At this point, you might be wondering - "but, what is Down Syndrome and what are we celebrating"?
You probably have already seen people - both kids and adults - with Down Syndrome.
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They share certain physical characteristics - flatter noses, almond shaped eyes, etc. - that make them recognizable. Many people with Down Syndrome also experience learning difficulties and may have medical problems such as heart defects. These similarities are caused by chromosomes.
According to kidshealth.org:
Chromosomes are "thread-like structures within each cell and are made up of genes. Genes provide the information that determines everything about people, from hair color to whether they are girls or boys. Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46. But a baby with Down Syndrome has an extra chromosome (47 instead of 46). This extra genetic material causes problems with the way their bodies develop".
Therefore, Down Syndrome is not a disease that you can catch, but rather a condition that people are born with. While people with DS may share some physical characteristics with each other, they don't all look alike and more closely resemble their parents - just like you do! The problems that many people with DS face are not insurmountable and with help from adults at an early age they can lead healthy, successful lives.
This is where you can play a part. In the Woodbury community, here at our school, and maybe even in your own family there are people with Down Syndrome.
To celebrate these people and all the wonderful things about them that are unique and special, Evergreen Ave School will celebrate World Down Syndrome Day tomorrow March 20 (because March 21 is on Saturday!). We are asking all students to wear their loudest, craziest, and most wild socks to school. Can't decide on which pair to wear?...don't choose, wear both! We want you to wear your kooky socks to help advocate for the individual rights, inclusion, and respect for people with DS.
The classroom with the highest percentage of wacky socks will win a soft pretzel party!
I can't wait to see how you rock your socks tomorrow! Please sound off below in the comment section with any questions about Down Syndrome or the people with this condition that you may have; I'd be happy to try and answer them for you.
At first I did not know what down syndrome was but now I know I promise to wear my craziest socks to show that everyone matters. Thanks for the blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you for teaching me about Down Syndrome I didn't know what it was until we read your blog today. I'm going to wear my crazy socks tomorrow, because I understand what it's like to be treated different.
ReplyDeleteXavier - you always have insightful responses. I love the amount of effort you put in thinking about these topics!
DeleteI am going to try and wear crazy socks tomorrow for Rock your socks day.
ReplyDeleteBefore today I did not know much about Down Syndrome.I know a boy that goes to the park and he has Down syndrome. To make him feel better I play with him.I will wear crazy socks tomorrow for Rock your socks day.
ReplyDeleteAmaya - that is a really nice act of kindness; I am proud of you and your character!
DeleteI look forward to wearing crazy socks for Down Syndrome Day so we can make all the kids and adults feel important.
ReplyDeleteAnything we can do to help people feel important is worthwhile
DeleteI want everybody to feel important in this school so I will wear my crazy socks tomorrow .
ReplyDeleteI am going to try to wear my crazy socks to tomorrow for rock your socks day, to support all people with Down Syndrome.
ReplyDeleteI will wear my crazy socks tomorrow to show that kids with down syndrome are important.
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DeleteI like your blog because some of my cousins and other family members in my family have DS. Do you know someone with DS?
ReplyDeleteYes, I actually know a few people with DS
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DeleteWhen I was 5. I had a friend that had Down Syndrome. His name was Jacob. I WILL WHERE CRAZY SOCKS TOMORROW !
ReplyDeleteConnor - maybe you can find Jacob again and rekindle your friendship?
DeleteHey Dr.V I really loved your blog. My aunt actually has a friend that has down syndrome. I will be sure to wear crazy socks tomorrow on rock your socks day to show that kids with down syndrome are important just like my aunts friend that has down syndrome.
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing my socks tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI will find and wear some crazy socks tomorrow to show everyone that kids with down syndrome are really and always important.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your blog! The question I have is what do socks have to do with Down Syndrome? Oh yeah, of course I will wear my wildest socks.
ReplyDeleteAlani - good question. It really is just a way to inspire somebody to ask you: "hey, why are you wearing crazy socks?" You can then say, "I am wearing these socks to advocate for the rights, inclusion, and respect for people with Down Syndrome!"
DeleteI will find and wear some crazy socks tomorrow to show everyone that kids with down syndrome are really and always important.
