Dallas County has opted to acknowledge World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.
The Dallas County Commissioners Court unanimously moved to recognize the day during its latest meeting on Tuesday, March 7.
Down Syndrome is a condition that occurs when a child is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This extra chromosome results in physical and mental developmental alterations to the child that can present challenges.
According to the CDC, one in 700 children, roughly 6,000 children, are born with the condition in the United States each year.
Each year, 24,274 babies are born in Texas with either “structural malformations or chromosomal anomalies,” according to Texas Health and Human Services.
“Down Syndrome is one of the most prevalent chromosomal conditions and occurs in all racial, ethnic, and economic groups. According to the United Nations, between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 1,100 individuals live with Down Syndrome worldwide,” reads the resolution from the Commissioners Court.
Out of every 10,000 live births in the State of Texas, 14 will be born with Down Syndrome.
The Commissioners Court opted to pass this resolution to emphasize the availability of services, such as speech counseling and special education, which serve to assist community members who have Down Syndrome with developing the skills to live independently.
Howdy Homemade is one local business that is dedicated to providing jobs and support for those with disabilities such as Down Syndrome. This ice cream business’ flagship shop is located in Dallas and opened in 2015, according to Dallas Doing Good.
The business says on its website that 240,000 individuals with developmental disabilities are in search of work in North Texas alone.
“It is great to see communities come together to support a mission and a cause that is much larger than themselves,” said Sebestyen Szenttornyay, franchise partner and general manager of Howdy Homemade West Texas, to The Dallas Express. “This is certainly a positive step toward shining a light on individuals who have been marginalized in society for far too long,” he continued.
The court also recognized Grand Prairie Host Lions Family Branch Club for its efforts to restore support for those in the community who were limited during the COVID-19 Pandemic. These efforts included a drive-thru Easter Celebration in April 2021 and a collaboration with St. Michael’s Church Youth Group to host a Christmas Party in December 2022.
Members of the Grand Prairie Host Lions Family Branch Club challenged civilians to wear mismatched socks on March 21 in support of World Down Syndrome Day and wear blue on April 2 in honor of World Autism Awareness Day.
Commissioner John Wiley Price noted his refusal to wear socks for over 30 years but indicated that he will opt to do so on March 21 to show his support.
I have a nephew, not yet one year old who has Down Syndrome.
I call it the love gene. A lot of joy in those eyes.
Because it was a tough pregnancy, the Doctors wanted to terminate the pregnancy. Both parents refused despite the Doctors persisting.