Lead Your Way

05/09/2026

Think about it!

02/09/2026

September, welcome!

Dear summer, thank you for everything you brought along with you!

Do not forget to pack for school:
- your empathy
- your open mind
- your admiration for people who are different than you.

Share this with a friend!

26/08/2026

🌎 Fundamental rights belong to everyone!

On this day, 26 of August 1789, The Declaration of the Rights of Man affirmed principles that continue to shape our understanding of human rights today: freedom, quality, dignity and participation.

More than two centuries later, these principles are still asking something from us!

For people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities rights should be more than words (just) written.

Give some of your time and think about:
👉 equal opportunities
👉 access to education and employment
👉 the right to make choices and be heard
👉 the right to participate in community life
👉 respect, dignity and independence
👉 the right to belong

17/08/2026

Here is a quick pick on our Best practices Guide for 20 detailed case studies of innovative initiatives demonstrating successful inclusive employment approaches across Europe.

Take a look!

https://leadyourwayproject.eu/assets/static/LYW_ENG_Good-Practice-Guide.BR1oia50.pdf

12/08/2026

🌏Different contexts. Common aspirations.

Every young person deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, make choices, build relationships, find meaningful work and shape their own future.



Yet for many young people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, these opportunities are still limited by barriers, low expectations and a lack of accessible support.

At Lead Your Way, we believe inclusion means more than being present. It means being heard, respected, supported and given real opportunities to participate in education, employment and community life.

💙 A job is more than a job.
💛 Independence is more than doing things alone.
💙 Inclusion is about having choices, opportunities and a voice.

On International Youth Day, we celebrate the potential of all young people — and we renew our commitment to creating pathways towards supported employment, autonomy and full participation in society.

Because every young person should have the chance to lead their own way.



*Photo generated with AI support

01/08/2026

Hello, August! 🌿☀️

🌻A new month brings new opportunities to build communities where everyone belongs.

At Lead Your Way, we believe inclusion is not an option or an afterthought—it is a commitment. Every person, regardless of ability, deserves equal opportunities to learn, work, contribute, and thrive.

☀️As we welcome August, let’s continue creating workplaces and communities where diversity is valued, support is meaningful, and everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.

❕Because inclusion is not something to consider. It’s something to guarantee.

Here’s to a month of kindness, collaboration and opportunities for all! 💙💛

30/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1JUjAVqTna/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Mar Galcerán asked to be seen as a person, not as a diagnosis.

Galcerán said it after taking her seat in the Corts Valencianes, the regional parliament of the Valencian Community.

No woman with Down syndrome had sat in a regional parliament in Spain before. By the count of Down España, none had in Europe either.

The party she joined at 18 was the conservative People's Party, and she spent decades working for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

Most first-time members arrive with a career behind them. Hers was a campaign to be allowed one.

Sources: CNE.news, News24

27/07/2026

What does it take to build a truly inclusive labour market?

The latest Lead Your Way Research Report https://leadyourwayproject.eu/results reminds us that employment is about much more than having a job — it is about dignity, independence, belonging and equal opportunities.

❗️Across Europe, people with intellectual disabilities continue to face significant barriers:

💙 Less than 10% are in paid employment in many EU countries.
💙 Stigma and low expectations continue to limit opportunities.
💙 Supported Employment has proven to work—but it needs long-term investment and stable public support.
💙 Digital inclusion must become a priority so that technology creates opportunities instead of new barriers.

💡Real inclusion happens when people, employers, communities, and public institutions work together.

Every person deserves the chance to contribute, grow, and be recognised for their abilities—not defined by their disability.

🫂Together, we can create workplaces where everyone belongs.

📖 These findings are part of the Lead Your Way Research Report (2025), developed within the Erasmus+ project Lead Your Way, co-funded by the European Union.

08/07/2026

“If an adult with Down syndrome, who is used to working and leading an active life, suddenly has no activities, they may become bored or experience some degree of regression. This is why autonomy, social relationships, and maintaining an active lifestyle are so important,” explains Beatriz Garvía, psychologist and advisor at DOWN ESPAÑA.

Discover her advice on supporting the well-being of people with Down syndrome in this article.

Durante los meses de verano, los cambios de horarios, la ausencia de rutinas marcadas y el cierre de algunos centros o actividades habituales pueden afectar al bienestar mental o emocional de las personas con síndrome de Down. Para prevenirlo es fundamental planificar propuestas adaptadas a cada pe...

01/07/2026

🌞 Hello, July!

A new month brings new opportunities to open doors, challenge assumptions and celebrate abilities.

Remember: INCLUSION doesn’t take a vacation!

Every workplace, every community, every opportunity becomes stronger when people with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities are empowered to contribute, grow, and succeed.

At Lead Your Way, we’re working with partners across Europe to promote supported employment, strengthen skills and encourage employers to recognize the value that every individual brings.

This July, let’s continue building workplaces where talent is recognized, diversity is embraced and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Here’s to a month of new possibilities, meaningful connections, and inclusive opportunities 💙💛