By Mariza Liaw

Fun fact: Down Syndrome only occurs when you’re born with a 3rd chromosome on chromosome number 21, which makes up today’s date, March 21st. Isn’t that cool how the creator decided to make today World Down Syndrome Day by using the way it’s born? Well anyway, today is the day where you can raise awareness for World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), but be honest, do you know how to participate? Well, if you don’t, let me remind you. 

First of all, the most popular way to celebrate WDSD is by wearing mismatched socks! Since chromosomes look like socks and the uniqueness found in the triplication are the reasons why we wear mismatched socks to celebrate this day. 

Secondly, you could post a group photo that relates to WDSD on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and be sure to tag @CdnDownSyndrome and add the hashtags #WDSD, #WorldDownSyndromeDay, and #SeetheAbility in the caption. The reason why #SeetheAbility is important to WDSD is because of how it’s used to encourage others to celebrate it, and it’s also used to hold a blockage against falsely accused stereotypical points of what Down Syndrome is.

Thirdly, you can share the topic with your community, like what I’m doing right now or you could spread the importance of this day with others appropriately. 

Lastly, during the evening there are landmarks all around the world that have simmering blue and yellow lights that represent and respect people with Down Syndrome. 

I hope that you all take the time today to recognize and raise awareness for WDSD because of how much it will mean to the people who have down syndrome, especially those in our school community. Happy World Down Syndrome Day! 

Sources:

“World Down Syndrome Day.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Feb. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Down_Syndrome_Day.  

“World Down Syndrome Day.” Canadian Down Syndrome Society, https://cdss.ca/community/events-activities/world-down-syndrome-day/.

“World Down Syndrome Day.” The Down Syndrome Association of Toronto (DSAT), 7 Mar. 2021, https://dsat.ca/wdsd/. 

Lewis, Sophie. “People Share Pictures of Mismatched Socks for World Down Syndrome Day.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 21 Mar. 2019, www.cbsnews.com/news/people-share-pictures-of-mismatched-socks-for-world-down-syndrome-day/. 

“World Youth Alliance Wears Mismatched Socks for World Down Syndrome Day.” WYA, www.wya.net/op-ed/world-youth-alliance-wears-mismatched-socks-for-world-down-syndrome-day/#:~:text=The%20idea%20of%20mismatched%20socks,the%20doctor%20who%20discovered%20it. 

“Facts about Down Syndrome.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Dec. 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html#:~:text=Typically%2C%20a%20baby%20is%20born,referred%20to%20as%20Trisomy%2021.  

Lindsay, Jessica. “Why You Should Wear Odd Socks for World Down Syndrome Day 2018.” Metro, 21 Mar. 2018, 4:12 pm, https://metro.co.uk/2018/03/21/wear-odd-socks-world-syndrome-day-2018-7405473/#:~:text=Odd%20socks%20were%20chosen%20as,Syndrome%20have%20an%20extra%20one.

“Events Archive.” World Down Syndrome Day, www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/events/2020-03-21. 

“World Down Syndrome Day.” Down Syndrome International, www.ds-int.org/world-down-syndrome-day#:~:text=World%20Down%20Syndrome%20Day%20.