GETTING "DOWN"- 31 FOR 21

Since October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I will be participating in the "GET IT DOWN-31 for 21" Challenge! That means that EVERYDAY this month, I will be blogging! Now let's see if I can do it...

So, I will start by posting this article about "Down syndrome language". These are some tips for those who are not familiar with how to address a person with Down syndrome. The NDSC put this release out when Sarah Palin came into the public's eye and her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, was also in the limelight. I, myself saw many articles that said her son was "afflicted with Down syndrome" or "suffered from Down syndrome". I can't say I didn't cringe when I read that. I do not believe that Cadence "suffers" from Down syndrome. So, in an effort to get the facts straight, here is the article:

Presidential nominee of the Republican Party. Governor Sarah Palin recently gave birth to her
son who has Down syndrome. The Palins knew before their son’s birth that he would have Down
syndrome.
Below are tips for the proper use of language for ‘Down syndrome’. The National Down
Syndrome Society and the National Down Syndrome Congress encourages all media to use the
language below:
• Down vs. Down’s. NDSS and NDSC use the preferred spelling, Down syndrome, rather than
Down’s syndrome. While Down syndrome is listed in many dictionaries with both popular
spellings (with or without an apostrophe s), the preferred usage in the United States is Down
syndrome. This is because an “apostrophe s” connotes ownership or possession. Down
syndrome is named for the English physician John Langdon Down, who characterized the
condition, but did not have it. The AP Stylebook recommends using “Down syndrome” as
well.
• People with Down syndrome should always be referred to as people first. Instead of “a Down
syndrome child,” it should be “a child with Down syndrome.” Also avoid “Down’s child”
and describing the condition as “Down’s,” as in, “He has Down’s.”
• Down syndrome is a condition or a syndrome, not a disease.
• People “have” Down syndrome, they do not “suffer from” it and are not “afflicted by” it.
• It is clinically acceptable to say “mental retardation,” but you may want to use the
more socially acceptable “cognitive disability” or “cognitive impairment.”