When Rachel was born, the world didn’t just question her future—it questioned whether her mother was capable of giving her one. Laura, a young woman with Down syndrome, faced a storm of doubt. Doctors warned her. Social workers advised against it. Everyone seemed to have a reason why she couldn’t be a mother. “She won’t… Read more: My Mother Gave Me Wings

Growing up, Wil has loved boat rides with his Grandma and Grandpa. So when his sisters were invited on an impromptu trip around the lake with some of the neighbor’s kids, they jumped on — and Wil stayed back with his grandparents. My dad noticed a shift in Wil’s demeanor. He didn’t say anything, but… Read more: How Inclusion Begins

I remember one day wearing a “Down Right Perfect” t-shirt as I marched up to the high school doors to collect Wil after school hours because he had run from getting on the bus. He booked it up the steps to the second floor and hid. Once he was found, Mr. Walsh walked him down… Read more: Parenting: Proactive Coordination & Gratitude for What Is

A singular new word Wil calmly adds to his vocabulary, in a such a way that only I — or his closest educators — would hear stands out like a stacatto flashing me back in time to a movie reel loop when he was 5 or 7 or 10, working a skill on a repeat… Read more: The Paradox of Parenting a Down Syndrome Child

A look back at the history of our understanding about the elements that so mix to create a person with Down syndrome is both heartbreaking and hopeful as we see how it’s possible for attitudes to change with knowledge and understanding.