Looking forward, it’s easy for me to be encouraged and hopeful for the future of my son and for others like him who have trisomy 21. I hope that share with you some of my optimism.

Let’s take a look at a little bit of the known history.

It was in 1866 that  the physical characteristics of people with Down Syndrome were linked with decreased intellectual ability and grouped as one syndrome. The English physician, John Langdon Down, was the first to publish these findings. Due to the fact that the facial features of people with Down Syndrome were similar to those of people from Mongolia, he used the term mongoloid to refer to a person with (what is now known as) Down Syndrome.  He referred to the condition as ‘mongolism.

In 1959 Dr. Jerome Lejeune, a French physician, made the discovery that Down Syndrome was the result of a chromosomal abnormality. His research led him to the fact that these people had 47 chromosomes, whereas the cells of people without the syndrome only had 46 chromosomes. Soon afterwards, it was discovered that the extra genetic material was found on the 21st chromosome. This is where the term trisomy 21 comes from.

We were finally at a stage where we could identify Down Syndrome by testing.  Unfortunately this ability led to an era where almost all babies were institutionalized as soon as possible before their parents bonded to them. Institutionalization was considered the best option.  The doctors decided that they needed to do more research in order to prove that this was wrong.

By the 1970s and 80s, institutionalization was no longer automatic. There were medical advances in the treatment of congenital heart disease  and gastrointestinal problems.  There was also a famous supreme court case where it was declared that every child had a right to a free and appropriate public education program, regardless of mental ability.

Fast forward to today, a time when many people with Down Syndrome are living independent, fulfilling lives.  There is an abundance of research being conducted with the focus upon improving quality of life.  Life expectanc has increased from zero to 60 years and beyond very rapidly.

Things have changed very fast, it seems.

And that is precisely the reason for this message.  There is still a lot of outdated, and just plain wrong information floating around.  I would like to encourage you to keep looking forward if it should cross your path….

If you have a nurse who accuses you of doing harm to the world and to your baby by helping him to eat…

If you have a therapist who tells you that intervention is a waste of time, money and energy…

If you run across a teacher who believes that it’s not possible for your baby to learn…

Even if your new neighbor asks you, “So WHY did you even HAVE him?

You see, I have heard all of these things in the last five years since Isaac born.  I did not waste energy on these people and their fear and ignorance.  Instead I move forward.

My boys show me every single day that these people are all wrong.  I look at Isaac’s progress and I see nothing but bright, shining hope.  He is so brave and he works so hard and he is so fearless.  It is beautiful to see.

I also meet loving caring teachers, therapists, educators and therapists who are just like me….learning and loving the process of learning more.  Teaching and helping more.

I want you to find these people.  Please, KEEP LOOKING FORWARD!