Inside Inclusion: A diary of working toward inclusion

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Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day 2026

What an amazing experience it has been, visiting New York with my brilliant brother Tim to present at the United Nations for World Down syndrome Day 2026! Here we are entering the Trusteeship Council Chambers getting ready ahead of our session.

Tim and Kathy standing in front of the Trusteeship Council Chambers at the United Nations Headquarters Building in New York. Behind Tim and Kathy are people setting up for the session.

And behind us, the beautiful sculpture titled “Mankind and Hope” created by Danish sculptor Henrik Starcke, gifted to the United Nations by the Danish Government in 1953. What a beautiful symbol as we gathered together against loneliness.

A photo of the sculpture titled "Mankind and Hope" created by Danish sculptor Henrik Starcke, gifted to the United Nations by the Danish Government in 1953. the sculpture is sometimes called the girl and the bird as that is what it looks like, with the girl lifting her arms above her head as the bird flies with her.

Not only did we get to speak to the world at the United Nations in this remarkable place, we also got to celebrate with so many wonderful people! There are so many more wonderful people who we met than we can include, but we did get photos with some people and want to share!

A photo of Tim Cologon, Bridget Sneddon, and Kathy Cologon standing together behind the desk at the front of the Trusteeship Council Chambers in the United Nations Headquarters, New York

In this photo we are with Bridget Sneddon, the President of Down Syndrome International, who opened and closed the World Down Syndrome Day Conference.

A photo of Michael Cox, Kathy Cologon, Sheona McKenna, Nikki Cox, and Tim Cologon standing together in front of a Fernand Leger Mural in the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters, New York

In this photo is the Australian contingent at the United Nations! From left to right we have Michael Cox (Down Syndrome Australia Board Member and self-advocate who chaired our panel and shared his personal experiences), myself (Kathy Cologon, Associate Director of the Children’s Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University), Sheona McKenna (Counsellor for Development and Humanitarian Affairs at the Australian Permanent Mission to the UN, New York) and Tim Cologon (Researcher at Toward Equity, Diversity and Inclusion).

A photo of Tim Cologon, Mateo, and Kathy Cologon standing together in the Trusteeship Council Chambers at the United Nations Headquarters, New York

Here we have Tim, Matheo Santos, and Kathy standing in the Trusteeship Council Chambers. Mateo is a teacher education student at Montclair State University attending the World Down Syndrome Day Conference as the president of EPIC family group.

A photo of Robin Gibson, Kathy Cologon, and Tim Cologon standing together behind the desk at the front of the Trusteeship Council Chambers in the United Nations Headquarters, New York

In this photo we stand with Robin Gibson, the Inclusion and Self-Advocacy Lead at Down Syndrome International, who was the power behind the scenes who made this amazing event happen. Thank you, Robin!

A photo of Tim Cologon, Madison Essig, and Kathy Cologon standing together behind the desk at the front of the Trusteeship Council Chambers in the United Nations Headquarters, New York

And rounding off with a photo of Tim Cologon, the fabulous Madison Essig (administration coordinator at National Down Syndrome Society), and me (Kathy Cologon).

What a wonderful place to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with these and so many other wonderful people in person and online around the world! Hopefully these are connections that will grow. Thanks for having us!

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