The Black Child Down Syndrome (BCDS) Project is a groundbreaking advocacy initiative dedicated to increasing awareness, representation, and support for Black children with Down syndrome and their families. Founded to address the lack of visibility and culturally relevant resources, the BCDS Project aims to create a more inclusive world where every child can thrive regardless of their abilities.
Our Goals
Our Objectives
At the BCDS Project, we believe that representation matters and that by telling these stories, we can spark change, inspire inclusion, and celebrate every child’s unique potential. Together, we can rewrite the narrative and build a brighter future.
Oneness Sankara is an award-winning spoken word artist, creative, and healer with over 25 years of experience in the arts, healing, and social change. From the BBC to Glastonbury, she’s had the honor of opening for artists and activists like Mutabaruka, Jonzi D, Dead Prez, Janet Kay, Queen Afua, Dr. Joy DeGruy, and Jesse Jackson, to name a few. Her work lives at the intersection of art, spirituality, and advocacy.
Marsha Martin is a former Behavioural Therapist, Neurodiversity Awareness Consultant, and the Founder and CEO of Black SEN Mamas, a charitable organisation supporting Black mothers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). As a neurodiverse woman herself, Marsha created Black SEN Mamas to provide a space of psychological safety for mothers navigating both the challenges of parenting and the complexities of the SEND system…
Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie is a wife, mother, and entrepreneur based in Lagos, Nigeria. Inspired by her daughter Simone’s battle with heart complications and a late Down syndrome diagnosis, she became a passionate special needs advocate. Tonye channeled her background in TV and film production to address the lack of representation for black and African children with special needs. She created the groundbreaking picture book series “Ugo and Sim Sim” and Nigeria’s first baby board book, “Ugo and Sim Sim: Fruits and Vegetables”…
Danise B. Grant is a former secondary teacher, who is currently an EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) consultant, and a passionate SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) advocate and educator. She is the founder of Panda’s Tree, the UK’s first organisation dedicated to supporting and advocating for the Black Down syndrome community, and a key partner in the Black Child: Down Syndrome Project…
Oneness Sankara is an award-winning spoken word artist, creative, and healer with over 25 years of experience in the arts, healing, and social change. From the BBC to Glastonbury, she’s had the honor of opening for artists and activists like Mutabaruka, Jonzi D, Dead Prez, Janet Kay, Queen Afua, Dr. Joy DeGruy, and Jesse Jackson, to name a few. Her work lives at the intersection of art, spirituality, and advocacy.
She combines her love for the creative arts, her teaching and mentoring background, and her spiritual and cultural practices to create spaces that support personal healing and the embodiment of purpose. She’s the founder of T21 Alchemy, an initiative dedicated to transforming the narratives around Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), disability, and the experiences of carers. Her work focuses on the intersection of race, disability, and gender, with a deep commitment to inclusivity, advocacy, and storytelling.
Ultimately, her goal is to help co-create the world our ancestors dreamed of — and the one we now dream of — using art as a tool for healing, empowerment, and social change. Through her poetry, playwriting, and facilitation, she invites others to find their voices, transform their stories, and join her in building a more just and inclusive society.
Marsha Martin is a former Behavioural Therapist, Neurodiversity Awareness Consultant, and the Founder and CEO of Black SEN Mamas, a charitable organisation supporting Black mothers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). As a neurodiverse woman herself, Marsha created Black SEN Mamas to provide a space of psychological safety for mothers navigating both the challenges of parenting and the complexities of the SEND system. Under her leadership, the organisation has grown into a thriving community of over 3,500 mothers (and growing!), offering vital mental health support and advocating for effective SEND resources for their children.
Motivated by her own experiences, Marsha established Black SEN Mamas to empower Black women, giving them a safe space to connect, share, and heal. The organisation hosts regular support group sessions, informative discussions, and events centred on Black motherhood, neurodivergence, and mental health, while also advocating for SEND children and providing community-driven resources.
Black SEN Mamas won the Celebrating Neurodiversity Inclusion Project of the Year Award 2023, and Marsha has been recognised as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Neurodiverse Women. With her background in behavioural therapy and neurodiversity, Marsha brings empathy, expertise, and a passion for social justice to her work. She is committed to expanding the reach of Black SEN Mamas globally, building inclusive platforms that address the unique challenges faced by Black SEND families.
Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie is a wife, a mother, an entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate based in Lagos, Nigeria. She and her husband are proud parents to two children, Ugo and Simone. Her advocacy journey took flight when her daughter, Simone, was diagnosed late with Down syndrome, resulting in heart complications during infancy. Simone’s recovery became a catalyst for Tonye’s unwavering commitment to special needs advocacy.
Drawing from her successful career as a TV and film producer, Tonye recognized a significant lack of representation for black and African children, particularly those with special needs. This realization spurred her to create “Ugo and Sim Sim” the world’s first picture book series featuring a black main character with Down syndrome. She is also the author of Nigeria’s pioneering baby board book, “Ugo and Sim Sim: Fruits and Vegetables”.
Fueled by her fervour, Tonye founded the Simone’s Oasis Foundation, an organization that merges creativity with advocacy to reshape societal views on special needs and neurodiversity. The foundation uses storytelling and artistic expression to challenge norms and showcase the potential of every child, regardless of their abilities. Their advocacy spans books, music, music videos, animation, podcasts, and documentaries.
Tonye is a founding member of the Association of Children’s Authors and Illustrators of Nigeria and actively contributes to the Creative Industries Development Bill committee under the office of the Presidency. Her dedication has made her a sought-after panelist, consultant, facilitator, and speaker on creative arts and education, animation, parenting, early intervention, and special needs advocacy.
In addition, Tonye co-produced and co-hosted two podcasts: “Special Mums Africa: Real Talk on Special Needs Parenting” and the award-nominated “Represented – Storybooks and More for African Kids” co-hosted with her son, Ugo.
Currently, Tonye is developing several new children’s books with Ouida Publishing.
Her leadership and impact have been recognized globally, with her selection for the American Express Leadership Academy, which highlights outstanding non-profit leaders; and being named by The Guardian UK as one of the ten most inspiring people they met around the world in 2024. This acknowledgment fortifies her dedication to nurturing purposeful leadership, resilience, and innovation within the non-profit sector.
Connect with Simone’s Oasis on all social media platforms, including YouTube, @simonesoasis.
Danise B. Grant is a former secondary teacher, who is currently an EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) consultant, and a passionate SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) advocate and educator. She is the founder of Panda’s Tree, the UK’s first organisation dedicated to supporting and advocating for the Black Down syndrome community, and a key partner in the Black Child: Down Syndrome Project.
She has over 20 years of experience across various educational settings, including adult literacy, TESOL, and secondary education. However, it was her experience as a mother of a child with special needs and disability that reignited her passion for advocacy and social justice.
As Managing Director of SEND Parent Partnerships, Danise works to drive inclusion and diversity within educational institutions, collaborating with both parents and schools to ensure the best outcomes for children requiring special educational support. She is also an active public speaker on the SEND system and how to support people with SEND and their families in a variety of settings.
Danise serves as a government official, an advisor on the Greater London Authority’s Difference Matters team and is a member of a local authority SEND education panel. Additionally, she produces and co-hosts The SEND Sisterhood podcast with another SEND mother, where they candidly explore the challenges and joys of SEND parenting.
