Today is World Down Syndrome Day
Mar 21, 2022, 12:44 PM | Updated: 2:25 pm
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 12: Roxanne Fernandez, a 14-year-old with down syndrome, gets help from her Mother putting on her tiara during the first annual Disability Pride Parade on July 12, 2015 in New York City. The parade calls attention to the rights of people with disabilities and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day, celebrating the people with down syndrome and their loved ones.
Down Syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that occurs in roughly 1 out of 800 live births worldwide and often causes varying degrees of mental or physical disabilities.
In December 2011, the United Nations declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day in order to raise awareness of Down Syndrome. March 21, the 21st day of the third month was chosen based on the triplication of chromosome 21 that causes Down Syndrome.
It’s since become a day of awareness, advocacy, celebration, and love. The theme for World Down Syndrome Day this year is “What does inclusion mean?” Those who want to share their experience can use the hashtags #inclusion and #WorldDownSyndromeDay
You can learn more about Down Syndrome or become an advocate for World Down Syndrome Day here or look into ways to help the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation here.
