Tag Archives: down syndrome

Senator Rubio Resigns to Spend More Time With Family

California Senator Michael Rubio, a Democrat, has resigned his position. The main purpose for doing so appears to be an interest in being able to spend more time with his family. He and his wife have two daughters, one of whom has Down Syndrome. The former Senator has taken a job with Chevron. I imagine that it would be quite difficult to be a Senator and to find a way to balance that with family life. I am certain that parents, of any profession, face that same challenge. However, when a parent who is not a public figure changes jobs … Continue reading →

Waiter Refuses to Serve Family Who Made Mean Comment

There is a story going around the internet about a waiter who refused to serve a family at a restaurant. The family took offense that another family brought their child, who has Down Syndrome, to the restaurant. The family made a mean comment. The waiter refused to serve the family who made the mean comment. He did the right thing! This situation occurred in a restaurant called Laurenzo’s Prime Rib that is located in Houston, Texas. Kim Castillo was there with her family. Her son, Milo, has Down Syndrome. She wrote about her experience on a note on one of … Continue reading →

Mallory’s Birthday was on 12/12/12

There has been a lot of talk about 12/12/12 and how it will only happen once in 100 years. Wouldn’t it be cool if your twelfth birthday fell on that date? Mallory Taylor got to celebrate her “golden birthday” on December 12, 2012. A “golden birthday” might also be called a “lucky birthday”. It is the birthday when you turn the age that matches that day’s number. For example, let’s say that your birthday is on the fifth day of a certain month. The year you turn five is your “golden birthday”. It has been said that this is a … Continue reading →

Characters With Special Needs On Television

Recently, there have been several television shows that include a character who has special needs. Many of these characters are young adults, or teenagers, who are part of an ensemble cast of main characters. Others appear now and again, on a few episodes in a series. This is a big improvement from the “very special episodes” that would sometimes focus on a person with special needs, who would disappear from the series after that episode ended. Glee is an extremely popular television show about a group of teenagers who are in the Glee Club of their high school. These students … Continue reading →

How Treadmills are Helping Babies with Down Syndrome

You may never look at your treadmill the same way again… According to new study, placing infants with Down syndrome on a treadmill for just a few minutes per day can help them walk up to four or five months earlier than with only traditional physical therapy. Researchers at the University of Michigan say the landmark study also suggests that infants who do high intensity treadmill training may walk even sooner. “The key is if we can get them to walk earlier and better then they can explore their environment earlier and when you start to explore, you learn about … Continue reading →

“His Life Is Definitely Not a Struggle.” A Mother of a Child with Down Syndrome Shares Her Story

The following is an interview I had with Valle Dwight. Valle was a reader who sent me a private message correcting my terminology in a previous blog about mental retardation. I agreed with her concerns and removed my blog. Valle was so insightful and positive that I wanted to give her the opportunity to share her story. I continue to be impressed by her and am sure you will enjoy reading this interview. 1. Tell us a little about your family. “My husband and I have been married for 16 years. We have two boys, 13 and 10. Our youngest … Continue reading →

New Prenatal Test for Mid-Life Moms

If you’re pregnant and over the age of 35, a new test called Early Screening is now available to help ease any concerns you may have concerning your baby’s risks of being born with a birth defect. Although the test is designed for all pregnant women it is especially useful for the mid-life mom. As you know by now, mid-life moms have a greater risk of giving birth to a child with a birth defect and often doctors recommend genetic testing to determine a pregnant woman’s risk. When I was pregnant I took the first phase of tests but stopped … Continue reading →

“Will You Marry Me?” A Special Kind of Love

It isn’t often known that individuals with Down Syndrome can live long lives, many well into their fifties, sixties, and beyond. That means that you’re likely to see people with DS out in the work force, living on their own, and even marrying. Parents of children with DS should plan well in advance for their children to transition into these adult life experiences. Medical advances and high-quality care has improved life expectancy and the quality of life for these kids. In fact, 80 percent of DS children will live beyond the age of fifty-five. This is exciting, and yet a … Continue reading →

What Causes Down Syndrome?

It might surprise you to learn that “Down Syndrome” is the most commonly occurring genetic condition causing mental retardation in humans. Approximately 1 in 733 babies are born with the syndrome, and approximately 350,000 people have Down Syndrome in the United States alone. It was given its name when a physician, Dr. John Langdon Down, published an accurate description of the features and similarities of people with the syndrome in 1866. He was then considered the “father” of the disorder, and it was given his name. Why does it occur? Down Syndrome occurs because of an error in cell division, … Continue reading →