A Recap of Celebrating Down Syndrome Day 2021

World Down Syndrome Day was on March 21, and I want to share some footage from our yearly celebration in Fort Worth.

Every year on 3/21 we celebrate this day. Get it? Three 21st chromosomes? Clever, right?! I am lucky enough to be on the board of the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas, or DSPNT. Our organization supports individuals with Down syndrome and their families, with programs like:

Parents' First Call - When a parent receives a diagnosis of Down syndrome, they can call and talk to another parent who is raising a child with Down syndrome.

Parents' Night Out - Parents of kids with Down syndrome can come out for appetizers on us; it's a fun opportunity for a night out without the kids.

Teen Scene - Teens with Down syndrome get together without their parents. They do normal teen activities (like dances and games) and community service projects.

Health and Wellness - Dance classes, bike camp, swim camp, and lots of opportunities to move.

SPEAK - We have a speaker series highlighting all kinds of resources and social support, from Special Olympics to financial planning.

We have a yearly golf tournament, a Step Up for Down Syndrome run/walk, and every March 21, we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with an event in our area. Our get-together was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. We wanted to be able to celebrate this year, but very carefully!

In today's video, you will see my sister, Dr. Terri Weinman. Yes! She's also a doctor. Terri is a neonatologist, and also a palliative care specialist. She advises and counsels patients who are expecting babies with challenges at birth like Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or birth defects. We will interview her in an upcoming video.

She has a fascinating job. What Terri does is so valuable to us in the OB world, in helping families to prepare for a difficult diagnosis and a very challenging first few weeks and months of life.

In this week's short and sweet vlog we bring you along to Dream Park here in Fort Worth, where our celebration is taking place. Dream Park is an all-accessible park here in Fort Worth and many families and individuals with a physical disability come to visit this unique park.

At the celebration, there are a lot of happy kids who will be putting on several performances. Every year the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas also has our big 'Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk' in October where we do all kinds of things to help bring awareness to Down syndrome as well as all the abilities and achievements that these kids are capable of.

You can find us at DSPNT.org to find out more information about who we are and what we do. If you don't live in Fort Worth or the North Texas area, I recommend Googling "Down Syndrome Partnership" or "Down syndrome organizations" in your local community to get involved.

So enjoy today's episode and remember - we are all more alike than we are different.