In honor of world Down
syndrome day I'd like to share a few facts about DS.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal
disorder in which a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21 AKA this person
is chromosomally enhanced. :)
Down syndrome and Trisomy 21
are both acceptable ways to describe the disorder but NEVER Down's Syndrome,
Downs child, Downs, Downsy, etc.
When referring to someone
with DS it is very important to use people first language. The person always
comes first, the diagnosis second. Ex: I
know a baby named Arlynn who has DS. This is the correct way.
NEVER say this- I know a Down
syndrome baby named Arlynn.
It's important to recognize
and remember that DS is only a part of who Arlynn is. She is a person who has DS not the other way around.
Down syndrome is not a disease
therefore people with it are not suffering from it.
Arlynn doesn't need your pity. She lives a very happy, healthy life. She has everything she wants and needs and family that loves her.
 |
| Rockin' her extra chromosome in her blue and yellow and mismatched socks |
You can't catch DS. You are
born with it.
There are 3 main types of
DS. Click this link to learn what causes ds, the three main types, and the
physical characteristics.
People with Ds are more alike
than different. They can hold down jobs, live independently, have romantic
relationships, get married, and some have children. Some live in group homes,
with their parents, or with a family member. It all depends on the person. This
is because all people with DS are different and have a range of ability. There
is no mild case of DS or a High or low functioning level of Ds. Just like
everyone else individuals with DS have different ranges of abilities.
People with Ds are actors,
models, restaurant owners, teachers, grocery store employees, fast food
employees, mechanics; the possibilities are endless.
Down syndrome is nothing to
be afraid of. People who have it are just like you. They have likes and
dislikes, wants and needs, families and friends who love and care about them,
and are in this world to live their lives just like everyone else.
They are not special or
angels just because of their diagnosis. They are the people they came here
to be. I do; however, consider my sister to be special and an angel to me but that is because she is my sister;not because she has DS.
The word retarded is the
same to the DS and disability community as the N word is to the African American
community or the word gay to the gay community. It’s insulting because mild to
moderate mental retardation is a part of a ds diagnosis. The word is insulting
no matter the way you use it. There are tons of alternatives to use instead of
this word. In case some of you don't have a dictionary; stupid, foolish,
ridiculous, and dumb are just a few of the many alternatives to this word.
I really enjoyed writing
this and have lots more to say so there might have to be a part two sometime.
For now though I'd like to share 21 facts about Arlynn...
1. She is my best friend
2. She loves playing with
her Elmo
3. She loves books. It's not
uncommon to look over and find her flipping through books and signing what she
sees, pointing, or making sounds like she is reading.
4. She can now read about 15
sight words
5. She loves flashcards
6. Her favorite fruit is
mandarin oranges
7. Contrary to popular belief
and what the pictures of her may have you thinking she is not always happy. She
definitely has her moments. She also tells me off when she is unhappy. It's
pretty cute.
8. She can sign over 30
signs
9. She loves monkeys and her
nickname from me, my mom, and Brian is monkey.
10. She loves swinging at
the park
11. She loves hair so watch
out when you're around her because no one’s hair is saved from being played
with or pulled.
12. She is obsessed with
hats lately and loves to put things on her head or my head to pretend it's a
hat
13. She loves watching
signing time
14. She gives the best hugs
15. She might not be able to
walk but she sure does get an A in mess making
16. She loves to play on my iPod
17. She is a big flirt with
the men. No exaggerating here. With that and her love of mirrors, we are going
to have a time with her when she's a teenager I can already tell.
18. She is a little
celebrity. Everywhere we go people have to stop us to talk to her.
19. She loves music and
dancing
20. She is a little model
21. She is my world
There you have it. As you
can see, she is more alike your average almost two year old than different. I
hope you enjoyed this post and I hope to have more like it in the future.
In honor of WDSD:
If you have children I encourage you to sit
down with them and talk to them about differences in people and how people may
seem different from them are actually more like them than they may think and
that differences are not a bad thing. Talk to them about the use of the r-word
and make the pledge as a family to erase this word from your vocabulary. Encourage
your kids to be friends with everybody and make an effort to include them at
school.
If you don't have kids,
inform the adults around you about DS and how it isn't a scary or miserable
thing. Educate them or send them to the blog if they are expecting a child with
DS or are new to this journey. Tell them about the r-word.
Those are just a couple things you can do to make a difference. We thank everyone
who participated in WDSD in honor of Arlynn.
