About Saut

About Down Syndrome

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Our mission is to empower individuals with Down syndrome in Saudi Arabia through world-class education, training, research and awareness.

According to a study by McKinsey & Company in 2009, there are over 25,000 individuals with Down syndrome in Saudi Arabia of which 85% receive no schooling. And the typical reaction to a statistic like this is usually surprise or indifference.

Because despite its prevalence, most people are still unfamiliar with Down syndrome. Accurate data is difficult to come by, but we know that at least one in every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome. Given this high incidence rate, encountering individuals with Down syndrome should be relatively common. But in reality, it is just the opposite. This is because inclusion and integration opportunities are rare.

We want to change all of this.

Our answer to this challenge lies in the four components of our mission statement:

World-class Education
We own and operate a school that provides quality, specialized educational and vocational services to individuals with Down syndrome in Riyadh from birth to 21 years of age.

Training
We not only provide vocational training for our students, but we also serve as a training center for educators and support staff. We require our staff to undergo regular and rigorous training - even if they have been highly trained elsewhere - to ensure consistency in our standards and methods.

Research

We are committed to research. It is one of the core ways that we can use our expertise to serve individuals with Down syndrome and their families. We are especially focused on research projects in the education and medical fields and always interested in collaborating with like-minded researchers – either individuals or organizations - in our endeavors. For more information, please click here.

Awareness
Awareness is the gateway to opportunity. It brings with it more opportunities for inclusion, acceptance, and integration. For this reason, raising awareness is a core part of our mission statement and we focus on it in everything we do. We want people to realize that individuals with Down syndrome are able to learn and develop the skills required to live productive lives. With help, many can hold jobs and become financially self-sufficient. More importantly, useful employment often gives those with Down syndrome the self-confidence and dignity that every human being deserves. To spread this message, we plan workshops and lectures, hold public events, publish educational material and reach out to schools, corporations, and other entities.

Our Values

1. Dedication
We are committed to providing quality, specialized education and services to create opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome to become productive, valued members of their communities.

2. Transparency
We take responsibility for investing our financial resources efficiently, measuring our performance, and being accountable to our donors, partners and most of all, our students.

3. Sustainability
We aim to leave a legacy that can stand the test of time by focusing on sustainable solutions.

4. Trustworthiness
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in our dealings and always act in the best interest of the individuals we serve.

5. Creativity
We embrace change and look for opportunities to use technology and partnerships to benefit individuals with Down syndrome.

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