Since the 1980s, October has been designated as the month to specially raise awareness, celebrate, and elevate the lives and abilities of individuals with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States – Every 1 in about 700 babies are born with Down syndrome! Whether or not you are lucky enough to know and love an individual with Down syndrome, please join us at Connect the Dots in celebrating this amazing group of individuals (October and all the months of the year), and enjoy the following facts about Down syndrome!
- Genetic information is stored in our cells in the form of rod-like structures referred to as chromosomes. Each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes – Down syndrome occurs when there is a partial or full extra copy of chromosome 21.
- There are actually three distinct types of Down syndrome:
- Trisomy 21 – This is the most common type – Three copies of chromosome 21 are present in all cells of the body
- Translocation – An additional or partial chromosome 21 attaches to another chromosome entirely
- Mosaic – There are a mixture of cells containing 2 copies of chromosome 21 and cells containing 3 copies of chromosome 21
- Blue and yellow are the international colors for Down syndrome awareness! So let’s all rock some blue and yellow in our wardrobe this October!
- Preferred language guide: Down vs Down’s
- Down syndrome is named after the physician who first formally characterized the genetic condition, John Langdon Down. The use of an apostrophe in “Down’s,” however, incorrectly denotes possession or ownership. Down syndrome is therefore the preferred terminology as recognized by the National Down Syndrome Society.
- Every individual with Down syndrome is a unique individual with their own talents, abilities, interests, and dreams. There is no ceiling for people with Down syndrome, and many have become famous for their talents and contributions to the world! To name a few:
- Madeline Stewart is a famous runway model, being featured in Vogue and the Paris Fashion Week.
- Sujeet Desai is the first musician with Down syndrome to play at Carnegie – He has mastered 7 instruments!
- Isabella Sprinmuhl Tejada is a famous fashion designer with a passion for working the vibrant colors and designs of her home-country, Guatemala, into her work.
- Jamie Brewer is a famous actress known for her work on the TV series American Horror Story
- And this is just to name a few!
Individuals with Down syndrome cannot be placed into any box – Every individual is different, and every individual matters. We are very lucky to get to work with kiddos with Down syndrome here at Connect the Dots as they hone their communication skills, postural control, and gross/fine motor skills. If you think your child with Down syndrome would benefit from a little extra help our therapies could offer, please call our scheduling office and set up an evaluation. We are so happy to be able to get to know, connect with, and love kiddos with Down syndrome.