21/03/2022
Happy world Down Syndrome day 2022 to all our adorable individuals living with Down syndrome!
Theme: Inclusion Means
Down syndrome is a disorder that occurs when there is duplication of the 21st chromosome ie the extra chromosome is attached to the 21st chromosome.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder, it is not contagious, you do not contract it by being around individuals with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome is named after a British Physician John Langdon Down who described the syndrome in 1866; he differentiated the condition from mental disability, although some aspects of the conditions were earlier described by French Psychiatrist Jean-Etienne Dominique Esquirol in 1838 and a French Physician Edouard Seguin in 1844.
The genetic cause of Down syndrome was discovered in 1959.
Did you know;
In 1990 - French association of French Research on Trisomy 21 (AFRT) was founded in order to support research for Down syndrome,
2005 - this marks not only the 1st meeting held by AFRT but also the year that March 21st was recognized as a symbolic day to represent Down syndrome,
2007 - the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges March 21st as world Down syndrome day,
2011 - the United Nations (UN) supports WHO’s acknowledgment of March 21st and also recognizes this date as world Down syndrome day,
2012 - this is the first year that world Down syndrome day is to be celebrated annually.
Related Research & Statistics
• Down syndrome affects approximately 400,000 families in the USA alone,
• 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome every year.
Down syndrome is celebrated every year to create and promote awareness to educate the public on what Down syndrome is and how to encourage individuals with Down syndrome to participate in daily activities to enable them live a full life and play vital roles their communities to promote their social inclusion.
The celebration also highlights the positive difference individuals with Down syndrome make in their and give them the well deserved recognition as their accomplishment and contributions are often overlooked.
There are 3 types of Down syndrome;
• Trisomy 21 (non disjunction) this is the most common form of Down syndrome and it accounts for 95% of cases of Down syndrome,
• Mosaicism this is the least common form of Down syndrome and it accounts for 1% of cases of Down syndrome,
• Translocation accounts for 4% of cases of Down syndrome.
Some popular individuals with Down syndrome are;
• Chris Burke - an international popular actor / folk singer,
• Jamie Brewer - an international actress.
Access to quality education for individuals with Down syndrome along side their neurotypical peers is one way of promoting their inclusion.
Credit: CMDSS, National Today
