Raising Awareness

This is cool, check this out...

As the parent of a child (soon to be children!) with Down syndrome, we've had a lot of people say some things to us and we've though "you have no idea what you just said". But you know, Jake and I are not the kind of people that are easily offended. We truely do try to see through to peoples hearts- and most people don't KNOW they're saying something stupid. In fact, I'm sure I've said stuff to offend people myself, not even knowing it! I'm sure I have!

But as Abbs starts to get bigger, I'm all about encouraging those around us to use what we have learned to be a "people first" language. Meaning: Abby HAS Down syndrome. Not: Abby IS Down syndrome. And Abby is not a Down's baby. She's my kid. She is a lot of things. She HAPPENS to have Down syndrome.

Not long after Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain's running mate in the 08 election, she asked that all media use this prefered language:

Below are tips for the proper use of language for ‘Down syndrome’. The National Down Syndrome Society and the National Down Syndrome Congress encourage all media to use the below language:
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.”

Along with this release were some common "Myths/Truths" about DS that I'd encourage you to check out here.

And to find out more about 3/31/09 to stop use of the "r-word" check out this article here. Pretty cool stuff!!