Down Syndrome Association Of Peterborough

What Down Syndrome Association Of Peterborough does

The Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough is a registered Canadian charity (861495547 RR 0001) founded in 1988 that provides programs, resources, and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome and their families across Peterborough, Victoria, Clarington, Northumberland and Hastings Counties in Ontario. It is the only organization in this five-county region supporting all facets of life for those with Down syndrome from birth through adulthood, addressing isolation, lack of information, and shortage of affordable programs. Its community-led, membership-based model is operated by a small staff of approximately 2 (an Executive Director and a Program Facilitator) supported by a Board of Directors chaired by Travis Doak.

The organization delivers a portfolio of nine distinct programs segmented by age and function: Wee Ups and Downs (0-5 play and support group), Fab Fridays and Saturday Socials (community engagement for all ages), Caregiver Connection, Summer Camp / Camp Days with School Readiness Program (ages 3-5) and P.A. Day Camps, and the adult Connections (21+) program alongside the newer Connections+ (Life Skills Lab) workplace readiness initiative delivered in partnership with Milk + Tea shop in Peterborough. There is no proprietary technology product; service delivery is conducted in person at the organization's offices at 270 Braidwood Ave and at 1421 Lansdowne St W, as well as at partner venues. No AI, API, or app capabilities are disclosed.

The business model is a non-profit funding mix of membership subscriptions (Family $30/year, Individual $30, Self-Advocate $5, Organization $50), individual donations, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events (Boston Pizza Charity Night, Lakeview Bowl World Down Syndrome Day Bowl-a-thon, Capable Con participation), and program fees (P.A. Day Camps at $15 half-day / $30 full day). Go-to-market is community-led via newsletters, the website, social media, and word-of-mouth referrals. The organization acknowledges it lacks stable government funding and depends on donations and sporadic grants, with leadership noting Executive Director Vanessa Bruce's maternity leave in 2024/2025 did not interrupt service expansion.

Name

Down Syndrome Association Of Peterborough

Legal name

Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough

Website

https://downsyndromepeterborough.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1988 that delivers membership-based community programs, advocacy, and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families across five Ontario counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Transition Services (Secondary to Postsecondary/Employment, Life Skills) (EDAJAKAG), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Community programs
• Down syndrome advocacy
• Life skills training
• Caregiver support

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from families, self-advocates, individuals, and organizations provide recurring revenue. Family and Individual memberships cost $30/year, Self-Advocate membership costs $5/year, and Organization membership costs $50/year.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support to the organization. All sponsors are eligible for tax receipts.
3. Donations: Individual donations from the community support programming, regular weekly activities, and educational initiatives for individuals with Down syndrome in Peterborough and surrounding areas.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Boston Pizza Charity Night and World Down Syndrome Day Bowl-a-thon generate revenue through event participation, merchandise sales (such as Kids Cards), and community donations.
5. Program Fees: Fees charged for specific programs including P.A. Day Camps at $30 full day or $15 half-day, providing affordable access to programming while generating revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough is a registered Canadian charity that delivers community-based programs, life skills training, and caregiver support services for individuals with Down syndrome and their families across Peterborough, Victoria, Clarington, Northumberland and Hastings Counties. Programs span all ages from early childhood (Wee Ups and Downs 0-5) through adulthood (Connections 21+), including flagship workplace readiness initiatives such as Connections+ (Life Skills Lab). The organization operates through annual memberships, donations, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

