October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

5. October 2010 by Kelly.

October 1995; my wife Michele and I were still learning or ‘becoming aware’ of what Down syndrome was and is and what it meant to us and our sons. 15 years later and I can honestly tell you that we are still learning.  

For those looking for the medical or technical description of Down syndrome, you will not find it here; for those looking to become more aware of this disability through the eyes and life of a parent, you may have indeed come to the right place. 

My wife and I have identical twin boys, both born with Down syndrome, the odds of which are one in 80 million; they both also have been diagnosed with some Autism spectrum disorder markers, in our son’s case, Aspergers and severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). None of these diagnoses are fatal nor are they contagious.  

Aside from the physical characteristics, each of our sons is considered non-verbal, high functioning, and active teenage boys. The can read basic sentences, the can use the bathroom without assistance other than unbuttoning and re-buttoning their pants, they attend public schools and are included in regular class rooms with the other ‘typical’ students. They eat lunch with the other kids, go to school dances and activities and have every opportunity that their friends have as long as there is adult supervision for the sake of safety. 

The only things our sons do not do is complain; they don’t complain about having Down syndrome, or school or their teachers or the other kids at school, they don’t  tell their mom or I that they hate us, they always say please and thank you and they tell us they love us everyday. 

So if you know very little or nothing at all about Down syndrome, let me offer a line from one of my many favorite songs: Give a little bit, ‘see the man with the lonely eyes, oh take his hand, you’ll be surprised, give a little bit of your love to me, I’ll give a little bit of my life for you’. 

Down syndrome awareness, be aware that love and joy are within reach.

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