Down Syndrome

Entry 7, April 26, 2010
Topic: Down Syndrome

What is Down syndrome? “A congenital disorder caused by having an extra 21st chromosome; results in a flat face and short stature and mental retardation” because of this slight so called ‘trisomy 21’ children are born with this mental defect which alters the brain and their natural growth so they might be seen as a little bit ‘strange’ to normal human beings.



Article 1: General facts on the disorder
Worldwide
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/down_syndrome.cfm

Down syndrome can have a variety of effects ranging from simple to complicated if it is put that way. Some might develop more of the symptom than others and have a more miserable life as it depends on the way the body ‘bares’ with it. Humans with this disease have certain abnormalities with their facial features which distinguishes they have this disease. Examples of these features are- slanted ears, irregular shaped eyes, strange vocal tone, pale faces and smaller body parts. Sadly this disease is incurable. The victims can only take part in certain exercises to do with the body and the brain in order to improve speech or gain motivation to increase their ability to ‘function’ or be fit. Others with a severe case can not do much about it. A terrifying fact about this disease- “The chance of having a baby with Down syndrome increases as a woman gets older—from about 1 in 1,250 for a woman who gets pregnant at age 25, to about 1 in 100 for a woman who gets pregnant at age 40. But, most babies with Down syndrome are born to women under age 35 because more younger women have babies.”


Article 2
BBC
News, UK
“Ouch, it’s a disability thing”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/interviews/13_questions_otto_baxter.shtml

I chose to do something different and outstanding for my second article. I found a BBC interview of someone who is going through this mental disability and has been for quite a while. Otto Baxter was born with down syndrome from the day he was born and he has gone through lots of ‘teasing’ because of his mental state. But as they interview him as a person he seems pretty normal and also goes through ‘puberty’ and has a natural ‘manly’ craving for women and sex. He shows us his interests and how he wants to be in a horror film. As well as that he tells us about his dislikes on cooking and how he cut himself (as you see people like this have feelings and can feel what a normal human being can feel) they have made a documentary about his life to prove people like this’ needs and affections and Otto has done very well. He has interests like any other being, he sits in front of the computer, enjoys food, etc. I think it’s a positive aspect to make people aware of people with down syndrome so they are not mistreated and made fun of as they have feelings and are humans too!

Article 3
United States of America
Learning about Down Syndrome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4y0k7zRGQw

In this short clip, we see parents that have to face the ‘bad news’ within four months pregnancy that they will be giving birth to a baby with down syndrome. Doctors tend to look at this aspect in a negative way ad they do not warn the parents that although it is a disadvantage to give birth to a child with a health issue it could actually turn out very positive. Kids like these are nowadays given jobs and can participate in many conferences, games, sports, etc. Many organizations are held in the United States to give hope to children like this giving them opportunities to work and interact. Down Syndrome babies can actually live a very healthy and happy life if effort is put in to support them. Many parents end up aborting their children before they give birth as they do not want them to be ‘sick.’ But in our generation they should be able to live a healthy and non-violent based life.


Reflection & Analysis.
One in about one thousand two hundred and fifty children are born with Down syndrome around the world. In past generations people have been in some ways ‘racist’ or misunderstanding towards them. It is a chromosomal disorder, which makes the development of a human different than a normal human as they are born with one extra chromosome causing certain facial and mind-like defects. Other than that these people are normal and should not be mistreated, violated, made fun of or aborted. Every person or couple should have the chance to have a baby and live happily. It is well known that it is hard to keep up with a child’s behaviour if it is facing this illness but in our generation many organizations and interviews are made in order to make people aware of the lives of these victims. Schools, jobs, conferences and daily opportunities are given to them in order to be able to participate as equally as us. This makes people change their ‘old fashioned’ views on these chromosomal beings and let them live. No one should be discriminated for who they are/who they were born to be. We now live in a world of equality where people should be happy. I find this topic interesting as it goes against the ‘natural’ human way of living; we get to view other people and how they struggle to stay alive and happy whereas we have a healthy life and complain about the slightest issues. People have much more important issues in life than us, we should be thankful for who we are and give hope to people with chromosomal or any type of disorder! ☺