lightbox[wdsdeng]World Down Syndrome Day 2016

 

World Down Syndrome Day 2016

Monday 21 March 2016 marks the 11th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.

Down Syndrome International (DSI) encourages friends all over the world to choose their own activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in their lives and communities.

In 2016 the theme of World Down Syndrome Day is:
“My Friends, My Community” – The benefits of inclusive environments for today’s children and tomorrow’s adults’.

People with Down syndrome, on an equal basis with other people, must be able to enjoy full and equal rights, both as children and adults. This includes the opportunity to participate fully in their communities.

The reality for many is that prevailing negative attitudes result in low expectations, discrimination and exclusion, creating communities where children and adults with Down syndrome cannot integrate successfully with their peers.

But where children with Down syndrome and other disabilities are given opportunities to participate, all children benefit from this and environments of friendship, acceptance, respect for everyone and high expectations are created.
Not only this, but these environments prepare all today’s children for life as tomorrow’s adults, enabling adults with Down syndrome to live, work and participate, with confidence and individual autonomy, fully included in society alongside their friends and peers.

 

What Down Syndrome is?
Down syndrome is the most common genetic condition in the world. It was first described in 1866 and is named after John Langdon Down, the doctor who first identified the syndrome. The cause of Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, was discovered in 1959.

 

What causes Down Syndrome?
Down syndrome can be caused by one of three types of abnormal cell division involving chromosome 21.
The three genetic variations include:
• Trisomy 21– More than 90% of Down syndrome cases are caused by trisomy 21. An extra chromosome (chromosome 21) originates in the development of either the sperm or the egg. When the egg and the sperm unite to form the fertilized egg, three (rather than two) chromosomes 21 are present. As the cells divide the extra chromosome is repeated in every cell.
• Mosaic Trisomy 21 – This is a rare form (less than 2% of cases) of Down syndrome. While similar to simple trisomy 21, the difference is that the extra chromosome 21 is present in some, but not all cells, of the individual. This type of Down syndrome is caused by abnormal cell division after fertilization. The name comes from a random order of normal and abnormal cells (a mosaic). In cellular mosaicism, the mixture can be seen in different cells of the same type; while with tissue mosaicism, one set of cells may have normal chromosomes and another type may have trisomy 21.
• Translocation Trisomy 21 – Sometimes (in 3-4% of cases) part of chromosome 21 becomes attached (translocated) to another chromosome (usually the 13th, 14th or 15th chromosome) before or at conception.