Hooray! It's Down Syndrome Awareness Month!- by Julia McEllen

 The month of October in 2020 is an exciting time of year, as it is the month that celebrates and brings awareness to Down Syndrome! For those of you who don't know, Down Syndrome is a genetic condition that causes someone to be born with an extra chromosome. It creates certain changes in physical appearance and some developmental delays. Although many people have heard the term Down Syndrome or perhaps know somebody with the condition, there are still lots of people who don't have the same knowledge and are less inclusive to these people. That is why Down Syndrom Awareness month was created to bring awareness to this genetic condition and help to advocate for the stop of excluding people with Down Syndrome from society. 

Possibly one of the best ways to bring awareness to Down Syndrome is to hear the story of someone living with it. I am here to tell you the story of Henry Sweeney and his family. Henry Sweeney is a six-year-old boy living in Nebraska with his parents and two younger brothers. According to the article "Lincoln family shares story of son living with Down Syndrome" featured on 1011 Now by Kamri Sylve, Henry is full of life and "soaks up everything about being in first grade". Whether it is dancing to music or playing sports, Henry is always a happy-go-lucky kid, similar to that of many kids his age. 

Now, by the sound of it, Henry doesn't seem different from other kids his age. So why is there such a stigma in society about people living with Down Syndrome? I think it all comes down to unfamiliarity. Usually when people are unfamiliar with something they get scared or confused and tend to become judgy or mean about that particular subject. But, this is where the need for awareness comes in. Henry's parents said they took a long time to come to terms with the fact that Henry was not going to be a "normal kid". They didn't want to accept the fact that he was going to look different or "require a little more patience and learns differently". Even though they went through this process of denial because they were scared of the unknowns, Henry's parents grew to love the boy he grew up to be, the more they got to know him and learn about him. They said they "found comfort in receiving help from The Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska" and just needed time to become familiar and educated about the whole situation and Henry's needs. 

Some people in society are quick to judge those who look different or have certain needs, but that creates a toxic and exclusive environment. Down Syndrome Awareness month was created to help these exclusive people become more familiar with the condition and the people who have it, so they can go through the same process Henry's parents did, and learn to love and accept those who are different. In light of this month, Henry's parents wanted to let people know that it is okay to ask questions about people with Down Syndrome if they are asked nicely and respectfully. Becoming more aware of this condition is the only way we are going to create a more friendly and inclusive environment for all kids who are different or have special needs. 

Overall, it is important this time of the year to be reminded of those living with Down Syndrome and the happiness they bring to our world. Just because someone is different doesn't mean they are lesser than others, and that is the message people need to hear. Awareness hopefully leads to kindness. And kindness, more than not, leads to inclusion. 

https://www.1011now.com/2020/09/30/lincoln-family-shares-story-of-son-living-with-down-syndrome/