Today, 21st March marks ‘World Down Syndrome Day’, a day which aims to raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.
To show their support, adults and children all over the island are wearing multi-coloured/ mismatched socks and posting photos on social media. The idea is that socks may be different, but they can be worn together if people accept and welcome the difference, just like the wonderfulness of every individual with Down Syndrome (DS).
Here are some of the images posted on social media locally. Can you spot yours?
Don’t see your socks here? Help raise awareness and shift attitudes on Down Syndrome by posting your photo in the comments section below.
WHY MARCH 21?
The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
WHEN DID IT START?
WDSD was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world and Down Syndrome Association Singapore launched and hosted the WDSD website from 2006-2010, on behalf of DSi, for global activities to be recorded.
On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day. The General Assembly decided to “designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2012” and “invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome”.
