“It’s not about celebrating disabilities, it’s about celebrating abilities,” ndss.org.
You might be wondering, “What exactly is Down Syndrome?” According to the National Down Syndrome Society(NDSS), our genes carry codes that are responsible for our traits, and are grouped together called chromosomes. Most of the time, the nucleus of a cell will contain 23 pairs of chromosomes; half are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when a person has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.
This alters the course of human development and causes Down syndrome. Some common physical traits of DS include low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm. Every person with DS is unique and might have these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.
One in every 691 babies in the U.S. is born with Down syndrome; which makes this the most common genetic condition. To learn more and help spread awareness visit ndss.org and share this article with your friends and family!