Every year on 21st March, World Down Syndrome Day is observed to create awareness about Down Syndrome. This is because March is the third month of the year and people with Down Syndrome have three of the 21st chromosome.

On Monday 20th March, we (Elea and Ashleigh) presented a chapel in which we discussed what Downs Syndrome is, our relationship to Down Syndrome and why World Down Syndrome Day is so important to us. For us, Elea's brother, Ru, and Ashleigh's younger sister, Josie, both have Down Syndrome.

During the chapel we taught everyone some simple words in Makaton, including ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘yes’, ‘no’, and our favourites, ‘cake’ and ‘more’. We then got everyone to join in with a Makaton singalong to Fight Song, which everyone did brilliantly.

We then went on to discuss this year’s theme for World Down Syndrome Day - ‘With us, not for us’. This message is key to a human rights-based approach to disability.  The charity DSi (who are behind this year’s theme) are committed to moving on from the outdated charity model of disability, where people with disability were treated as objects of charity, deserving pity, and relying on others for support. Instead, their approach is to view people with disabilities as having the right to be treated fairly and have the same opportunities as everyone else, working with others to improve their lives. But sadly, people with Down Syndrome often have poor or controlling support meaning that their supporters do things for them, not with them. This is why this phrase is key to spread the message that people with Down Syndrome deserve the freedom to make their own decisions with support instead of those around them making their decisions for them.  

On the actual day, Tuesday 21st March, everyone was invited to wear 'funky home clothes' to celebrate our differences. Thank you to everyone who dressed up; we saw some great outfits, especially from the LVI!  The funds raised from this day were donated to Down Syndrome London. Down South London is a charity which helps children with Downs Syndrome from birth until the age of six; one of which was Elea’s brother. They provide free help and services for the child and their family, which is not free under the NHS. 

To learn more about Down Syndrome and the theme ‘With us not for us’, please feel free to visit DSi’s website https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/

Elea and Ashleigh, LVI