Children diagnosed with Down Syndrome should be provided equal opportunities to help them excel in society, Land Revenue Joint Commissioner U.V. Jose has said.
Opening an event organised to mark World Down Syndrome Day here on Thursday, he said that those kids should not be looked at with sympathy at all. “We need to cultivate a feeling among them that nothing is impossible in life. People with Down Syndrome have excelled in various walks of life across the globe,” he said. Various events, such as cultural programmes and a painting competition, were held for children throughout the day. It was organised by the Down Syndrome Trust. The theme for this year’s World Down Syndrome Day is ‘Leave no one behind’.
The need to create awareness among parents of differently abled children was discussed at another event organised by the Department of Paediatrics, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, and the Regional Intervention and Autism Centre at the Institute for Maternal and Child Health attached to the Government Medical College Hospital. Indu Menon, clinical psychologist attached to the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences said that the mental stress being faced by the parents of differently abled children should be understood properly. It could be a strenuous task to convince the parents about the condition of their children. There were many children with Down Syndrome who had excelled in life facing worst situations and their parents should be involved in interactive sessions with those facing a similar situation, it was pointed out.
