We are celebrating National AccessAbility Week 2026 with the release of the full 45-minute documentary film!
Join us for the Official Premiere of Unified Voices on our social media channels on Monday, June 1st, 2026 and help us share this unique view into the diverse Down syndrome community in Canada.
Join Us for the Official Premiere of Unified Voices this National AccessAbility Week!
Introducing
Unified Voices
Directed by Moses Latigo Odida, Produced by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, Sponsored by the Government of Canada for National AccessAbility Week
Travel into the heart of communities across Canada to discover what it means to live with Down syndrome.
At 25 years old, Carmelle finds strength in her resourceful nature and the supportive atmosphere of her rural Saskatchewan town of Moosomin.
Working at a local hotel and a resource center for people with different abilities, Carmelle benefits from a community that truly cares about her well-being.
The Canadian Down Syndrome Society is very proud to present Unified Voices, a new documentary film exploring the lives of Canadians with Down syndrome like never before. The film takes you on a journey across Canada and into the homes of six families from very different backgrounds.
This federally funded film celebrating National AccessAbility Week highlights the diverse voices within the Down syndrome community. Director Moses Latigo Odida explores each family's unique challenges and triumphs with education, employment, and social inclusion.
Community Connects Us Beyond Differences
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During production for this project, one major theme I identified is that we are best positioned to overcome the challenges we face through community. This is as true in big cities like Vancouver B.C. as it is in small towns like Moosomin, Saskatchewan, or in French-speaking Sherbrooke Québec. Our joys and challenges are either magnified or diminished depending on our proximity to community.
Moses Latigo Odida
Director and Parent in the Down syndrome community
Marshall, soon turning 20, resides in the bustling city of Vancouver and loves basketball. He cherishes his interactions at the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation, which offers enriching programs like human sexuality training. Despite familial love, Marshall yearns for a deep friendship.
Élisabeth is in her 40s and living in a group home in her small town of Sherbrooke, Québec. She balances work at a university with her passion for chocolate-making and knitting. L’Association du Syndrome de Down in Sherbrooke further enriches her life with essential life skills navigating life's challenges.
Jasmine, or Jazzy as she's known by her friends and family, is a young woman of 24 who lives and works with her family in Windsor, Ontario. Their family-owned business, Zule Eats, serves Ghanaian food and provides a great employment opportunity for Jazzy and her siblings. When she is not at work, Jazzy is dancing at a local dance studio and working towards living independently.
Mikola and his family had to leave everything behind after war broke out in Ukraine. In February 2023, they found a new home on Canada's east coast in Dartmouth. Starting life over again, all at once, was extremely difficult. Somehow, with the support of the local Ukrainian community, his family managed to find a house, a church, and a supportive school where Mikola now loves to learn.
Blake and his family live in London, Ontario where his Indigenous identity is at the heart of who he is. In the past, Blake's culture and needs were often overlooked, but in his new classroom, he has found support, respect, and the freedom to celebrate who he is.
