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Letter to the Editor: Thanks for compassion
By: Amy Shuck, Community Contributor
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Posted by admin
Mon Sep 18, 2006 13:19:37 PDT
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I wanted to thank Casey Sharifi for her courage to share her son’s story in the Aug. 16 edition. My daughter has Down syndrome and people often say the wrong thing or ignore her altogether. I do not think people are purposely being rude or insensitive but behave this way out of ignorance.
Many people assume that my daughter can only play with children who also have Down syndrome because “they are all the same.” Yet, no one would assume that all children with freckles are the same. Often times when someone has a label, society forgets that there is an individual underneath.
My daughter has Down syndrome but that is not who she is. She is a 2 1/2-year-old with her own personality, preferences and mind. She likes dogs, playing ball and having tea parties. Her favorite color is purple. She loves chocolate and hates watermelon. She likes books, singing and dancing. She pouts when she does not get her way. She helps me bake, fold laundry and picks up her toys. She enjoys playing with her brother and sister.
As a result of the Down syndrome, her speech is difficult to understand, so she communicates through sign language. She is just now beginning to walk and she sees a cardiologist twice a year. Sometimes she needs a little more help than her siblings, but that does not change the fact that she is still a person.
So the next time you see someone with special needs, please remember that they are a person just like you and treat them as you would like to be treated.
Thank you.
Amy Shuck
