Our Collective Impact
Every Child Needs Their Village
In Aotearoa, 1 baby is born with Down syndrome every week. That’s around 1 in 1000 Kiwi families.
These children have capability in spades. Yet most need specialist speech and language therapy to build skills that’ll help them read, write, speak, connect and participate in the world. Unfortunately, costs put this essential service out of reach for too many whānau.
We believe every child with Down syndrome has the right to learn these skills.
That’s why, alongside our village of whānau, therapists, donors and supporters, we’re empowering kids with Down syndrome to find their voice.
UpsideDowns at a Glance
We’ve expanded from a small, parent-led initiative into a nationwide village supporting families across Aotearoa.
Here’s what our village has made possible since 2003.
$2m+ paid in speech therapy funding
20,200+ therapy sessions funded
1 in 3 children with Down syndrome currently supported with access to therapy across Aotearoa
20+ years helping children with Down syndrome find their voice
Long-term support that grows with the child, from birth to 21
The Impact of Our Village
Thanks to our generous village of whānau, therapists, donors and supporters,
600+
children’s lives have been transformed through speech and language therapy.
Meet Joshua
Captured at our most recent Share the Dream event, Joshua’s story is a powerful reminder of what finding a voice can mean, not just for one child but for an entire village.
A Strong Year of Impact
While our work is built for the long haul, each year brings its own progress. Here’s what our village made possible this year.*
340 children funded for speech and language therapy
2,773 therapy sessions funded
$200,000+ paid in speech therapy funding, the highest since inception, despite a challenging funding environment
Return of Share the Dream after 10 years, reconnecting our community and renewing shared purpose
$80,000+ raised through community and member-led events including Share the Dream, and Tee 21.
*As of April 2025
Reaching Whānau Across Aotearoa
Here’s What Impact Looks Like
Ellie finds her voice
With regular speech therapy sessions, Ellie has learnt to string more words together and tackle complex sounds, giving her more ways to express what she thinks, feels and wants.
In 2023, Ellie became the first girl with Down syndrome to compete in NZ’s marching competition with her team.
Read Ellie’s full story
Olivia Starts School Strong
Supported by UpsideDowns-funded speech and language therapy since the age of 2, Olivia is now settled into her local Hamilton primary school with growing confidence and communication skills.
With her village around her, she’s participating in learning, building friendships and well and truly finding her voice.
Josh Turns Frustration into Communication
With long-term access to speech and language therapy and strong whānau backing, Josh built the skills and confidence to take part in school, form friendships and express himself.
After leaving school alongside his peers at 18, he went on to complete tertiary study and now works in a job he loves at Rainbow’s End.