Having a child with a disability can be something that you never expected to happen. The thought of raising a child with Down syndrome can keep new and expectant parents up at night with questions and concerns.

It’s easy to get caught up in fear while you’re looking for Down syndrome help. And while it’s important to become informed, it’s also important to step back, take some deep breaths, and realize that having a child with Down syndrome isn’t scary.

All of life is meant to be celebrated, and your child’s life is certainly no exception.

1. The World Is More Accepting Than Ever Before

While this might sound like a reason to celebrate society, and not Down syndrome itself, it’s an important thing to remember while you’re looking for Down syndrome help.

Until the 1990s, people with Down syndrome were denied many of the experiences the rest of us take for granted such as getting a job, going to school, living at home, or even visiting a restaurant or public establishment.

Thanks to old-world, institutionalized treatment of people with disabilities being overthrown by more humane practices, the average lifespan for people with Down syndrome has doubled since the 1980s. Currently, the average lifespan for a person with Down syndrome is 60 years, although many have lived into their 80s.

Some more close-minded people may still hold prejudices against someone with Down syndrome, but very few people today would deny a person with Down syndrome the right to a normal and fulfilling life.

2. Even With Down Syndrome, They Have A Voice

When you’re frantically looking for Down syndrome help, it’s all too easy to assume that a child with Down syndrome will never really live a full life. But many situations more than suggest otherwise.

More and more individuals with Down syndrome are rising in the public eye, showing the world that they share more in common with those without Down syndrome than they share differences.

Karen Gaffney, a woman with Down syndrome, is a celebrated motivational speaker and the president of an organization.

Chris Burke was the first actor with Down syndrome to have a role in a network television series and he is far from the only professional actor with Down syndrome.

Sujeet Desai, another man with Down syndrome in the public eye, is a remarkable musician who has mastered seven different instruments.

In the United States and elsewhere, people born with Down Syndrome are experiencing more inclusion — and more recognition — than ever before.

3. People With Down Syndrome Tend To Be Happy

It’s important to recognize that people with Down syndrome experience emotions just like the rest of us with the full ranges of sadness and happiness, anger and joy, fear and reassurance.

However, according to a study published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics entitled “Self-perceptions from People with Down Syndrome,” it’s not a myth that people with Down syndrome tend to be happy overall.

Nearly 99% of people with Down syndrome said that they were happy with their lives, 97% said they liked themselves for who they are, and 96% said they liked how they looked.

The social capacity of people with Down syndrome doesn’t appear to be lacking, either. Nearly 99% of those in the study expressed love for their families, 97% liked their brothers and sisters, and 86% said they were able to make friends easily. Those who did have difficulties making friends mostly lived in isolated situations.

Only a small percentage, according to the study, expressed sadness about their life.

When those surveyed were asked how children with Down syndrome should be approached by their parents, they encouraged parents to love their babies with Down syndrome, pointing out that their lives were good.

Healthcare professionals were encouraged to value Down syndrome patients, and it was emphasized that people with Down syndrome share hopes and dreams that are surprisingly similar to those without Down syndrome.

Conclusion

As you seek Down syndrome help for you and your child, remember that people with Down syndrome are just people. Your baby may have Down syndrome, but that just means that they are every bit as whole and complete as any other child in the world.

That’s not just something to tell yourself so you’ll feel better—it’s something that’s proven. Something more and more people are starting to believe. Something that can inspire both you and your child to live life to the fullest, and celebrate all of it.