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Diario Euskadi

Down Araba-Isabel Orbe Receives COPE Vitoria Anniversary Award for 30 Years of Work

The association celebrates three decades of improving autonomy and life expectancy for individuals, though further progress in labor inclusion is still needed.

Generic image of hands shaking over a desk, symbolizing collaboration.
IA

Generic image of hands shaking over a desk, symbolizing collaboration.

The Down Araba-Isabel Orbe association has been honored with the COPE Vitoria Anniversary Award, recognizing three decades of tireless work towards a more just society, with the ceremony scheduled for April 16 at the Artium Museum.

The association's journey began 30 years ago, when a group of families united to address the needs of their children at a time when specific resources were scarce. Javier Aguirreurreta, the association's president, explained that they adopted the name of Isabel Orbe, a specialized psychiatrist whose experience and knowledge of advancements in Down syndrome research were crucial for initiating the project.
Over these three decades, the reality for individuals with Down syndrome has significantly transformed. Aguirreurreta notes that families have always been and will remain involved with the entity, but today, individuals with Down syndrome themselves approach the association, having achieved high levels of autonomy and independence. Nearly the entire collective now reads, writes, and leads a healthy social life.
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"It has been proven that companies that integrate individuals with Down syndrome into their teams achieve significant improvements in personal relationships."

Javier Aguirreurreta · President of Down Araba-Isabel Orbe
Despite the progress, Aguirreurreta emphasizes that full inclusion remains the primary goal. The most urgent area, he points out, is employment, where society and companies need to understand the value these individuals bring. The young people currently working in various companies in Vitoria, with very positive results, serve as the best example. These experiences demonstrate their full capacity to integrate into ordinary jobs, not just protected employment.
One of the most notable achievements in these 30 years has been the increase in life expectancy, which has almost doubled. This has brought a new challenge: achieving healthy aging. The association works to maintain the maximum autonomy of its members through six main pillars, ranging from psychological counseling and adult life training to independent living, leisure, and volunteering programs.
Currently, Down Araba-Isabel Orbe comprises about 60 families, a number that remains stable partly due to the arrival of immigrant families, rather than new births. Aguirreurreta also highlights the “fundamental” role of the volunteer team, especially in the area of leisure and free time. The COPE Vitoria award represents “further recognition of the work being done” and an opportunity to thank the support of institutions and the society of Vitoria, which, he states, “sees us with better eyes”.

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