Things I Didn’t Know People with Down Syndrome Could Do

If you are like me and probably most typically developing people you’ve heard of down syndrome (DS) but you don’t really know much about it. You might know that people with down syndrome tend to have similar physical features. You might know that they learn things at a slower pace. Or you might know that they need extra help in learning or doing many things in life.

I knew these things too but that was about all I knew. Until our beautiful daughter came along. Through having her I have learned so much about all the things people with down syndrome are capable of accomplishing.

Six things that I learned kids with down syndrome can and are doing!

• They can be potty trained. Yes, they might be a little older when they learn. Yes, it might take them a little longer to learn. But it’s actually not uncommon for kids with down syndrome to be fully potty trained.
• They can learn to read. Many individuals can actually ready at a pretty high level too!
• They can do all sorts of physical activities and challenges. The activities that surprised me the most were horseback riding, iron man competition and gymnastics. It honestly never crossed my mind to wonder if people with down syndrome could ride a horse or not. But I started following a family on Instagram who has a daughter with down syndrome. This teen girl loves to take horseback riding lessons and does an amazing job.
• They can swim. Again, I never thought about people with down syndrome being able to swim or not. But something inside of me was a little surprised to see people with down syndrome of all ages swimming, diving and having a great time in the water.
• They can learn a foreign language. I follow a family on Instagram whose teen daughter can count and say many words and phrases in about 6 different languages.
• They can learn to play a musical instrument! This is actually a very fitting talent and skill for individuals with down syndrome because they feel music much deeper than typically developing people.

Four things that I learned adults with down syndrome can and are doing!

• They can go to college. The world still has a long way to go but it is slowly learning to accept individuals with disabilities. More and more organizations are learning how to adapt procedures to be able to include others with different abilities and colleges are no exception. Here is a link to a website that lists the top 20 colleges for students with disabilities.
• They can own and run their own business. People with down syndrome have rights like everyone else. They also have a variety of interests and talents just like everyone else. If they are given the skills and opportunities they can own and run their own business. Trista loves to sew and create bags and things for babies so she started her own business Trista’s Sunshine Company.
• They can vote! The Americans with Disabilities Act gives individuals with disabilities the right to vote. This link will give more information about this topic.

• They can get married. People with DS feel all the same range of emotions as typically developing people. So, yes, they can fall in love and get married too!

Final Thoughts

This is just a very short list of a longer list of things I didn’t know that people with down syndrome were capable of accomplishing. Honestly, I’m kind of embarrassed by my ignorance about their capabilities. Assuming that because they weren’t typically developing that they weren’t capable of very much. Don’t be like me. Follow accounts of people with disabilities, meet individuals in person, get to know them and learn about them.

We don’t put limitations on what our typically developing boys can do. We tell them they can accomplish whatever they want.

We’ll do the same with our daughter with down syndrome! The sky is the limit for her too!