World Down Syndrome Day – March 21

On March 21, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by showcasing the abilities, contributions, and experiences of people with Down syndrome. It also aims to educate, raise public awareness and advocate for acceptance and inclusion.

Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always existed and is universal across racial, gender, and socio-economic lines. One in every 781 babies born in Canada has Down syndrome.

The goal is to make the world a more inclusive place for individuals with Down syndrome, and we can start by using appropriate language when referring to any group of people. Correct terminology helps to reduce the chances of prejudice, misconceptions, and stereotypes. The Canadian Down Syndrome Society has a helpful guide for talking about Down Syndrome.

Client Story:

Meet 5-year-old Clara! She enjoys listening to music, working with puzzles, building things and is a skilled reader. Clara also has Down Syndrome, but her diagnosis does not define her. In fact, with extra care and understanding, she will show you how smart and determined she can be!

Depending on the task, she can do and accomplish many things quite well and independently. She requires help in some areas, but given the time to work with her, “Clara can do great things in her own way, on her own time,” says Clara’s mom, Tanya.

Clara accesses Grandview Kids services such as Speech-Language Pathology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Work support. She has been working on improving her social skills and communication skills. Clara and Tanya’s Grandview Kids experience has been “absolutely positive all around,” and “Grandview Kids is a great place to start to figure out the journey.”

They made lots of connections with different services and teams that helped Clara move forward. Tanya knows that she can approach Grandview Kids and say, “This is where we’re at, and I need the help, and the help is always there.” This is why she “wholeheartedly and will always be a champion for Grandview Kids.”