World Down Syndrome Day: End the Stereotypes

A family sit on three large vertical tyres. They are sitting outside. On the first tyre the mother sits with an arm around her toddler who is sitting against her side. On the next tyre over to the right, a girl sits with her legs crossed, holding onto one of her knees and looking forward. On the tyre on the far right, a young girl lied on top of the tyre, smiling towards the camera. Photo credit: James Crombie

On this World Down Syndrome Day, we want to ‘End the Stereotypes’ that people with Down Syndrome face. Discriminatory preconceptions and negative assumptions effect the lives of these individuals and limit their capacity to exist and thrive independently in society. For people with Down Syndrome, it is an everyday battle to be recognised and valued; far more often they are marginalised and sidelined due to the stereotypes they face which perpetuate harmful and reductive attitudes towards them. People with Down Syndrome are often assumed to look the same, to be unable to learn or to live independently and they as often infantilised as a result.

One family who have experienced how stereotyping can hinder inclusion and engagement is that of Charity Muguru Muchoki’s. Charity is a twelve-year-old girl with Down Syndrome who comes from a family of twelve children. She has two older sisters who also have Down Syndrome.

Of the three girls with the condition, the eldest is not in mainstream education as she was severely harassed both physically and emotionally in nursery school due to the other children’s lack of knowledge about Down Syndrome. Her teachers also did not know how to accommodate her and so she was unable to continue her education. The middle child with Down Syndrome was enrolled in Valley Bridge Elementary school, but as there was no teachers trained to provide assistance for her specific needs, she could not continue her education either.

Charity on the other hand was able to enter mainstream education because of her school benefitting from the CBM supported No One Out project, which sought to contribute to improved quality of life for vulnerable children and youth in Kenya, especially those with or at risk of disabilities, by improving access to relevant and quality education.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic her school had a trained classroom aid whose presence supported Charity in her education. Although this teacher left after the pandemic, there were teachers who were then able to provide assistance for her as they were familiar with her needs. As a result, Charity has been able to stay in mainstream education.

Charity stands in the hallway of her school. She is wearing a school uniform, and her jumper is threadbare at the shoulders. Charity is standing with her arms crossed in front of her and she is smiling widely for the picture. Photo credit: James Crombie

Once the students and teachers had experienced Charity in the classroom, they were able to set aside any prejudicial opinions they might have held towards her. This has enabled Charity to access education, which will have a lifelong positive impact for her. She has made friends in the class and is able to participate in her community.

When we work to combat stereotypes, we can value individuals for their capacity rather than limit them with our own perceptions. The potential of people with Down Syndrome is limitless as long as they are welcomed into inclusive frameworks. In Spain, Pablo Pineda became the first person in Europe with Down Syndrome to graduate with a university degree. Also in Spain, Ángela Bachiller was elected a city councillor for Valladolid.

So, this World Down Syndrome Day, let’s work to realise every person with Down Syndrome’s potential and end the stereotypes.