What You Need To Know About Down Syndrome

FIRST, A LITTLE BACKGROUND

• Down syndrome was discovered by Dr. Langdon Down in 1866
• It is a chromosomal anomaly, or mix-up, in the genetic blue-print that occurs at conception
• Individuals with Down Syndrome have an extra #21 chromosome; The medical term is “Trisomy 21”
• Approximately 1 in 797 live births in BC is a child with Down syndrome

WHAT DOWN SYNDROME LOOKS LIKE

• Children with Down Syndrome have some physical, intellectual, and emotional developmental delays
• Children with Down Syndrome may also have other medical conditions
• Physical characteristics may include almond-shaped eyes, a single palmar crease on one, or  both hands, and small facial features
• Down syndrome is not related to race, religion or socio-economic status

GETTING TO KNOW INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Children with Down Syndrome actually share more similarities than differences with other children – they learn, laugh, play, and want friends.

Individuals with Down Syndrome benefit from loving parents, early medical and educational attention and positive public attitudes.

Children with Down Syndrome have a full complement of emotions and attitudes, are creative and imaginative in play and pranks, and grow up to live independent lives with varying degrees of support and accommodations needed.

On standard IQ tests, children with Down Syndrome most often score in the mild to moderate range of mental handicap. These tests do not measure many important areas of intelligence, and one will often be surprised by the memory, insight, creativity, and cleverness of the child with Down Syndrome.

Young people with Down Syndrome have dreams and the determination to reach their goals. They learn in regular classrooms in their neighbourhood schools with the children who will one day be their co-workers, neighbours, and adult friends. Young adults hold diverse and meaningful jobs, maintain their own households and make significant contributions to their communities.

Early intervention, through IDP worker and parents, benefit a child with Down Syndrome, as does speech and language therapy.

Academic intelligence is not the only measure of a person’s worth – qualities such as happiness, honesty, friendliness, determination and a free-spirited attitude to life help break through social and personal prejudices, opening doors to full membership in society.

THE NUMBERS