2 for 1

Since I was unable to get onto my blog yesterday here are yesterday and today's words of wisdom, LOL.

Today: 

It is very important when talking about a person with Down Syndrome to put the person first.  It is incorrect to say a Down Syndrome baby, child, adult, etc.  That is making their genetic condition more important than their own personality/being.  Also it isn't Down's Syndrome.  

We saw this incorrect labeling when People magazine did an article on a model with Down Syndrome.  The title was Down Syndrome Baby Model, to use first person language it should have been Baby Model with Down Syndrome.  

This may sound petty to others but to use who have family members is it important that you see our family as people first who happen to have a genetic condition called Down Syndrome.

While I'm on the topic of labeling it is also important to spread the word to end the word.  And what word am I talking about, well its the r-word ("retarded").  This is a very offensive word that has been used by many people even health care professionals as a derogatory term in their everyday lives.  Instead of using stupid or lame, they use the R-word.  I admit I use to use it before I had Reyna without thinking about how it would effect those with mental disabilities.  Now that I have Reyna I don't want anyone ever using that word to describe her or anyone else for that matter.  I cringe thinking about the day someone calls her the R word and then all the tears that will come along with that when I have to build her self-esteem back up.  Please save me that heartache and remove the R word from your vocabulary, its not hard to do.  

Yesterday:
Day #3 Myth Buster
MYTH: Down syndrome is a rare disorder.

TRUTH: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, or approximately 6,000 births per year. Today, there are more than 400,000 people with Down syndrome living in the United States. Down Syndrome is found in all races, socioeconomic classes and countries. Nothing you do can cause Down Syndrome it just happens.