picture submitted by Amy Deck

By Logan Stein

Hatters celebrate World Down Syndrome Day

Mar 21, 2020 | 12:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB–With today being international World Down Syndrome Day, Medicine Hat families arranged a special way to commemorate the day two-weeks ago.

On March 8th families gathered at J.sterk photography studio to celebrate people with down syndrome by capturing photos of them together.

Ranging from toddlers to young adults, they all united to get pictures done together with their families and friends.

“It was important to me to find the beauty in our kiddos, and get that all in one place.”

“We have a mom’s group that gets together, we try to get together once a month. We all have kids that have down syndrome, but this is the first time that we have done a big group picture, it was important to me to find the beauty in our kiddos and get that all in one place,” said organizer Amy Deck, mother of a daughter with down syndrome.

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This had been the first time an event like this was organized in Medicine Hat, bringing families from around Southern Alberta together to celebrate WDS day.

“It’s a great way to raise awareness, and just bring a little more familiarity with down syndrome to everyone else,” said Jenae Sterkenburg, owner of the photography studio.

Obviously festivities today are being suppressed to their own homes because of COVID-19, but it hasn’t stopped people from getting today’s message across through virtual methods.

Down Syndrome International teamed up with the United Nations to develop a virtual conference today, with speakers from around the world talking about how down syndrome has shaped their lives.

Aside from the virtual conference, WDS day can be celebrated by wearing mix-matched socks, along with using the #LotsOfSocks hashtag.

“One of the biggest misconceptions people have about kids with down syndrome have is that we presume that they don’t know, we don’t presume competence. And we really do our kiddos a disservice by not presuming that they are capable and able. It is really important that we challenge them and all that they are able,” said Deck.

“They are more alike than they are different.”

If you’re interested at checking out the virtual conference, you can do so here.