ReplyDeletecool
DeleteI liked your blog. I did not know what that was, but now I do. To support that, I will wear my crazy socks tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your story, and the kids in the pictures were very cute! I am excited to see if my class wins the pretzel party, too! I'm gonna try to wear my craziest wildest epic socks tomorrow.. accept I don't have any.. only 2 matching ones but I want socks that DON'T match. So I'm gonna ask my mom to buy me some real wild socks for tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteThere is no need to go out and buy new socks, just put on a couple pairs of mismatched socks to make them look crazy...be creative!
DeleteI will wear my CRAZY SOCKS for the kids who have Down Syndrome because they are special to me.
ReplyDeleteI like how thoughtful you are and want to celebrate the kids that have down syndrome. They can be happy so they don't think they don't have any friends. I will support the kids! I will try my best to wear the crazy socks.
ReplyDeleteI will wear my crazy socks tomorrow to show we are down with Down Syndrome. Do you think there is something we can we do to help?
ReplyDeleteLoved when you said we need to "show we are down with Down Syndrome"!
DeleteThat's really sad for kids, I'm going to wear the craziest and the wildest socks for the people tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI like your blog because I know somebody who has down syndrome and it really expired me to wear socks tomorrow and I will talk to my friend that has down syndrome
ReplyDeleteWho is that person andrew/stealing my name
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ReplyDeleteI will also wear my craziest and wildest socks tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we have to wear socks? Do it make people not have Down-syndrome? Or is there a day called Down-syndrome?
ReplyDeleteAailyah - Wearing socks is just a way to inspire somebody to ask you: "hey, why are you wearing crazy socks?" You can then say, "I am wearing these socks to advocate for the rights, inclusion, and respect for people with Down Syndrome!" People who are born with Down Syndrome will always have DS.
DeleteI'm very glad that people with DS can still lead successful lives! I am going to rock some socks tomorrow! I think I might know a few people at my church who have Down Syndrome. I have a question:Do people with DS have to have parents who have it too?Or can it just happen to anyone?Can a child with DS have only one parent who also has DS? I'm very curious!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is one kind thing
DeleteRory - great questions...people who have DS do not have to have parents who also have DS. In fact, there could be no one in either parent's family who has DS and they could still have a child with DS. On the flip side, people who have DS and have a child of their own are more likely to have kids who have DS. Hope this helps clarify!
DeleteMy parents had a friend that died from this
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear that Michael. I am sure your parents enjoyed the friendship very much.
DeleteThat is one wonderful thing to do for kids with DS .I feel so so so sad for if could help them I would.Stuff like this makes me cry.Do you know a person like this?
ReplyDeleteJa'Niya - there is no reason to cry...people with DS are just normal people like you or I...just treat them like you would any other friend!
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ReplyDeleteHow do people get down syndrome?? Is there a cure or are people still trying to get a cure?
ReplyDeleteDS is a condition some people are simply born with. There is no cure nor should there be. Just like some people are tall, short, fast, slow...some people have DS.
DeleteOh My Gosh! I feel so sad for them. Some people can die from this. I feel sad I cry about people like this I just cant help it I have to cry. My big sister died when she was little she did not die from DS. I seen a lot of people like this it makes me so very sad.
ReplyDeleteI loved you blog. It sad to hear about people with DS. I promise that I will wear one of my most craziest sock I'v got because I will do anything to celebrate people with Down Syndrome.
ReplyDeleteHow do people get down syndrome? and how would it be to have down symdrome??
ReplyDeleteI don't know any one but do your family members have it like brother,cousin,mom,dad I will love to know and I and my family members don't have it. Please comment back.Thanks (Reply)
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ReplyDeleteI'm sad for the people with Down Syndrome and I will help to make them included as we are! :D
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll look forward to wear mismatch socks!!!
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ReplyDeleteYour blog was very nice. Also I'm going to rock my socks today.
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading your blog. I am wearing my crazy socks Detroit Red Wings socks right now because of kids/adults with DS.
ReplyDeletei like your blog im wearing nike socks for crazy sock day
DeleteI feel bad about people with Down Syndrome, and I think they should have as much respect as we do. I also think that the crazy socks are a great way to raise awareness for people with Down Syndrome.
ReplyDeletesorry, I accidentally published this comment anonymous...
DeleteI really enjoyed your blog. Can Down syndrome kill you?
DeleteIn Florida I had a classmate named Joshua.We he told us he had down syndrome I tried him special.When I left florida to come to jersey I encouraged my other classmates to make him fell special.Make him special.
ReplyDeleteI liked your blog, and i'm rocking my Jordan socks
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