We are just abled differently

Advocates here say awareness and understanding of the condition remain lacking and more can be done to bust myths and improve opportunities for integration

- Akshita Nanda

Ten-year-old Zachary Isaac Ho likes learning Japanese martial art aikido, playing computer games and being an IT monitor at his primary school. "When I grow up, I want to be a fireman," he says.

Ms Grace Gan, 18, likes trying fancy bubble tea drinks and is studying applied food science at ITE College East.

In 2023, she interned with a food production company, helping with quality control testing in a laboratory. She would like to make a career out of lab work and will start her more advanced Higher Nitec programme at ITE in April.

Ms Gan and Zachary have Down syndrome, a naturally occurring genetic condition in which a person is born with an extra partial or whole copy of chromosome 21 in his or her cells.

It is not a disease, but the extra chromosome can affect how a person looks, as well as his or her cognitive and physical development.

Singapore has been instrumental in raising global awareness of Down syndrome. It was the country that launched World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, 2006, a date chosen by international body Down Syndrome Inter-

national to commemorate the triple chromosome 21.

Singapore was also part of the delegation that successfully lobbied the United Nations to officially recognise this day, according to then president of Down Syndrome International, Dr Balbir Singh.

Yet, advocates here say awareness and understanding of Down syndrome remain lacking and more can be done to bust myths and improve opportunities for integration.

People with Down syndrome may have mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, though the extent of this varies. However, as the experiences of Zachary and Ms Gan show, the condition does not stop people from learning new things, enjoying hobbies and aspiring to dream jobs.