During my professional career, I have met children with Down syndrome very often. I cannot describe the warm feeling I experienced when they looked at me. These beautiful people are benevolent and happy, there is no evil in them. They smile all the time and have this mild expression on their face.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that is caused by chromosome error. One in all 650 newborn babies are born with Down syndrome, and there is already 55 children up to 3 years in the Zagreb association for Down syndrome, which is a significant increase compared to the previous years.
*Children with Down syndrome got new rooms in Zagreb for their necessary rehabilitation
- Today's system is a big step up to when my son was born, twelve years ago. Back then we had nothing, no association, no help. Today it is different, but still, we need multiple locations so that everyone in Zagreb can get adequate care - said Katarina, the mother of a child with Down syndrome.
*Mother Katarina with her twelve-year-old son Ante
When the therapy starts on time, the children can go to a regular kindergarten and school. What creates additional complications is the fact that children with Down syndrome also have other health problems. However, integration into kindergarten and primary schools is relatively good, while the problem arrives when children with Down syndrome try to enroll in high school.
- Currently we are stuck in involving children in high school. It is important to give us the opportunity for our children to prove that they can continue their education - said the president of the Down syndrome Association - Zagreb, Natalija Belošević.
*Natalija Belošević, president of Zagreb association for Down syndrome
Children with Down syndrome have more difficulties to learn and speak, and have poorer motor skills. However, such children are usually colled children of love, always smiling, warm and benevolent.
*Mayor of Zagreb
- When you find out that you are going to have a baby with Down syndrome, it is a big shock for parents because nobody knows how it will work at that moment. People should be told not to be afraid because it is a wonderful experience and infinite joy of having a child with developmental difficulties. It is important to inform yourself because if we start from early rehabilitation, children can easily attend kindergarten programs - said Mother Katarina Perkovic.
*These beautiful pictures are work of children with Down syndrome, and their symbol is sunflower
It is important to emphasize few things so we could stop the prejudice towards children with Down syndrome:
People with Down syndrome do not have profound mental retardation
They do not need to be placed in institutions
Children with Down syndrome can be creative and very gifted
This people can work and start a family
This is not a rare syndrome
Children with Down syndrome have every right to quality health care, and also have right to be full and equal members of society
The world would be a better place if we had more people like people with Down syndrome!
