Introduction: Occupations hold significant importance for individuals with Down syndrome as they contribute to their overall development, quality of life, and social inclusion. For individuals with Down syndrome, occupations can be crucial for developing motor, cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Additionally, occupations can help individuals with Down syndrome maintain and improve functional independence as well as promote self-esteem, self-confidence and satisfaction. Therefore, it is important to ensure they have access to various occupations and to adequately support their participation and engagement in these activities. Aim: The aim of the thesis was to investigate the integration of people with Down syndrome into different fields of occupation and their challenges in doing so. Special emphasis was placed on analyzing their independence, social inclusion and personal satisfaction in the context in the occupations. Methods: The diploma work was based on a qualitative methodology using three individual semi-structured interviews with individuals with Down syndrome. The sample was purposive. The data was analyzed by using content analysis. Results: The results of the thesis are presented in three topics: inclusion in daily activities, social interaction and contribution to the execution of occupations. The results of the analysis showed that taking care of personal care and participating in household chores is very important for people with Down's syndrome when integrating into daily activities. This gives them a sense of equality in the family and also strengthens their independence. Their well – being is influenced by the social network but they often encounter problems when establishing new contacts and find it difficult to meet new people. The support of their family also has a big impact on their social network. Doing the occupations contributes to improved physical abilities, greater self confidence and feelings of pride and happiness. Successes in the occupations bring them additional motivation for further involvement. Discussion and conclusion: The results indicate that occupations are essential for increasing independence and social inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome. The study participants reported positive expiriences related to occupations, which allow them to develop skills, increase self – confidence and improve their quality of life.
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