Outside of spooky decorations and Halloween candy, October is recognized as Down Syndrome Awareness month. During this time, organizations like Up with Downs, the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and the National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) raise awareness for the disorder and recognize the achievements people living with down syndrome can accomplish.
The history behind Down Syndrome Awareness month can be traced back to the early days of the National Down Syndrome Society.
After Barton and Betsy Goodwin had their daughter Carson Goodwin, the parents learned Carson had Down syndrome. Unfortunately in 1978, there were very scarce and limited services the Goodwins could reach out too. When Betsy exhausted all her options, there was only one thing she could do: become the resource she needed. Betsy began to work on establishing the National Down Syndrome Society, which received official nonprofit status in 1979 just one year after Carson’s birth.
The organization’s first campaign turned heads as their baseball-themed PSA echoed through the nation and even found its way into Time magazine. As the organization grew, October was designated Down syndrome Awareness Month by the NDSS.
Since then, more organizations including the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the National Down Syndrome Congress and the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action have come into light and continue to fight for the rights, education, medical care, and employment for individuals living with down syndrome.
And with so many misconceptions surrounding down syndrome, raising awareness squashes the fear and fiction of the disorder. Common questions arise such as can down syndrome people learn to read/write? Can they walk and talk? Can they live a normal life?
The answer to these, just like many others is: yes. While the number of individuals who do not possess the disorder outnumber those who do, never forget that Down syndrome individuals are just like you! People living with Down syndrome are more than their number of chromosomes.
“I am a person before my disability,” Paul Sawka, Awareness Leader for the Canadian Down Syndrome Society said. “That means I am a man with Down syndrome, but I am not a Down syndrome man.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Down syndrome occurs in about 1 of 700 babies born in the United States- around 6,000 every year. Down syndrome is also the most common chromosomal disorder that is brought about when an error in cell division results in an extra chromosome 21 being copied in a new cell.
Nowadays, Down syndrome is not the venomous snake the world once feared. According to the CDC, life expectancy for people living with Down syndrome has increased. In 1960, an average person with Down syndrome lived to be ten years old. In 2007, an average person with Down syndrome can live to be 47 years old. Today, an average person with Down syndrome can live to be 80 years old.
“All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses,” the NDSS writes on Down syndrome facts.
With more individuals living with Down syndrome are swapping their societal ‘label’ for a Down syndrome brand. Moira’s Ventures, Oliver Hellowell Photography and Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates are just some of the hundreds of businesses run by individuals living with Down syndrome. A full list of businesses can be found at https://www.meriahnichols.com/down-syndrome-owned-businesses/.
There’s a number of ways to get involved this October! Watch out for Buddy Walks in your city, walks that celebrate and promote awareness of Down syndrome. You can also donate or volunteer by visiting ndss.org or by calling 800-221-4602. For more information about Autism Awareness Month or about how you can get involved visit ndss.org/donate/ndss-events/.