A Canadian charity has launched a campaign calling for people with Down syndrome to be put on the endangered species list.

The Canadian Down Syndrome Society is seeking public support for its , saying that by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature鈥檚 criteria, the Down syndrome community qualifies as endangered in many parts of the world.

As the population with the syndrome shrinks, so too does funding for services like housing, the charity said.

The CDSS launched a social media campaign to raise awareness of their plight, with people dressed as endangered animals.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not saying that we are a community of animals at all, we鈥檙e just trying to put a comparison in the world that says when someone gets put on the endangered species list they鈥檙e given all the support to help that species thrive and that鈥檚 what we want for our kids, for our community, is the ability to thrive,鈥� Ben Tarr from the CDSS told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a campaign that鈥檚 set around raising awareness, this is a community that doesn鈥檛 get a huge amount of attention.鈥�

Ben鈥檚 six-year-old son Leo has been to three different schools, because of a lack of resources.

CDSS said animal welfare groups have 90 per cent more funding than Down syndrome charities in North America.

The campaign video tweeted on Thursday has been viewed more than one million times.

鈥淔or us going towards being put on the endangered species list is really about setting context,鈥� Tarr said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about really driving and bringing attention towards the needs of housing, education and employment.鈥�

Joshua Macdonald, 22, who plays a rhino in one of the videos, enjoyed the experience and has ambitions to become a TV weatherman.

鈥淚 want people to know that I鈥檓 beautiful, amazing, strong and brave,鈥� he told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning.

His mother, Karen, said her son faces real challenges, particularly when it comes to employment.

鈥淭here鈥檚 not enough help for him to look for employment out there and to have that bridge between the adult with special needs and the company they work for,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a real struggle.鈥