If you asked the average Canadian if they were satisfied (not happy, just satisfied) with their life, 78 percent would say yes. But if you asked the average person with Down Syndrome if they were happy, that percentage would shoot up to nearly 99%.
This study asks people with Down syndrome (DS), ages 12 and
older, about their self-perception so that their information could
be shared with new and expectant parents of children with DS.
We analyzed valid and reliable survey instruments from 284
people with DS on the mailing lists of 6 non-profit DS organizations around the country. Among those surveyed, nearly 99%
of people with DS indicated that they were happy with their lives,
97%liked who they are, and 96%liked howthey look. Nearly 99%
people with DS expressed love for their families, and 97% liked
their brothers and sisters. While 86% of people with DS felt they
could make friends easily, those with difficulties mostly had
isolating living situations. A small percentage expressed sadness
about their life. In our qualitative analysis, people with DS
encouraged parents to love their babies with DS, mentioning
that their own lives were good. They further encouraged healthcare professionals to value them, emphasizing that they share
similar hopes and dreams as people without DS. Overall, the
overwhelming majority of people with DS surveyed indicate they
live happy and fulfilling lives.
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Encouraging healthcare professionals to value people with DS is important. It is also important to encourage the media to value people with DS. It is disturbing to see criminal dramas portray people with DS as disturbed or psychotic. People with DS are not less human than people without DS.