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I'm Jessica Kidwell , and this is Neuroversity

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a space to expand our

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understanding of neurodiversity and

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elevate neurodivergent voices and

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experiences . I

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don't often see as much representation

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of Down syndrome within the neurodivergent

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community and since October

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is Down Syndrome Awareness

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Month , I think that means now

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is the perfect time to expand

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our understanding . So , fellow curious

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minds , let's get started . Down

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syndrome is a naturally occurring genetic

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condition where there is an extra

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copy of chromosome 21

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. That means that

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the genes located on chromosome

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21 can be overexpressed

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in that individual . In the

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US , one in 772

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people are born with Down syndrome

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. There are common characteristics

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associated with Down syndrome , but the

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individual impact they have varies

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from person to person , much like

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all other neurodivergent diagnoses

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. And much like

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other neurodivergent diagnoses

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, down syndrome is a lifelong

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condition , an inextricable

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part of the person , and is not

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a disease or defect

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that needs to be cured . Instead

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, there are a wide range of ways

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to support each person with Down syndrome

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to maximize their success in the world

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. I want to clear up a common

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confusion on whether we

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should say Down syndrome or

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Down syndrome . English

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physician John Langdon Down

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was who characterized the condition

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, but he did not have

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it himself . And since an

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apostrophe S connotes ownership

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or possession . Those within

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the Down syndrome community prefer not

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to use it and that's why you will

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hear me and most others say Down

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syndrome . Additionally , within

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the Down syndrome community , person

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first language is preferred . As

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a reminder , I did an entire episode

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on person first versus identity

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first language . Within the

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neurodivergent community as a whole

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, there's a wide range of preference

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between the two types of language , but

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specifically in the Down syndrome

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community , person first

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is definitely preferred . This

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means that when referring to anyone with

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Down syndrome , you will hear a

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person with Down syndrome instead

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of a Down syndrome person

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or a Down person . As

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I said in that episode and I will reiterate

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here take your cue from the community

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that you are in and don't be afraid

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to ask someone which language they prefer

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. There are three types

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of Down syndrome Trisomy

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21 , translocation

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and mosaicism . Trisomy

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21 is when the person has

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a complete extra copy of

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chromosome 21 . This

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is the most common type of Down syndrome

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, occurring 95% of the time

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. Translocation is

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when a full or partial copy

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of chromosome 21 is attached

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to another chromosome . This

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happens in 3% of people with Down

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syndrome . And mosaicism , the

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rarest type of Down syndrome

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, is when only some cells

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in the body have a full or

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partial extra copy of

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chromosome 21 , while

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other cells do not . This

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happens 2% of the time . 99%

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of cases of Down syndrome are sporadic

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, which means it happens by chance

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Only 1% , and

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also only occurring within

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the translocation type of Down syndrome

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. Is there a hereditary component

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at all ? And

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although there is no direct cause

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for the sporadic occurrence of Down syndrome

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, there has been studies done that

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show advanced maternal age

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increases the incidence of Down

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syndrome . For example , at

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the maternal age of 25 , the

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incidence of Down syndrome is 1

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in 1200 . At

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maternal age 35 , it

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is 1 in 350 , and

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at maternal age 45

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, it is 1 in 30 . Other

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than maternal age , there is no definitive

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scientific research that Down

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syndrome is caused by environmental

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factors or the parent's activities

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before or during pregnancy

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. As I said earlier , down

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syndrome can impact every person

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differently , but here

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are some common expressions of Down syndrome

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Low muscle tone , small

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stature , an upward

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slant to the eyes , a

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single deep crease across the

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center of the palm and cognitive

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delays . People

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with Down syndrome are at an increased

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risk of certain medical conditions

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such as congenital

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heart defects , respiratory

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and hearing problems , alzheimer's

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disease , childhood leukemia

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, thyroid conditions and

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seizure disorders . Remember

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that every person with Down syndrome is a unique

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individual and therefore those

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characteristics and risk of

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medical conditions vary from

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person to person and

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, just like all other neurodivergent

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types , there's a high likelihood

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someone with Down syndrome will

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have co-occurring neurodivergent

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diagnoses , most commonly

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, but not limited , to obsessive

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compulsive disorder and autism , there

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is a wealth of support and information

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online for anyone who wants to learn

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more about Down syndrome . The

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societal stigma and limitations

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associated with Down syndrome has changed

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dramatically through the years . Once

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seen as a life sentence of hardship

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and disability , down syndrome

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is being celebrated as yet

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another unique opportunity to live

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a full , productive and happy

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life . I will link to

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several sources in the show notes that have

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been helpful to me in informing this episode

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, and I'm looking forward

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to future episodes where I elevate

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the voices and experiences of

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people with Down syndrome . I

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went to end today's episode on

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a personal note by honoring

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Daniel Dan , the man Ryan

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Wheat , who passed away on October

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30th 2022 . Dan

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was born at Naval Air Station , pensacola

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, florida , on March 24th 1975

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, to Dave and Ginger Wheat . Dan

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was born with Down syndrome and doctors

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told his parents he would never walk

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or talk and would probably die

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before age 10 . He

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proved those doctors wrong with

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the love and support of his family

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and friends . Dan was a

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friend to everyone he met . He

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made us all better people and

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he was truly one of a kind . Dan

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loved the world as it was , with

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no yearning for something different or

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more . He only knew to love

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unconditionally . It's

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hard for most people to understand how perfect

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the world could be if we saw

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things the way Danny saw them . Dan

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never competed for attention or

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recognition or for people

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to like him . He just rolled

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with the punches . And he never judged

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, just treated everyone the same

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. He saw people

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for who they are . You

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were friendly and respectful , or you weren't . So

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in honor of Dan and my

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dear friend Liz , who is one of Dan's

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sisters and who is desperately

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missing him as we come upon

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the one year anniversary of his

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death , I encourage

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us all to live our lives more like Dan

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and to reference his beloved

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Golden Girls . Thank you for being

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a friend , dan . Neuroversity

8:09

is hosted and produced by Jessica Kidwell

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. Our audio engineer is Jarrett

8:14

Nicolay at Mixtape Studios . Jarrett

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also created our theme music . Graphic

8:19

Design for Neuroversity by Kevin

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Adkins . Web support is

8:23

provided by George Fox For

8:25

more information about this episode

8:27

, ways to support the podcast

8:29

or anything related to Neuroversity

8:32

. Please visit our website at wwwneuroversitypodcom

8:37

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8:39

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8:44

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8:47

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. There's plenty of room for more

8:56

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