3/21 - World Down Syndrome Awareness Day

Today is World Down Syndrome Day (3/21 because of 3 copies of the 21st chromosome). In honor of the day, I’m going to post some links here to share more info with my friends and family who aren’t in the Down syndrome blogosphere (yes, Michelle, I think it is a word). :-) Those of you in the DS community have probably seen/read most of these.

Here’s a great article, An Ambassador Against Fear, written by an author, Beverly Beckham, in Boston.

I love this and I’m thinking of posting it as a permanent poem on the right side of my blog:

Down Syndrome Creed
My face may be different, but my feelings the same.
I laugh and I cry and take pride in my gains.
I was sent here among you to teach and to love
as God in the heavens looks down from above.
To Him I'm no different, His love knows no bounds;
It's those here among you, in cities and towns
that judge me by standards that man has imparted,
but this family I've chosen will help me get started.
For I'm one of the children, so special so few,
that came here to learn the same lessons as you:
That love is acceptance, it must come from the heart;
we all have the same purpose, though not the same start.
The Lord gave me life to live and embrace,
and I'll do it as you do, but at my own pace.
~ Unknown

The following are two speeches delivered by Patricia Bauer, a news columnist with a child who has DS.
Stand Tall
Tell Them It’s Not So Bad


See below for an update on what’s going on with us. I wrote a long post yesterday.