I am a child with Down's syndrome
An extra chromosome is an accident. Children with Down's syndrome can be born in the families of doctors, teachers, salespeople and even astronauts.
Children with Down's syndrome appear in different families. They can be in young parents and not so young. In those who want and love children. My parents were waiting for me. Although when they found out about my syndrome, they were scared. All parents hope that there is no any syndrome. Geneticists take a blood test and check it. My syndrome was confirmed. It's not as scary as it sounds.
Previously, my syndrome was considered a disease and they tried to treat it. But then it turned out that it was a matter of genetics, and this cannot yet been corrected. The word "syndrome" means that I have a special set of signs and differences.
Down's syndrome is not a disease. It is a set of signals and differences.
Let me tell you about these signs and differences. Then it will be easier for us to understand each other.
You've probably already noticed the slanted eyes and flattened nose. Also, my arms and legs are a little shorter than of other people. And the mouth may be slightly open. Not because I'm too surprised or stupid, but because I have a slightly smaller mouth and a slightly larger tongue. It's also harder for me to breathe through my nose. Even if you feel uncomfortable, don't focus on it, it's not a global catastrophe. Over time, I will learn to control my mouth muscles better and this feature will disappear. I have other external differences, but after ten minutes, people stop noticing them. Believe me, I am much more like my parents than other children with the syndrome are. I have my grandfather's eyebrows and father's blue eyes.
I am not as agile as my peers are. As I am still very young, it is more difficult for me to get up and sit down. In kindergarten, it is difficult for me to run, jump and stand on one leg. I will learn all this, but later. I will keep trying, repeating after adults and other children, and I will learn.
Sometimes I am slow to react. You may think that I don't notice you in conversation, I'm not interested in you, and I don't even react to new toys. But it's not true! I just need more time to process the information. If you wait nearby, you will hear or see my answer.
I love to communicate and make friends. Moreover, I will be the first to run to you and hug you. I am happy with simple things: the street and the slide, a new toy and friends who went for a walk. However, don't think that I am always smiling and kind! I can be happy and sad, cheerful and angry. I am different, with different moods and feelings. Don't call me a sunny child. Sometimes my mood is not sunny at all.
My behaviour may come as a surprise to you. It's just that I'm not as adult as you might think when you see my height. I play and communicate like a child who is younger. I show something with gestures, and something with behaviour. Yes, I also get tired faster, even from fun games.
My behaviour is not related to the syndrome. It depends on how I'm communicated with and my experience. What do all small children, when they are not understood? That's right, they are naughty and close in on themselves. I'm also such a kid, and I do that sometimes.
And yet, I am constantly developing. Earlier adults used to make mistakes. They thought that children with Down's syndrome could not learn anything. But this is nonsense, don't believe it! Like all other children, I go through all the stages of development, just more slowly.
I am constantly developing, but I will still know and be able to do less than my peers are. Maybe much less, or maybe just a little bit. I'll learn to speak later and will speak less. I will have a special program at school.
It may seem that if I know less, I don't understand how others treat me. It's not true. It's harder for me to learn to read and do math, but I can feel the mood and intonation. I am very sensitive to other people and value relationships. I love socializing and making friends with my peers.
Today I am walking hand in hand with my mom and dad, and tomorrow I will go to a regular kindergarten, and then to school. I'm going to do sports and work. I have not yet decided what I want to become when I grow up. Perhaps an actor like Pablo Pineda or Paula Sage. Or I'll open a restaurant like Tim Harris. Or even cross the English Channel! People with Down's syndrome have great opportunities. But today I'm just a kid who likes to go for a walk and make snowmen and... Let's make them together. Today can be a happy day.