World Down Syndrome Day Archives

Our Story of Down Syndrome: The Short Version
Our Story of Down Syndrome: The Short Version

Our Story of Down Syndrome: The Short Version

For the first 21 years or so of Marcus’ life,

“Down syndrome” didn’t really come up,

and I kept our privacy setting as restricted. Not that I was hiding, I just wasn’t sharing. Why? Well, one reason is because most of those years were pretty, how shall I say this?

Boring.

Not to me, you understand. But to an outsider. Seriously. What exactly is so exciting about going to work and going to school and living in Middle America? Not the stuff of reality TV programming. And I was

Mardra2020-02-17T16:06:03-06:00Categories: Featured on Grown Ups, Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: #WDSD15, adult with down syndrome, Down syndrome, Down syndrome awareness month, life matters, now, then, words matter, World Down Syndrome Day|13 Comments

Take Me Up and #WDSD19
Take Me Up and #WDSD19

Take Me Up and #WDSD19

“Up” by Timothy Wright

The bright blue sky in this photo projects the endless pallet of possibility. The balloon displays the colors of diversity, happiness, hopefulness, cooperation, and potential; it brightens the sky with hope.

With a basket, it can carry us to an endless view of the world below, both vast yet suddenly insignificant. When the breezes push, we may hold hands and fascinate over the landscape, challenge our ideas of where the horizon stops, and float over minutia to embrace the vast.

The air we once took for

Mardra2019-09-22T12:31:44-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: Photo Prompt, World Down Syndrome Day|2 Comments

So Close, Yet So Far Away #LeaveNoOneBehind #WDSD19
So Close, Yet So Far Away #LeaveNoOneBehind #WDSD19

So Close, Yet So Far Away #LeaveNoOneBehind #WDSD19

I proudly share and emphasize the achievements of people with Down syndrome.

I intentionally spotlight success stories.

All the while keeping in mind a spotlight, in some ways, emphasizes the presence of only a few on the stage.

I forever marvel at how much more our world has to gain if we just gave everyone a chance at a solid educational foundation and appropriate health care.

How much further along would our planet be *right now* if “the few” didn’t cut off these opportunities for the many?

The next great scientist, artist, peace-maker, leader,

Mardra2019-03-17T22:42:58-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs|Tags: #LeaveNoOneBehind, #WDSD19, CoorDown, Jamie Brewer, video, World Down Syndrome Day|0 Comments

The Video Of Marcus Speaking at the United Nations
The Video Of Marcus Speaking at the United Nations

The Video Of Marcus Speaking at the United Nations

For real.

If you want #BlackDayBook and Grown Ups and Downs updates, not too often – I promise, Join the Club here!

Here’s what we said:

Listening to Self-Advocates: Relate, Respond, and Amplify

(Marcus parts in bold)

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m Marcus Wright Sikora.

I wrote a book called Black Day: The Monster Rock Band.

I’m a storyteller, an actor, and a singer.

I’m glad to be here with people from around the world

talking about Down Syndrome.

New York City is my favorite.

This is my mom, Mardra. She’s a writer, too.

Mardra2019-06-16T10:01:10-05:00Categories: Grown Ups & Downs, In the News|Tags: #WDSD17, storytelling as advocacy, United Nations, World Down Syndrome Day|6 Comments

“Down syndrome” didn’t really come up,

I proudly share and emphasize the achievements of people with Down syndrome.

Listening to Self-Advocates: Relate, Respond, and Amplify

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