By Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Tuesday 21st March 2023)- “What I would like to say to the general public…Most of them I find they scorn these types of individuals [with Down syndrome], and I will like for them to show more love instead of scorning them; they’re not different so just show more love to them and support them in any way possible.” Such words of encouragement are from Teacher Julei Bradshaw of the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School (formerly Special Education Unit) on the topic of sending a message to members of the public about the genetic disorder.
She made the disclosure while speaking with this reporter during a mini motorcade in Basseterre held on Friday 17th March 2023 – organised by the schoolin efforts of spreading awareness about Down syndrome, also called trisomy 21. Participants including teachers, parents, students and other supporters wore colourful socks and held the social media photo frame with the words ‘World Down Syndrome Day’. ‘It’s not my extra chromosome that makes me, It’s because I loved’ was a top placard message.
Notably, the theme ‘With Us…Not For Us’ was observed leading up to World Down Syndrome Day-21st March. Local education pamphlet given out that day of the motorcade to members of the public, explained that Down syndrome includes certain birth defects, learning problems and facial features.
Furthermore, it was stated that a child may also have heart defects and problems with vision and hearing and that how severe or mild such problems are varies from child to child. “So, what is happening is that we’re spreading awareness of the Down syndrome community and by doing that we’re having a mini motorcade throughout the Basseterre area so that the people can know what we’re doing and what we’re spreading awareness for,” commented Teacher Bradshaw. – NEWS – More information about Down syndrome indicates what causes the condition.
As gathered, when a baby is conceived, a normal egg cell and normal sperm cell which have 23 chromosomes each (total 46), sometimes an error occurs when the 46 chromosomes are being divided in half. As a result, an egg or sperm may keep copies of chromosome number 21 instead of just 1 copy, and if that egg or sperm is fertilized then the baby will have 3 copies of chromosome number 21.
“These children were born with an extra chromosome that is the cause of down syndrome,” Teacher Bradshaw informed whilst noting “Most of them do not function normally.” “What do the socks represent? because the chromosomes are shaped like a sock, that is why we use socks to spread awareness about Down syndrome,” she shared. Quizzed about the education structure of the school, she outlined: “At Cotton Thomas, we are trained teachers there who deal with individuals who have special needs, and Down syndrome is one of them.” Meanwhile, event participant Alicia had this to say: “Well, as a parent, having a child living with Down syndrome is not an easy task because some of them tend to operate slower than others; they just do things different to a normal person but the most I can say is that they are human beings and they deserve love anyway.” A participant poses for a photo during an awareness mini motorcade for Down syndrome held in Basseterre on Friday 17th March 2023.
His placard reads: ‘It’s not my extra chromosome that makes me, It’s because I’m loved.’ (Spokesman Snap)
