Downs Syndrome is a condition which comes as a result of having an extra chromosome in the cells of the body. The condition occurs because of a chance happening during the conception stage.
Not much is known about what causes people to develop the extra chromosome but it is not due to anything done during pregnancy. It occurs in all races, social classes and all countries round the world.
The characteristics of people who suffer from Downs Syndrome aren’t all the same. Sufferers will have more in common with their families then they will have with each other. Everyone with Downs Syndrome will have some degree of learning disability. Each person who has Downs Syndrome is a unique individual with their own individual personalities and characteristics.
Even though they may have some difficulty, people who suffer from Downs Syndrome can and do continue to learn throughout their lives. They are able to go about their lives like the rest of the population and increasingly leave home, form relationships and gain full time employment to get the most out of life.
Key facts about Down’s syndrome: Did you know…?
- Around one in every 1000 babies born in the UK will have Down’s syndrome.
- There are over 40,000 people in the UK with the condition.
- Although the chance of a baby having Down’s syndrome is higher for older mothers, more babies with Down’s syndrome are born to younger women.
- Down’s syndrome is not a disease. People with Down’s syndrome are not ill and do not “suffer” from the condition.
- Today the average life expectancy for a person with Down’s syndrome is between 50 and 60 with a small number of people living into their 70s and beyond.”
At the moment there is a six episode documentary series which follows the lives of young adults with Downs Syndrome. The series began on December 8th at 10pm and was broadcast on the A&E Network. The show involves cameras following round seven Southern California young adults with Downs Syndrome and their families as they find their way through jobs and relationships as well as look to gain greater independence.
There have also been programmes that follow the lives of young children with Downs Syndrome including popular CBBC show “The Dumping Ground”. This programme illustrated the life of a young Downs Syndrome sufferer when they lived away from their family. The fourteen year old took part in the programme with his own teacher as a chaperone and other boys from the show to mess around with. It all turned out well.
There are also dating programmes which are being broadcast which specifically include people with Downs Syndrome as contestants. There have been some complaints with regard to these programmes as people didn’t know whether a person with Downs Syndrome could make a proper, informed decision or not.
EastEnders is one of the BBC’s most popular programmes, with an average of over 8 million viewers per episode. As part of this year’s Christmas storylines, Billy and Honey Mitchel’s daughter Janet, who has Downs Syndrome, is given a role in the Christmas Nativity which the local residents will be putting on. At first when auditioning, Janet faced some opposition to her taking on the role mostly because of her age, but after auditioning she proves her doubters wrong and really impresses them with the way she can act. This proves that Janet is quite a strong character and has been able to overcome all the obstacles which have been put in her way. She is also a good role model to other young people with Downs Syndrome and this shows if you want something and work hard enough to get it, you can achieve anything. Viewers can find out how Janet manages in the Nativity play in the episode on the 24thDecember.
For more information on Downs Syndrome and the sources of information and support on offer you can visit:
http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/about-downs-syndrome/
