PURPOSE: to evaluate the functional abilities and self-care in Down syndrome people in a therapeutic interdisciplinary workshop. METHOD: prospective, exploratory, comparative and cross-sectional research and quantitative approach with a sample of a test group (n=17) with Down syndrome and control group (n=20) without the syndrome (n=20).The instrument used was the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) to evaluate functional aspects of the children's performance. RESULTS: the sample was paired (between 5 and 7½ years old, standard deviation 1 year and 6 months old). The group T had a repertory of functional abilities in the self-care area lower than the participants in group C (p<0, 05). In the mobility and function social areas despite the lower scores, it did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: the continuous monitoring of collective activities in the format of workshops can be useful in knowing the impact of such activities in the functional profile of these children.