World Down Syndrome Day 2018: What I bring to My Community, Because Inclusion Matters

I couldn't be more excited about this year's themes for World Down Syndrome Day. It's always celebrated on 21st March, which, as you all know, represents the 3 copies of chromosome 21 that are present in those with the condition.



The organisers are asking you to join in and share #WhatIBringToMyCommunity stories, the Down's Syndrome Association are reiterating that #InclusionMatters, whilst Mencap are campaigning for equal quality healthcare for all with their #TreatMeWell campaign. 

These are all topics that we can get involved in and shout about on our social media timelines, these are important issues that are relevant to us all, and here at Downs Side Up we're helping you reach a wider audience by linking your #WDSD2018 blog posts up as well. 

There are educational and powerful videos galore, like the 50 Mums, 50 Kids, 1 Extra Chromosome shown below, that's guaranteed to put a lump in your throat. 

There are also so many new books launching this week that you might need the rest of the year to plough through them. Try A Major Adjustment by Andrew Merriman, the sequel to A Minor Adjustment for starters. 




There's a whole host of fun events to dip in and out of as you wish: You can don your funkiest socks - "for we are all colourful and unique", you can offer random acts of kindness to strangers, you can fundraise by running a marathon or take part in a dance-a-thon to show your joy through the movement of your body.

Or, like me, you can sit at home and write or share as many educational articles and stories in celebration of all that is wonderful about that extra chromosome. Watch out for our articles and infographics, featuring as many of you as I could, in Mummy and Me which will feature Ayyub Kasia and his friends, Huffington Post, Firefly and Special Needs Jungle this week. 

Ayyub Kasia with his friends at their mosque
Ayyub Kasia is a valued part of his community

You can also write for your local newspaper or magazine, or do an interview on your local radio station. And you can signpost support to new families, show them the way as others did for us, and make new friends around the world.

Surely that is what World Down Syndrome Day should be all about, bringing our community closer than ever, strengthening links and reaching out to one another. 

And so my dear Down's syndrome family, one that I am ever so grateful to be a part of, please do add your stories, your videos and your enthusiasm to the linky below. 



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