Ways to observe and celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Jody Coffey

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

While it is important to spread awareness about Down syndrome all year, October provides an opportunity for us all to come together to celebrate the lives and achievements of individuals with Down syndrome as well as bring additional awareness to the genetic condition.

Down syndrome occurs when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, leading to intellectual and developmental challenges. Down Syndrome Ireland estimates that there are approximately seven thousand people in Ireland with Down syndrome, and one baby with Down syndrome is born out of every 444 births.

Educating ourselves about Down syndrome, advocating for inclusion and understanding, and promoting employment opportunities are at the heart of why it’s so crucial to bring awareness to the condition.

If you are eager to support individuals with Down syndrome, doing your research on the genetic, medical, and developmental aspects of the condition is a powerful way to dispel incorrect information and misconceptions about it.

There is a wealth of information at our fingertips now that we have access to the internet, and sharing what you learn with friends, family, and within the community can have a significant impact on the world.

Down Syndrome Ireland hosts webinars on various topics for parents, educational professionals, and the wider community to stay informed and bring awareness to the condition across all ages. By sharing this knowledge, you are helping to promote a more informed and empathetic view towards the condition, as well as advocating for people with Down syndrome.

DSI has 25 branches nationwide. To get involved this October, or at any time throughout the year, consider getting in touch with your local branch of DSI as another way to help spread awareness, learn, support fund-raising, and gain understanding of Down syndrome.

Advocating for inclusive education is another reason why Down Syndrome Awareness Month is so important. By attending school board meetings, engaging with teachers and administrators, and participating in discussions about how to make education more inclusive and encouraging appropriate teaching methods and reassurances for children and students with Down syndrome, you are part of the support system for students with the condition.

Businesses can also do their part to acknowledge adults with Down syndrome by considering the abilities and talents of individuals with the condition when making hiring decisions, which in turn helps build independence and self-esteem for those with Down syndrome.

If you are at the helm of running a business or have any hiring influence, the creation of internship programmes or entry-level positions designed to cater to individuals with disabilities can help in this regard.

Donations can be another significant show of support. Down syndrome Ireland only receives 23% of state funding, so they rely on the generosity of people to facilitate members of the Down syndrome community to carry on their work. By donating what you can, you will make a real difference to the organisation and those they support.

Sharing personal stories is the most simple but powerful of ways to enact change, understand, and to humanise the experience of individuals with Down syndrome.

Social media can be a catalyst for this change and a way to show support during Down Syndrome Awareness. Posting about experiences, stories, challenges within the Down syndrome community, local and national events, and so on can motivate others to do the same, therefore creating a network of support and awareness.

This week, Grey’s Anatomy actress Caterina Scorsone shared an emotional and eye-opening post online about her daughter, who was born with Down syndrome, on her social media, highlighting the importance of this month and the beauty of knowing and loving someone with the condition.

“October is Down syndrome awareness month. I have less and less to say about loving someone with Down syndrome because the awe I feel at the privilege of knowing and loving my daughter steals my breath. If I had not been lucky enough to gain up close awareness of Down syndrome through being Pippa’s mom my life would be a faded sepia version of what it is now.

“There are hard days, but the hard days aren’t because of Down syndrome ever: they are only hard because our culture and society doesn’t do equity well. Her needs are particular. Not special. They are just hers. Our culture hasn’t quite learned how to love itself well enough to know that all of our needs are particular. That’s what makes this beautiful. Pippa is here.

“Pippa loves herself. She is busy living loud and bright. Her existence and witness is our opportunity to opt into love or opt out of it. We each get to decide how much of the spectrum of love we want to experience. She offered me a little extra and i am so deeply grateful to have been invited to know her.”

This prompted a huge response in the comment section that proves just how much the world has to learn about this condition, as well as how much people with Down syndrome can teach the world.

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A post shared by Caterina Scorsone (@caterinascorsone)

It also underscores the difference that showing support and spreading awareness about Down syndrome can have.

“This literally makes me want to cry. As a disabled person, I wish I heard this love and acceptance from the outside world growing up. Your daughter is lucky to have you, and I’m grateful you use your platform to spread love to this community. Thank you,” one wrote.

“I love that you said Down Syndrome isn’t what makes the days hard, it’s because society doesn’t get it!! Pippa is absolutely perfect and you are so lucky that she is yours!!” another user wrote.

“how lucky she is to be raised and loved by you! and so are we to have a soul with such perspective and wisdom to inspire our society. thank you for sharing the true meaning of love and what we should all aspire to live by. this was so beautiful and heartwarming. our world needs more of this,” a third added.

“So much love for this i was born with half mosaic Down syndrome so this means so much to me,” one shared.

Down Syndrome Ireland, which provides supports and services to people with Down syndrome, their families and the people that support them, can be contacted by phone at (01) 4266500 or by email info@downsyndrome.ie.