Yes, technically the month is Down syndrome awareness month, but my friend, Meriah challenged others and I have to agree with her. Everyone knows me or Hailey is aware with Down syndrome. They are aware that she is a 3 year old little girl with feelings and actions similar to other children her age. They are aware that she has challenges with fine motor skills, gross motor skills and speech. They are aware that we participate in various activities with other families with Down syndrome. I'm "assuming" they are aware that Down syndrome is 3 copies of the 21st chromosome aka Trisomy 21.
I have heard from adults (more than once) that adults and children with disabilities make them uncomfortable or nervous. Well, I think it's time to make yourself even more uncomfortable. Challenge yourself. What can you do to help make Down syndrome more accepted?
Can you go out of your way to speak to an individual with Down syndrome? Can you be friendlier? Can you treat them with respect? Don't automatically assume they do not understand you.
Can you volunteer with your local Down syndrome association? These organizations run on donations and volunteers. There are always things they can use help with. There are several teenage groups that volunteer at a lot of our social activities. I can speak from experience that those volunteers are very much appreciated!!! I love being able to have adult conversations at the annual Christmas party while a lovely student chases after Hailey and removes her from Santa's lap for the 500th time.
The Hailey of today is very grateful for all of you being aware about Down syndrome, but the Hailey of tomorrow needs you to help it be more accepted!!
I have heard from adults (more than once) that adults and children with disabilities make them uncomfortable or nervous. Well, I think it's time to make yourself even more uncomfortable. Challenge yourself. What can you do to help make Down syndrome more accepted?
Can you go out of your way to speak to an individual with Down syndrome? Can you be friendlier? Can you treat them with respect? Don't automatically assume they do not understand you.
Can you volunteer with your local Down syndrome association? These organizations run on donations and volunteers. There are always things they can use help with. There are several teenage groups that volunteer at a lot of our social activities. I can speak from experience that those volunteers are very much appreciated!!! I love being able to have adult conversations at the annual Christmas party while a lovely student chases after Hailey and removes her from Santa's lap for the 500th time.
The Hailey of today is very grateful for all of you being aware about Down syndrome, but the Hailey of tomorrow needs you to help it be more accepted!!
Grrr... WHY didn't "it" tell me that I needed to be signed in before I went to the trouble to make a comment???? Michele, having grown up with a brother that had Ds, I never knew that "Down syndrome is 3 copies of the 21st chromosome known as Trisomy 21." I don't even know if the medical community knew this or whether they just didn't tell us. But definitely, things are better now than they were then and better now in larger cities than smaller communities. That does not mean that there is not room for improvement. I love reading what you're doing to help Hailey (love that girl) and others be "all they can be."
ReplyDeleteI think they knew it, they just didn't do a good job explaining things because they didn't believe people with Ds had any worth. I'm glad people are more educated now, but it makes me sad for all the people with Ds before Hailey. Their families valued them and loved them and that makes me happy!
DeleteI love the last line of this post! I agree that we should all be aware, but we sadly know that that's just not true. I do wish we could move from awareness to acceptance and I hope that will happen in my lifetime. :)
ReplyDeleteI know we have come a long, long way...I just want to see us go further in my lifetime :-)
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