 (inclusive) – 6 weekly sessions
Time: 10.00-10.30am
Online Via Zoom
Join Katy Lironi, Down’s Syndrome Scotland’s Makaton Tutor and ABC (Achieving Better Communication) Development Lead for this highly popular, free online course, which is a great introduction to early communication and Makaton signing.
These very popular FREE sessions cover the basics of Makaton signing for babies and introduce songs, stories, rhymes, early communication tips and oral motor exercises. The sessions are fun and interactive, for both parents/carers and babies, teaching families how to best support early communication for their baby with Down’s syndrome and providing contact with other new parents/carers.
The course has been carefully planned to cover a range of exercises, signs, songs and stories across the 6 week period. Sessions include – week 1: saying hello, week 2: eating and drinking, week 3: going places, week 4: play time, week 5: asking for help and week 6: listen carefully, plus many more signs are taught through songs and activities.
Parental feedback suggests that both baby and their parents/carers enjoy the interactive element of this course and learning signs through songs and activities. We do however understand that individual circumstances might mean that you are not able to commit to the day/time as outlined above, or perhaps you will be unable to attend a session one week. All sessions will be recorded and a secure Vimeo link emailed weekly to attendees. If you cannot attend on Thursdays, you can request to receive the weekly recordings of the whole 6 week block. Please let Katy know in advance if you can’t attend one week by emailing, katy@dsscotland.org.uk.
To book onto this 6 week course please complete the registration form at the link below.
When: Wednesday 30th April
Time: 8-9pm
At this session we will be joined by Gillian Gehrke, Health Ambassador for DSA and also a working Consultant for Queenslanders With Disability Network (QDN) and a proud Inter Advocate for International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association (IMDSA). Gillian will talk about the importance of fostering confidence, through mutual respect and meaningful connections in Disability Advocacy.
Choir 21 – Makaton Choir! Wednesday 26th March from 4.30- 5.15pm
Choir 21 – Makaton Choir! Wednesday 19th March from 4.30- 5.15pm
Choir 21 – Makaton Choir! Wednesday 12th March from 4.30- 5.15pm
This workshop will support you to teach your child basic numeracy principles, understand the relationship between language and numeracy, and learn how to create real everyday situations to help your child to realise the real purpose of numbers and, how these can be linked to developing their life skills which will help them gain greater independence and confidence in daily life situations.
Event Details
Tuesday 23rd September
7.00-9.00pm