31 for 21 Day 3: Misconceptions of people with Down syndrome

* Babies and children with Down syndrome are always sick.

This is a misconception for sure.  Kamdyn has a congenital heart defect, specifically a large Ventricular Septal Defect and a small Atrial Septal Defect.  The March of Dimes website estimates that 1 out of every 250 babies in the United States are born with a congenital heart defect, not just babies with Down syndrome.  And while this condition can cause several complications, Kamdyn has never been on oxygen and has not had surgery.  She is still being monitored, but her cardiologist is very hopeful that she will never need surgery. 

Kamdyn typically struggles during the winter months with colds, sinus infections, and croup, but she has not had any hospitalizations other than for jaundice when she was born. 

About.com says, "...it is important to remember that most children with Down syndrome are healthy. Their risk to develop certain medical problems may be slightly higher, but the problems seen in children with Down syndrome are no different than the problems can be seen in children without Down syndrome and the treatment is the same for both groups."

There are children with Down syndrome, who have serious health concerns, and there are children without Down syndrome who have serious health concerns.  Having a child with Down syndrome does not mean resigning your life to health problems.

*Children with Down syndrome are not smart.

Intelligence is measured in 8 different areas.  They are:

1. Linguistic
2. Logical/Mathematical
3. Naturalist
4. Musical
5. Bodily/Kinesthestic
6. Spatial
7. Interpersonal
8. Intrapersonal

I think as a society, we place too much emphasis on the intelligences of linguistic and logical/mathematics, because these are the areas needed to excel in the educational areas of schooling.  But what about the brilliant musician?   the skilled athlete?  the effectual public speaker?  the gifted artist?  Why do we diminish these other areas of intelligence and allow a child be devalued, because it takes them longer to understand a math problem.  Who has the right to say who is more valuable?  We live in a world where that is exactly what people do.  Yes, education is key.  Yes, all people should be educated.  But why can't we celebrate these other accomplishments as well? 

So you want to know if my daughter is smart?  She feeds herself.  She cries when she's hurt.  She points to things.  She uses sign language to tell us when she wants something.  And she gives kisses.  So I'd say she's pretty typical for a child her age.  And one day, she'll be smart enough to be kind and caring.  She'll be smart enough to know how people should be treated.  I'd say she'll be smarter than some people, who are obviously lacking in these areas. 

But as far as education goes, people with Down syndrome learn to read, write, and do math, and they can attend college with their peers.

I think individuals with Down syndrome are often viewed as unintelligent, because they often have difficulties with speech.  These issues with speech, however, are often muscle tone or speech disorders and not related to their intelligence.  Even though Kamdyn cannot speak any words right now, she can understand what we say, react to things, and communicate in her own way.

*  People with Down syndrome are ALWAYS happy.

This misconception does not bother me nearly as badly as it does some parents who have a child with Down syndrome, but I understand the irritation by it.  Saying a person with Down syndrome is happy ALL THE TIME takes away from the individual and the unique personality that person has.  It can be like saying they are not capable of expressing emotion or feeling.

The "not happy" face.

About.com says, "...it is important not to stereotype individuals with Down syndrome. They experience a full range of emotions and have their own characteristics, strengths, weaknesses and styles. No two people with Down syndrome will have identical personalities."

Most parents of a child with Down syndrome, including me, will admit that their child is generally happy.  But that can never be the case ALL THE TIME for anyone.  If you come watch a meal time in our home, when I am not feeding Kamdyn fast enough, you would see an exceptionally unhappy child.  And if I ever tried to eat ice cream or french fries in front of Kamdyn without sharing, you would see a downright ticked off kid, complete with screaming and angry arm flailing.  So, no, she is not happy all the time.

There are more, but those are the ones that came to mind.