Sarah Ford | October 21, 2014
How the Down Syndrome Community Sugarcoats Difficult Realities About the Condition
By David Perry
Thirty years ago, Ronald Reagan declared October Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Ever since, too many efforts at awareness have relied on pictures of people with Down syndrome being cute, accompanied by constant, upbeat assertions that they and their families are all very happy.
Throughout October, adorable photos of people with Down syndrome and heartwarming, inspirational stories will stream across the Internet, all in the name of awareness. Shirts declare that extra chromosomes make you a hero. Other slogans and memes praise parents of children with Down syndrome. One T-shirt proclaims, “No frowns, just Downs!”
In fact, sometimes my son, a 7-year-old with Down syndrome, frowns. So do his parents. In the Down syndrome community, we have worked so hard to promote the positives that too frequently we leave no space to discuss the struggles.
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Explore More Articles
Emergency Assistance Fund Compliance: How to Stay IRS-Compliant While Maximizing Employee Impact
Why Emergency Assistance Funds Matter More Than Ever Financial insecurity remains a critical challenge for today’s workforce. Approximately 37% of Americans cannot afford an unexpected…
Open Position – Director of Marketing
Position: Director of Marketing Department: Business Development Reporting Structure: VP, Business Development Exemption Status: Exempt Location: Remote Overview of the Role: Reporting to, and partnering with, the VP,…
Celebrating Juneteenth and Continuing to Work in Solidarity for Racial Justice, Equality, and Equity
June 19 — also known as Juneteenth, or the nation’s second Independence Day — commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, and therefore the nation,…
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.
