More awareness for people with disabilities - #Lassmalwirsein

Once a year is World Down Syndrome Day. Always on 21 March, because people with Down's syndrome have the 21st chromosome three times! However, as people with this one extra chromosome are part of our society every day of the year and this should be just as natural as for anyone with one chromosome less, we need a society full of people who live inclusion and welcome every single person as a valuable part of their midst. That's why we support the #lassmalwirsein campaign.

18 March 2024
Marie

#Lassmalwirsein is a campaign that takes place every year on World Down Syndrome Day and was launched by Lass mal wir sein e.V.. The founders Sabine and Marianne Lewandowski want to help ensure that people with Down syndrome in particular are more visible in society and that everyone can and may learn from and with each other. Because in a society full of openness and diversity, everyone benefits.

#Lassmalwirsein promotes presence

The fact is that around 200,000 children worldwide are born with trisomy 21 every year, but many more are not. The fear of having a child that does not conform to the "norm" and may never lead a "good life" is great among expectant parents. Nine out of ten decide against having a baby if they are diagnosed with Down's syndrome.

"The main thing is that the child is healthy" is often heard. However, Down's syndrome is not a disease, but a chromosomal variant and arises just as randomly as gender. Nevertheless, the triple presence of the 21st chromosome still represents a deviation from the ideal in our society.

Sounds like normal family life. And it is.

So how can it be that people in whose families one member has Down's syndrome give completely different accounts of their experiences of living together than the fear of it makes people believe? They talk about family life full of love and arguments, everyday stress and small moments of happiness, bonding and laughing until their tummies hurt, discussions about the right trousers and the last piece of cake between siblings. Sounds like normal family life. And it is.

Only one thing stands out: The sense for the quiet nuances of life seems to be much more pronounced in families where there is someone with Down's syndrome. Finding contentment in the little things and feeling gratitude for each other - people with Down's syndrome and their fellow human beings seem to be much better at this.

So much closeness - so much love

Every year, a booklet is created as part of #lassmalwirsein, in which a few personalities with Down's syndrome are given a small stage. With incredibly aesthetic photos, wonderfully touching texts and a great deal of attention to detail, the creators enable us to get impressively close to each of the people featured, big and small. The quotes and short stories from themselves or their family members are so full of mutual love that you wonder how it can be that inclusive living has not long been a matter of course for everyone.

More information and source: LASS MAL WIR SEIN e.V. – mariundanne