Down syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. In December 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day.
The estimated incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. Each year, approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome disorder. The quality of life of people with Down syndrome can be improved by meeting their health care needs, including regular check-ups with health professionals to monitor their mental and physical condition and to provide timely intervention be it physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, counselling or special education. Individuals with Down syndrome can achieve optimal quality of life through parental care and support, medical guidance, and community-based support systems such as inclusive education at all levels. This facilitates their participation in mainstream society and the fulfillment of their personal potential.
For World Down Syndrome Day 2022, we are asking:
What does inclusion mean?
So what can we do?
Think about what inclusion means
Think about your daily life; when you take part in activities like school, work, recreation or public life, alongside other people. Are we including persons with Down Syndrome?
Together we can empower people around the world and in our country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to advocate for full inclusion in society for people with Down syndrome and for everyone. Special mention to the parents, guardians, caretakers and teachers of persons with Down Syndrome.
The Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, The Family, Gender Affairs, Youth, Housing and Informal Settlements joins together with the School for Children with Special Needs, the Fair Hall Government School and the National Society of Persons with Disabilities among other organisations and invite all to “Rock Your Socks” by wearing mismatched socks as a symbolic show for those living with Down Syndrome. We solicit your support in participating in this activity. Share your pictures on Facebook and tag Specialneedskingstown with the hashtag #whorocksitbestchallenge