Down syndrome has been observed in all races for thousands of years. Sadly, many infants with disabilities were either killed or abandoned in ancient times. However, quite a few historical pieces of art are believed to portray people an even angels with Down syndrome, including South American pottery dating back the 5th century AD as well as some Renaissance paintings. Down syndrome was first characterised as a separate form of mental disability in 1862 by English physician John Langdon Down. It was almost a hundred years later, however, that its cause, the triplication of the 21st chromosome, was discovered by Jérôme Lejeune. In the 19th and 20th centuries, many individuals with Down syndrome were institutionalised, few of the associated medical problems were treated, and most died in infancy or early adult life. The eugenics movement, which is usually thought to have been exclusive to Nazi Germany but which was in fact active in many different parts of the world, began programs of forced sterilisation of individuals with Down syndrome and comparable degrees of disability in the first half of the 20th century. After the Second World War, many advocacy groups for Down syndrome formed and began fighting for the inclusion of people with Down syndrome into the general school system and for a greater understanding of the condition among the general population, as well as groups providing support for families with children with Down syndrome. The first World Down Syndrome Day was held on March 21st 2006. The day and month of the day were not coincidental, but were chosen specifically to correspond with 21 and trisomy.
I’ve only known a couple of people with Downs Syndrome and to be honest if more people in the world had the same personalities it would be a kinder and happier place. Though a bit more stubborn at times !
It is good see a more inclusive and accepting face in respect of Down Syndrome even the soaps now have cast members with Downs Syndrome
One of my friend’s oldest son has Down syndrome. He’s a lovely lad, and a joy to be around (most of the time. He gets a bit grumpy like the rest of us!) It’s not been an easy 20 years for my friend, her husband, and their other son though ; I know they wouldn’t change Fergus for the world, but the lifestyle they all have is vastly different from how they envisaged it when they first knew she was pregnant. Fergus has gone through mainstream school to GCSE level, but they’ve had to fight all the way for everything, from help with lessons to being allowed to wear a polo shirt and elastic tie rather than the ‘official’ school uniform, and everything else in between. Things are improving in the way we treat disability in this country, but there’s a way to go. Gus’s smile would light up the world though, so it is very worth it
