| Life is like tea bags. You do not know how strong you are until you are put in hot water. |
Down Syndrome Association of
Hemet and surrounding cities
Hemet and surrounding cities
What is Down Syndrome
MYTH'S and FACT'S
Myth: Down Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.
Truth: Down Syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live
births is a child with Down Syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the
United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down Syndrome.
Myth: People with Down Syndrome have a short life span.
Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down Syndrome has increased dramatically in recent
years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down Syndrome.
Myth: Most children with Down Syndrome are born to older parents.
Truth: Most children with Down Syndrome are born to women younger than 35-years-old simply
because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with
Down Syndrome increases with the age of the mother.
Myth: People with Down Syndrome are severely "retarded."
Truth: Most people with Down Syndrome have IQs that fall in the mid to moderate range of
intellectual disability ( formerly known as " retardation"). Children with Down Syndrome fully
participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still
discovering the full educational potential of people with Down Syndrome.
Myth: Most people with Down Syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: Today people with Down Syndrome live at home with their families and are active
participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community.
They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art
programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down Syndrome are
valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.
Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down
Syndrome.
Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other
community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with
Down Syndrome.
Myth: Children with Down Syndrome must be placed in segregated special
education programs.
Truth: Children with Down Syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in
schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in
other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current
trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community.
Increasingly, individuals with Down Syndrome graduate from High School with regular diplomas,
participate in post secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases , receive
college degrees.
Myth: Adults with Down Syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down Syndrome for a variety of positions. They
are being employed in small-and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes,
hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions,
childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down Syndrome bring to their
jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.
Myth: People with Down Syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down Syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They
experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they
are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.
Myth: Adults with Down Syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal
relationships leading to marriage.
Truth: People with Down Syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.
Myth: Down Syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down Syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on
chromosome 21 the cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that
it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down
Syndrome in the future.
Truth: Down Syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 733 live
births is a child with Down Syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births per year in the
United States alone. Today, more than 400,000 people in the United States have Down Syndrome.
Myth: People with Down Syndrome have a short life span.
Truth: Life expectancy for individuals with Down Syndrome has increased dramatically in recent
years, with the average life expectancy approaching that of peers without Down Syndrome.
Myth: Most children with Down Syndrome are born to older parents.
Truth: Most children with Down Syndrome are born to women younger than 35-years-old simply
because younger women have more children. However, the incidence of births of children with
Down Syndrome increases with the age of the mother.
Myth: People with Down Syndrome are severely "retarded."
Truth: Most people with Down Syndrome have IQs that fall in the mid to moderate range of
intellectual disability ( formerly known as " retardation"). Children with Down Syndrome fully
participate in public and private educational programs. Educators and researchers are still
discovering the full educational potential of people with Down Syndrome.
Myth: Most people with Down Syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: Today people with Down Syndrome live at home with their families and are active
participants in the educational, vocational, social, and recreational activities of the community.
They are integrated into the regular education system and take part in sports, camping, music, art
programs and all the other activities of their communities. People with Down Syndrome are
valued members of their families and their communities, contributing to society in a variety of ways.
Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing up their child with Down
Syndrome.
Truth: In almost every community of the United States there are parent support groups and other
community organizations directly involved in providing services to families of individuals with
Down Syndrome.
Myth: Children with Down Syndrome must be placed in segregated special
education programs.
Truth: Children with Down Syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in
schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in
other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current
trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community.
Increasingly, individuals with Down Syndrome graduate from High School with regular diplomas,
participate in post secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases , receive
college degrees.
Myth: Adults with Down Syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with Down Syndrome for a variety of positions. They
are being employed in small-and medium-sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes,
hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment industry, in clerical positions,
childcare, the sports field and in the computer industry. People with Down Syndrome bring to their
jobs enthusiasm, reliability and dedication.
Myth: People with Down Syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down Syndrome have feelings just like everyone else in the population. They
experience the full range of emotions. They respond to positive expressions of friendship and they
are hurt and upset by inconsiderate behavior.
Myth: Adults with Down Syndrome are unable to form close interpersonal
relationships leading to marriage.
Truth: People with Down Syndrome date, socialize, form ongoing relationships and marry.
Myth: Down Syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down Syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on
chromosome 21 the cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that
it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down
Syndrome in the future.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
What is Down Syndrome...
Down Syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs in 1 in every 800 to 1000 births. It affects
people of all ages, races, and economic levels. It is the most frequently occurring
chromosomal abnormality. More than 400,000 people have Down Syndrome in the United
States alone.
The more common form of Down Syndrome is Trisomy 21. It occurs when there are three
(instead of the typical two) number 21 chromosomes in every cell of the body. Instead of 46
Chromosomes a person with Trisomy 21 has 47. This additional genetic material alters the
course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down Syndrome.
Down Syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs in 1 in every 800 to 1000 births. It affects
people of all ages, races, and economic levels. It is the most frequently occurring
chromosomal abnormality. More than 400,000 people have Down Syndrome in the United
States alone.
The more common form of Down Syndrome is Trisomy 21. It occurs when there are three
(instead of the typical two) number 21 chromosomes in every cell of the body. Instead of 46
Chromosomes a person with Trisomy 21 has 47. This additional genetic material alters the
course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down Syndrome.