This baby is adorable, right? But why is he dressed as a turtle? It is one of the faces of the bell "Syndrome in danger" (Endangered Sindrome) of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS), coinciding with the Down Syndrome Awareness Week in Canada.
Its intention: to request the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, that people with Down syndrome be included in the List of Endangered Species. Because, as the campaign explains: "As the population decreases, so do the aid". Hence they disguise themselves as wild animals.
Because they are in danger?
Families with a member with Down syndrome claim to be happier. However, fewer and fewer babies are born with the alteration of chromosome 21.
Statistics show that prenatal fetal DNA tests are ending the births of children with genetic malformations and that if the trend is confirmed, in 10 or 15 years none will be born, since the vast majority of couples decide to abort before diagnosis.
Approximately one in 781 births in Canada is a baby with Down syndrome and the figures are lower than expected in countries like the United States (up to 30 percent less). In Spain there are no recorded data on how many Down are born per year, but figures of between 270 and 500 babies per year are considered.
In Babies and more Before a diagnosis of Down syndrome, almost all couples decide to end the pregnancy, according to data from Down SpainCampaign Purpose
When requesting inclusion in the list of endangered species, the CDSS says it advocates the same types of "financing, protection, government intervention and public awareness of the species included in the Endangered List". Because, as Laura LaChance, president of the CDSS adds:
"People with Down syndrome face unique challenges that are increasing and need more support than they are receiving."
The desire of the protagonists of the campaign is to help raise awareness about the acceptance of people with different abilities, as well as educate people about the unique challenges they may face in life:
"One would think that today there is awareness and acceptance, and it is certainly higher than before, but there is still a way to go."
Reasons that validate its inclusion in the List
In Europe and Asia, the births of babies with Down syndrome are 50% less than expected.
More than 65% of people with Down syndrome do not work.
In Denmark, births due to Down syndrome fell by an average of 13% annually between 2004 and 2010.
25% of people with intellectual disabilities, such as Down syndrome, live in poverty.
Animal welfare organizations have 90% more resources and funding than Down syndrome organizations in North America.
In Babies and more In Iceland only two children are born on average every year with Down SyndromeA vulnerable 'species'
This is what, as the protagonists of the campaign explain, they need to survive.
1. Employment Secure our right to work and be self-sufficient, active members of society.
2. Housing. Recognize our right to live independently with more housing facilities and reduced waiting times to access one.
3. Community. Provide more support and services to facilitate inclusion in our communities.
4. Education Remove educational barriers and ensure better support for students with Down syndrome.
If you want to know more, we encourage you to listen to their reasons, told by themselves:
Via and photos | Canadian Down Syndrome Society
