Seneca High School students and staff showed their support for World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 by showing off colorful socks to accompany the message of the #LotsOfSocks awareness campaign.
The annual World Down Syndrome day started in 2012, according to the Lots Of Socks campaign website, to raise global awareness of Down syndrome, a genetic disorder in which there are three copies of the 21st chromosome instead of two. March 21 was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) in that chromosome, which leads to the syndrome.
Down syndrome itself is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, universally present across racial, gender or socioeconomic lines. It can cause varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability and coincides with medical issues, according to the Lots of Socks campaign.
The campaign recognizes other organizations such as Down Syndrome International, which supports self-advocacy and employment for those with the syndrome. The public can even purchase socks from the Lots of Socks campaign to help fund DSI work.
DSI also hosts #InclusionMeans at the United Nations, which calls on governments, United Nations officials and NGO (non-governmental organizations) representatives to work together for the support of people around the world who have Down syndrome and other disabilities.
Seneca special education teacher Ellie O’Neill addressed why the school chose to participate in World Down Syndrome Day and help start a conversation.
“On World Down Syndrome Day, we wear cool unique socks to represent these chromosome, bring awareness to Down syndrome and to celebrate all our uniqueness and differences,” she said
“Students and staff wearing their cool socks not only shows support for Down syndrome, but shows the students with Down syndrome how much their peers and teachers believe in their amazing capabilities,” O’Neill added. “When these students then go out in the community and the real world, they have a special kind of confidence knowing so many people believe in them and accept them just the way they are.”
O’Neill also noted how the support shown by the students compliments another message from Seneca and the other district schools.
“Students and staff showing support for World Down Syndrome Day aligns with our school’s support of making Seneca High School a No Place for Hate School,” O’Neill explained. “The students here at Seneca not only display no tolerance for “hate,” they have a desire to learn more, and they fully accept and celebrate peers who are different from themselves.”
To donate to DSI and learn more about World Down Syndrome Day, visit lotsofsocks.worlddownsyndromeday.org