The Down Syndrome Association of Peterborough offers a comprehensive suite of community support programs and membership services for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The organization operates a single-platform model consisting of multiple age-specific programs including Wee Ups and Downs (0-5), Fab Fridays, Saturday Socials, Connections (21+), Connections+ (Life Skills Lab), Caregiver Connection, and Camp Days/Summer Camp with School Readiness Program. These programs provide meaningful learning opportunities, community engagement, socialization, life skills development, and helpful resources for members from birth through adulthood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wee Ups and Downs (0-5) Monthly sharing and play group for parents and preschoolers aged 0-5 with Down syndrome and their siblings, providing opportunities to meet other parents, discuss developmental issues, and share experiences with guest speakers.
• Connections (21+) Program for beyond-school-age members focusing on community engagement and independence by building important life skills, health, hygiene, financial literacy, and community connection.
• Fab Fridays Fun physical activity group open to members of all ages, providing a way to kick off the weekend with enjoyable physical activities after learning or work.
• Saturday Socials Community-based group for members of all ages practicing important life skills while engaging in fun and exciting activities in the community.
• Camp Days / Summer Camp Bi-weekly camp programming held during July and August for members during school-free summer days, with activities including socialization, life skills, and physical activity. Includes Down Syndrome Summer School for ages 5-21 and P.A. Day Camps.
• Caregiver Connection Program for families and caregivers to connect with others within the Down syndrome community, providing a network of learning and connection for caregivers and supporters of those with Down syndrome of all ages.
• Connections+ (Life Skills Lab) Flagship workplace readiness program providing members with hands-on job skills in a supportive environment, partnering with local businesses like Milk + Tea shop for real-world work experience preparing and selling food items directly to the public.
• School Readiness Program Program for children ages 3-5 designed to help prepare them for school by teaching and guiding children in learning school routines and expectations such as circle time, following instructions, and sharing with peers.
• Membership Programs Annual membership options including Family Membership ($30), Self-Advocate Annual Membership ($5), Individual Annual Membership ($30), and Organization Membership ($50), required to participate in regular programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced isolation for families and caregivers through community connection and peer support networks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Milk + Tea Shop (Peterborough)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with local favorite Milk + Tea shop in Peterborough to deliver the Connections+ (Life Skills Lab) workplace readiness program. Members actively participate in preparing and selling food items directly to the public, gaining immersive real-world employment experience.
• Boston Pizza PeterboroughminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Hosted a charity night at Boston Pizza Peterborough. Sale of Kids Cards during this event contributed to funding essential programs and services.
• Lakeview BowlminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Annual World Down Syndrome Day Bowl-a-thon held at Lakeview Bowl, bringing families together for celebration and awareness.
• Counsel for Persons with Disabilities (Capable Con)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Active participant in Capable Con, hosted by the Counsel for Persons with Disabilities. Collaboration and immersion alongside other agencies reinforcing commitment to community integration and advocacy.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Down Syndrome Society: National Canadian Down syndrome advocacy and resource organization. Comparable as a charity serving the same population across the full lifecycle, though operating at a national scale rather than a regional one, with a broader mandate and digital resource library.
• Inclusion Canada: National federation advocating for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. Comparable family-advocacy mission, knowledge resource library, and member-association structure across Canada.
• Community Living Ontario: Provincial federation supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable mission of full-lifecycle community inclusion, advocacy, and family support, with overlapping service philosophy.
• March of Dimes Canada: National Canadian charity serving people with disabilities through employment services, recreation, and accessibility programs. Comparable employment-readiness programming (overlaps with Connections+) and broader service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Kerry's Place Autism Services: Ontario-based charity providing lifespan supports for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental disabilities. Similar program structure and family-support orientation, targeting an adjacent but different disability population.
• Extend-A-Family: Ontario-based nonprofit supporting people with developmental disabilities and their families through community participation and individualized programming. Comparable community-led, membership-influenced service model.
• Special Olympics Ontario: Provincial chapter delivering sport, fitness, and social programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Comparable physical-activity programming (overlaps with Fab Fridays) and regional chapter structure.
• Down Syndrome Association of Ontario: Provincial Ontario association for individuals with Down syndrome and families. Direct peer offering similar community programs, advocacy, and family support across Ontario regions, overlapping with DSP's catchment area.

Regional players

• Reena: Toronto-area developmental services nonprofit providing programs and housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable program model (lifelong supports, community participation, life-skills labs) though serving the GTA region.
• Down Syndrome Resource Foundation: British Columbia-based Down syndrome service organization providing programs, resources, and therapy services. Comparable full-lifecycle service model and population focus, though geographically separate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/down-syndrome-association-of-peterborough

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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