The primary goal of understanding Down syndrome is to celebrate the diversity of life and promote acceptance of families and individuals with the condition. Lobbyists ensure that adults with Down syndrome have equal opportunity to access housing, education, and work.
Organizations, such as the National Down Syndrome Society, have helped people with Down syndrome fight for their legal rights and lobby for better educational programs. At its core, Down syndrome awareness is about enabling everyone to reach their full potential, despite a disability.
The mission of the National Down Syndrome Society is “to benefit people with this disability and their families through national leadership in education, research, and advocacy.” They feel that everyone has the right to reach their potential and that people with such disabilities should have the opportunity to make decisions that affect their lives.
Part of Down syndrome awareness is driving better educational programs to help children with Down syndrome achieve their goals. Through the organization, parents can collect valuable resources and connect with local support groups. Children with Down syndrome can connect with local programs sponsored in part by the NDSS, where they can foster a love of art, music, or sports and gain the tools necessary to live a relatively independent life.
In addition to Chris Burke of “Life Goes On” and “Touched by an Angel,” there are many other notable people with this disability who are ambassadors of Down syndrome awareness and inspiration to children, adults and families with Down’s Syndrome. Actors include: Stephane Ginnsz (Duo), Max Lewis (Notes on a Scandal), Edward Barbanell (The Ringer) and award-winner Paula Sage (AfterLife, BBC Scotland’s soap opera River City).
Additionally, Joey Moss works as a wardrobe assistant for the Edmonton Oilers, Judith Scott works as an artist, Miguel Tomasin is the singer of the Argentine rock band “Reynols” and Karen Gaffney works as a swimmer and motivational speaker. There are also people with this disability who are children of famous people, such as Isabella Pujols, the adopted daughter of the St. Louis Cardinal first baseman, or Johnny Stallings, son of former University of Alabama football coach Gene Stallings.
Down Syndrome Awareness has brought great medical advances in just thirty short years. Every day, doctors are learning more and more about how the condition works genetically, as therapists learn better techniques for teaching the developmentally disabled. Perhaps one day there will be a prenatal treatment to eliminate the extra genetic material on chromosome 21, or perhaps children and adults with Down syndrome will be more valued by society, thanks to organizations, inclusion methods and awareness campaigns.