Page 10 - aruba-today-20200922

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2020 LOCAL
A10
Aruban stars with Down syndrome on giant
screens Time Square Gardens New York
ORANJESTAD/NEW YORK cial need children in our
— The month of October society. Shawndre Geer-
is Down Syndrome Aware- man and Regina Janga
ness Month where we cel- of Aruba had the privilege
ebrate Down syndrome to be featured on the gi-
and let everyone know ant screens of Time Square
their abilities and that they Gardens, which featured
are capable of doing any- over 500 children and
thing they set their minds young adults.
to. To kick off the Down syn- Since 2013, Hans Geerman,
drome awareness month, President and Director of
the National Down Syn- the Fundación Sea Bunita
drome Society (NDSS) held Sea Bo Mes, meaning ‘Be
the event Times Square beautiful, Be Yourself’, has
Video Presentation on Sun- been working on Aruba to
day, September 20th, 2020. change the way people
Two Arubans are starring in see individuals with Down
this event. syndrome. “We started or-
ganizing different events to
The purpose of the video make the Aruban commu-
is to promote acceptance nity more aware of integra-
and inclusion of these spe- tion and inclusion for peo-
ple with Down syndrome,”
Geerman said to cultura-
ruba. Originally, the foun-
dation operated under the
name Ban Papia,, which
means ‘Let’s Talk’, until an
influential trip to Denver to
attend Global Down Syn-
drome Foundation’s 2015
Be Beautiful Be Yourself
Fashion Show, where his
son Shawndré modeled.
The visit proved so inspira-
tional that Hans decided
to bring that experience
back to the island. “After
the event, we returned to
Aruba and sponsored the
first Aruba fashion show
as Fundación Sea Bunita
Sea Bo Mes (Be Beautiful
Be Yourself Foundation),”
he said. “The show starred
members of our communi-
ty with Down syndrome as
models and local business
and media personalities as
their escorts. The event was ry the codes responsible for United States each year.
all of our inherited traits and
a sellout, and the feed-
back has been positive be- are grouped along rod-like NDSS Inclusive Education
yond what we could hope structures called chromo- NDSS advocates for edu-
it would be”, as he said in somes. Typically, the nucle- cation laws and policies
an interview with cultura- us of each cell contains 23 that uphold the rights of
pairs of chromosomes, half individuals with Down syn-
ruba. of which are inherited from drome to receive a free
National Down Syndrome each parent. Down syn- and appropriate public
Society drome occurs when an in- education in the least re-
The NDSS is the leading dividual has a full or partial strictive setting, promote
human rights organiza- extra copy of chromosome principles and practices
tion for all individuals with 21. This additional genetic designed to improve edu-
Down syndrome. NDSS was material alters the course cational outcomes for stu-
founded 1979 by Barton of development and dents with Down syndrome,
and Betsy Goodwin when causes the characteristics protect the safety and dig-
they found out that their associated with Down syn- nity of students with Down
daughter Carson Good- drome. A few of the com- syndrome and support the
win who was born to in mon physical traits of Down development of high quali-
1978, had Down syndrome. syndrome are low muscle ty postsecondary programs
The Goodwins dedicated tone, small stature, an up- for students with intellectu-
themselves to gathering as ward slant to the eyes, and al disabilities.
much information as pos- a single deep crease across
sible and creating oppor- the center of the palm – al- NDSS’ Health and Wellness
tunities for Carson to grow though each person with Program is dedicated to
and learn like any other Down syndrome is a unique HEALTH, the most important
child. They soon discovered individual and may possess and critical human right.
that support and resources these characteristics to dif- Health and Wellness in-
available to parents of a ferent degrees, or not at all. cludes their National Buddy
child with Down syndrome Walk Program, the premier
were very limited. Betsy be- How common is Down Syn- advocacy event for Down
gan collaborating with her drome? syndrome in the United
close friend, Arden Moult- According to the Centers States and the world’s most
on, and in 1979 the Nation- for Disease Control and widely recognized public
al Down Syndrome Society Prevention, approximately awareness program for the
(NDSS) gained official non- one in every 700 babies in Down syndrome commu-
profit status. the United States is born nity, the Athlete Ambassa-
with Down syndrome, mak- dor Program and Charity
What is Down Syndrome? ing Down syndrome the Racing Teams, and Healthy
In every cell in the human most common chromo- Community Programs in-
body there is a nucleus, somal condition. About cluding Racing for 3.21
where genetic material is 6,000 babies with Down on World Down Syndrome
stored in genes. Genes car- syndrome are born in the Day.q