March 21 is the “World Down Syndrome Day”, more properly called “Trisomy 21”, a chromosomal condition caused by a third copy (or a part thereof) of chromosome 21. In this regard, a lexical clarification should be made immediately: we do not say people “carriers of” Down syndrome , since this is an intrinsic characteristic, just as the expression people “affected by” Down syndrome should be avoided, because it refers to medicalization and therefore suggests a disease, which it is not because it is a genetic condition.
But returning to March 21, this appointment was strongly supported by Down Syndrome International and sanctioned by a UN resolution, with the aim of spreading one always increased awareness of this syndrome, so that we can nurture a culture of diversity and promote the inclusion of Down people.
Too many, in fact, are still today clichés, stereotypes and prejudices about them, going to affect not only social inclusion in a broad and generic sense, but specifically also the school and work sphere: yes, work, and here we are already starting to break the first problematic brick, to be undermined, given that in Italy the 60 % of people with Down syndrome are adults, yet they are not always treated by such.
This may seem obvious but it is not at all, reflected in the attitude that many people have towards them every day: in 1979 the life expectancy of a child with Down syndrome was 33 years, while today it has fortunately risen to 62. This means that if more than forty years ago almost all people with this syndrome were associated with their parents, practically omnipresent to help them manage their days, today people with Down syndrome have gained greater autonomy, compatibly with personal difficulties of course.
But what are the most common stereotypes that still make it necessary to have a World Day in order to learn more about this syndrome, fighting against the most common prejudices? One thing is certain: generalizing is always wrong!
“People with Down syndrome have a mental disability”
Mental and intellectual disabilities are often considered the same thing, but it is necessary to differentiate them since the mental one refers to a psychological impairment, which therefore does not concern people with Down syndrome who have an intellectual disability.
“There are mild and severe forms of Down Syndrome”
The degree of mental retardation does not depend on the type of trisomy, although there is a rarer form (called mosaicism) in which the delay can be very mild. Personal difficulties therefore vary from situation to situation in a diversified way, without a rule, as well as the intellectual abilities of each of us.
“They are not aware of their syndrome”
It is not true affection: a child with Down syndrome is able to perceive from an early age his own diversity from his peers, whether they are school friends or brothers and sisters with whom they grow up. His relationship with his disability will be all the more serene the more his parents are able to face the problems associated with the syndrome with him, focusing on his abilities rather than thinking about the limits, helping him to acquire a sense of self-esteem and trust.
“They have elderly parents”
According to statistics, 75% of babies with Down syndrome currently have parents under 35, so no.
“They will always have to live with their parents and then with their siblings”
A person with Down syndrome wishes since his adolescence to have alternative relationships to those exclusively family, as it should be. It is necessary to start building as soon as possible, as far as possible, solutions for an adult life that is relatively autonomous and detached from the family, in full respect of the person and of the parents themselves who also deserve their own independence. Certainly not an easy job but necessary and possible.
“They go to school mainly to learn how to socialize”
As sociable as they are, school for them is not a “parking lot” to stay in for lack of anything else! People with Down syndrome learn in the vast majority of cases to read, write and perform basic mathematics, so they can cultivate interests as varied as any other person thanks to what they learn in school.
“They are unable to have friendships or love”
The affection of people with Down syndrome is intelligent and selective. Attending compulsory school certainly favors the establishment and consolidation of friendships, just as an adequate social life can lead to very common love relationships thanks also to the important work of families, where socialization without prejudice is encouraged and fears.
“They are eternal asexual children”
This also leads to an infantilization of people with Down syndrome, in particular of adolescents who certainly do not differ from others as regards puberty, impulses and stimuli included: the desires and fantasies are exactly the same as their peers and it is fair and respectful to consider them as such, without diminishing them!
“They are all affectionate and good”
People are people, and therefore unique and with a personality not the same as that of others. The only features in common are having an extra chromosome, a mental deficit and some facial features. Recognizing their uniqueness (as we would do with any other so-called “able-bodied” person) is the first step to real inclusion. Everything else depends on the character, the family environment in which one grew up and the social activities carried out.
“They are always happy, they are an inspiration,” special “people”
Those with Down syndrome express their emotions very explicitly, it is true, but they too can have bad days. Furthermore, exploiting people with disabilities as a source of personal motivation is never positive, because it underlies a veiled pitying and compassionate discrimination since in able-bodied people we would not see the same “stimulus” without there being a valid reason. Therefore, if we want to treat disability in a natural way, we must be objective and recognize the merits only when they really exist: arguing that a disabled person is “an example” regardless, just because he faces his personal situation with greater difficulty, is wrong and can being seen as a reassuring, unconscious and implicit way to feel luckier than them.
“A person with Down syndrome cannot work”
This is also false, most people with Down syndrome are able to work if they are put in a position to do so, with the right training and support. Each person with Down syndrome is unique, as we must not stop repeating, so they have specific interests and skills and there is no more suitable job than others (there are more and more examples of those who, thanks to a targeted insertion, can play at work, tasks that also involve the use of complex machinery, the resolution of new problems with creativity and the assumption of responsibility, reaching much higher skills than expected).
The first step is, as with everyone, to find out what their attitudes are and what you want to do, and then find a job that suits that person so that they can do their job successfully and satisfactorily, also taking into account their own limits as well as its fundamental resources. Research, in this sense, shows that workers with Down syndrome carry quality to the working environment and have a positive impact on those around them: on the other hand, as is the case for all of us, when a person with Down syndrome has a job that they like, has been properly trained and receives the right support , will do their job well and others will also benefit.
“But still people with Down syndrome are different from others”
Although this is genetically true, and despite the fact that having a disability comes with objective limitations, it does not mean that people with disabilities do not have a social life, cannot study, work, go out and have fun, lead a life like everyone else. considered “able-bodied”. This is why they must be treated as equals and not as “poor things” to be pitied, “special” beings to be seen with some form of perennial detachment. For people with Down syndrome, in this, we must not be an exception, which is why the day of March 21 is important, to build a more welcoming world for them too.

Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.