International World Down Syndrome Day, 21st March 2017

The United Nations General Assembly decided with effect from 2012 to observe World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March each year in order to raise public awareness on Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome (or Trisomy 21) is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, being universally present across racial, gender or social economic lines, and affecting approximately 1 in 800 live births, although there is considerable variation worldwide. Down Syndrome usually causes varying degree of intellectual and physical disability and associated medical issues. A few of the common physical traits of Down Syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm – although each person with Down Syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degree, or not at all.

The theme for this year is #MyVoiceMyCommunity enabling people with Down Syndrome to speak up, be heard and influence government policy and action, to be fully included in the community.

We at ABS will be joining the rest of the world for the Lots of Socks campaign and would like to request everyone to wear different coloured socks on 21st March. Lots of socks campaign is an initiative encouraging participants to wear brightly coloured and unique socks as a conversation piece, allowing wearer to raise awareness about Down Syndrome. The reason for the different coloured socks is to prove that though they are different, they serve the same purpose and just like the socks; though people are different, we all deserve to be treated equally with love, respect and dignity. Participants can then take pictures and upload it on the social medias using the hash tag #MyVoiceMyCommunity#WDSD17#AbilityBhutanSociety