Down's Syndrome - Do You Know The Facts?

Hello, my name is Yelena and I would like to thank you for taking an interest in my blog. I have set up this blog to try and raise awareness of people affected with Down’s syndrome and the incorrect stereotypes that they face. I also hope to change your opinion on the genetic condition.

First and foremost, Down’s syndrome isn’t a disease. You can’t get it off other people and it isn’t necessarily hereditary (doesn’t automatically ‘run in the family’). It is a genetic condition. This means that it occurs due to a fault in your genes. It often strikes at random to children during their development in the womb. There is no ‘cure’.

Now, you’ll be thinking, well that’s all well and good but what does it have to do with me? Everything:

• There are approximately 65,000 people with Down’s syndrome living in the UK at the moment and this number is set to rise.
• Number of children with Down’s Syndrome educated in Mainstream Primary Schools:
• 80% Nationally
• 90% in Devon
• There has been a 75% rise in Down’s Syndrome births in the last 20 years

Here are some of the more common misconceptions that people hold against Down’s Syndrome affected people:

Children with Down’s syndrome are only born to older women, but 80% of children with Down's syndrome are born to women that are younger than 35.
However, the older the mother, the more likely it is for her to have a child with Down’s syndrome.

All people with Down’s syndrome will later develop Alzheimer's disease (Dementia) - Although many people with Down’s syndrome do develop dementia in their later years, not all people do. It is not certain. Dementia is just as likely to happen in other people only 20-30 years later than people with Down’s Syndrome.

Thank You for reading my Blog. Many people with Down’s Syndrome live happy & contented lives & give much back to their family & members of their community. Now could I please ask you to help me by answering some of the following brief questions:

1. Had you heard of Down’s syndrome before reading my blog?
2. Do you now feel more informed on the effects of Down’s Syndrome?
3. Has my Blog changed your opinion on how you would treat people affected by the condition?
4. On a scale of one to ten how prepared would you have been to make a donation to a Down’s syndrome charity before and after reading my blog?

Thank you very much and I am looking forward to reading your responses.

Yelena