Rock Your Socks

Every year on March 21, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. Socks were chosen because the karyotype of Ds chromosomes actually looks like mismatched socks! 

What It Is and How It Works

On March 21, 2024, the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware will be joining other schools, businesses, and organizations around the world in celebrating World Down Syndrome Day. 

Together we will create a single global voice advocating for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with Down syndrome in our schools, community, and around the world. 3/21, World Down Syndrome Day, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which is Down syndrome.

The Down Syndrome Association of Delaware started the Rock Your Socks program in 2014 and now distributes over 100,000 pairs of socks every year! 

Please email office@dsadelaware.org or text/call 302-577-0005 with any questions about ordering or payment. Socks will sell out – don’t delay ordering!

Who Can Participate: Anyone! Our biggest supporters are local businesses and schools. There are two options:

Thank you for your interest in the Rock Your Socks Program!  Good news- we do still have both youth and adult socks available.

If you have sold out of the socks you already ordered, we have more available!

The following are your options for getting your socks: 

  1. Pre-pay and get your socks quickly! Can be shipped right to you or picked up in Newark. Place an order with this link to have your order shipped directly to you for a $20 fee OR pick up your order from our office in Newark, DE. We will contact you with our hours and when your order is ready for pick up.  Please order socks by 3/12 to guarantee delivery by World Down Syndrome Day on 3/21.  Note: If you are a school, nonprofit or DSADE family, please email office@dsadelaware.org to receive your discount code to make the socks $2/pair.
  2. Fill out this form to pre-order bulk socks for a group or organization for pickup in New Castle Counties and return payment by April 1, 2024. 
    • During office hours Monday-Wednesday 10-4 at the DSADE New Castle County Office 1240 Capitol Trail Newark DE, 19711. We will email you to confirm our hours when your order is ready for pick up!

Pricing

  • Socks must be sold for a minimum donation of $5/pair. Discounted pricing is available for schools and nonprofits for $2/pair.
  • Proceeds from any socks sold are then sent back to the Down Syndrome Association of DE after sales are complete. Funds must be returned by April 1, 2024.

How to Spread the Word

If you work with students within an educational or learning setting, view our Disability Awareness Toolkit. This toolkit includes videos, age-specific lesson plans, and other resources to promote disability awareness within your classroom. One of our moms has also created lesson plans, available for purchase, which we highly recommend.

We have a Rock Your Socks poster available in both English and Spanish to help spread the word about World Down Syndrome Day and Rock Your Socks.

If you are selling socks, we have created online marketing toolkits full of social media graphics, language guidelines, sample social media posts, and more.

Rock Your Socks Apparel

We also have Rock Your Socks apparel available for purchase! We have various styles and colors available in both youth and adult sizes. Orders will ship directly to you!

Frequently Asked Questions 

  • What size are the socks? We have two sizes available- youth and adult. Adult socks fit most teens/adults as well as older children and youth socks we recommend for any children around age 5. Youth socks are not for toddlers or babies. 
  • What if we are unsure about how many socks to order? Keep in mind you can always ask us for more socks if you sell out. New policy this year: You may return any unsold socks back to us as long as they do not exceed 10% of your order. For example, if you order 100 socks, you can return 10 but would owe payment for 90 pairs. Please be cognizant of this when ordering. This new policy is due to many schools returning thousands of pairs of socks back to us after 3/21 had passed.
  • Why are there different price points? We remain committed to keeping the $2/pair price for our schools and local non-profits. Many local businesses wanted us to make the minimum donation $5/pair as they are selling to the public and had no problem with people supporting at the higher price point. 
  • Why socks for Down syndrome?  Socks sort of resemble a chromosome and people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome. 
  • Is this a fundraiser for the DSA of DE? The purpose of Rock Your Socks is to raise awareness for Down syndrome. This program happens to be a fundraiser for our organization and helps fund programs and outreach which supports our mission. 
  • Is Delaware the only state that has a Rock Your Socks program? There are several other Down syndrome organizations who run the Rock Your Socks program now. However, Delaware started the program in 2014! The first state! The first year we sold 2,000 pairs of socks- it has really grown! 

More questions? We are happy to help! Email office@dsadelaware.org or text/call 302-577-0005.