Today is World Down’s Syndrome Day, a day to raise awareness about Down’s Syndrome and to help dispel some of the myths around it. Myths that in many places lead to children being abandoned and sometimes institutionalised.
Until recently even in so-called Western countries, and today still in many places do people have the impression that every child with Down’s syndrome is a worst-case scenario, with even doctors advising parents not to keep the child, because it is no use. This is a major misconception.
Intellectual disability is the best known of the signs of Down’s syndrome, but in many cases, it is actually the least important problem of all. In fact, people with Down’s syndrome can have an IQ of up to 85, while only 69 and below is considered an intellectual disability. So, while some people with Down’s syndrome are severely intellectually disabled and need lifelong care in every way, many of them are able to learn to live independently, and they may do well in school and lead a productive life.
Aside from possible intellectual disability, there are also physical aspects that can cause difficulties, such as low muscle tone, and hypermobility of the joints. And there is a greater chance of a variety of medical issues, such as poor eyesight, loss of hearing, obesity, heart conditions, bowel problems, thyroid problems, seizure disorders and in later life a greater chance of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. When seen in a row like this, these medical issues do seem very daunting and hopeless, but ‘a greater chance of’ is not the same as saying the child will have all these problems.
A child with Down’s syndrome may have one or more of these problems, and if they do, it can be in varying degree of seriousness. But there are also children with Down’s syndrome who have none of the medical complications. This is what makes it so important to raise awareness about the condition. People need to understand that each child with Down’s syndrome needs to be assessed individually to find out what kind of special needs they have and how they can best be supported in them.
The most important thing to remember is that with or without intellectual disability and with or without other medical problems or disabilities, these are all children. In the end they have the same needs, wishes and dreams as other children. Their development may be a little slower, but they want to be held, to be comforted, to be sung to, to be encouraged and praised, to be heard, to be allowed to play and explore and learn and to be valued and respected for who they are.
We need to love and respect people with Down’s syndrome, as members of our community. And we need to educate people on their potential and value. Particularly the people who tell parents to give up their children (or abort a pregnancy) because of Down’s syndrome; the people who say that children with Down’s syndrome cannot be placed in foster families and cannot be adopted. They can and they are.
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