There are a lot of different mantras or phrases that come along with the Down syndrome community: "the lucky few," "downright perfect," etc. One of these phrases is "more alike than different."
When Alice was born and someone told me that she will be "more alike than different" and said that she would walk, talk, go to school, etc., it did give me a lot of relief. I was happy that she wouldn't be an outcast.
Down syndrome definitely has a certain stigma. There are lots of misconceptions surrounding it. Countless myths. That's why so many people are so scared of it. In that spirit, I want to go through the top five myths about Down syndrome and correct them. You likely won't find these answers on Google or in textbooks or at doctors' offices. But I spend 99% of my life with an adorable little girl with Down syndrome, and this is the reality.
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Did you know that Down syndrome is named after a British doctor named Dr. Down? Or that the earliest known case of Down syndrome traces back to the year 500? Or that today is the absolute best time to have a child with Down syndrome? Keep reading to learn a comprehensive account of the history of Down syndrome -- from the year 500 to the present day.
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When we had Alice, all of the doctors in the hospital were incredibly negative with us. They told us that she had Down syndrome in a very depressing way. They did not congratulate us. They told us they were sorry. They acted like it was the end of the world for us. I would have given anything in that moment for one sliver of hope... but the doctors didn't give it.
As I've met and talked to so many other moms of kids with Down syndrome, I realize that 99% of them had the same experience. This is wrong, and it needs to stop.
Someone recently told me that the head soccer coach at my alma mater -- Xavier University in Cincinnati -- has a little girl with Down syndrome too! I had no idea.
The Xavier soccer coach's name is Andy Fleming. He and his wife Amy have four children, and the second -- a little girl named Devin -- has Down syndrome. Since Devin was born, Andy and Amy have hosted one soccer game per year called "Devin's Game." Devin gets to go out on the field at this annual game, kick the ball around and show people the beauty (and cuteness) of Down syndrome.
“Decades ago, people with Down syndrome were institutionalized at birth. Doctors believed that people with Down syndrome "could not learn, could not add value to the world and could not be employed."
Obviously, this is extremely untrue. Thanks to full inclusion into mainstream schools, people with Down syndrome are learning right alongside their peers -- and doing great. Thanks to the generally positive nature and bright light of people with Down syndrome, they are adding exceptional value to the world. And, thanks to employers that recognize that people with Down syndrome are not only employable but also valuable assets to a workplace, many businesses have opened their doors to employ countless people with Down syndrome.”
If your child has health problems due to Down syndrome (heart conditions, thyroid issues, etc.), there are lots of financial aid options available to help you pay for anything associated with these health problems. There are a few steps you have to take to get approved for one of these options.
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As soon as I heard the beginning of Jan’s story, I needed to know the rest. I was fascinated by the idea that she had been on this journey for so long—and especially that she chose to take her son with Down syndrome home in a time when the vast majority of kids born with Down syndrome were taken away shortly after birth and put into institutions.
When I met Jan, I think I asked her about a million questions. I wanted to know all about her journey with her son—how it was to raise him, what he’s like now and what advice she had for me as I started on my own journey raising a child with Down syndrome.
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