Tucked away on Saskatoon’s Millar Avenue is an organization dedicated to strengthening the abilities of young people with Down syndrome.

Melanie Norris, Executive Director of Ability in Me, or AIM, says currently, 121 learners with Down syndrome from 47 different communities are accessing in-person or virtual programming through AIM.

The AIM Program is a non-profit organization that offers those with Down syndrome and their families with group therapy, individual therapeutic sessions, speech and language development, sensory processing, literacy skills, social skills, self-help skills and motor skills.

In order to maintain those services, the province provided the organization with $677,000 in in the 2024-25 budget. The Government of Saskatchewan has provided over $4 million to AIM over the past decade.

Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says every child deserves the opportunity to have a high-quality education, and students with unique educational needs sometimes require additional help.

“Since 2014-2015, our government has provided more than $4 million to ensure that children with Down syndrome and their families have access to services that they require.”

Minister of Health Everett Hindley says through programs like AIM, the government is dedicated to building a more inclusive and compassionate province.

“Investments into healthcare so that we can support positions in this particular institution, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, that’s what’s important. Making a difference in the everyday lives of people and kids.”

Gregg Distributors, a local supplier of industrial equipment, also donated $35,000 to the organization. The money went towards the creation of a sensory room for the youth ages 0-22 that attend AIM programming.