by Down syndrome is diagnosed based on of the presence of an extra 21st chromosome. There is no way to know how that extra chromosome will impact someone’s physical characteristics, appearance, skills, health, ability, or really… anything.
While some ability may arguably be inherited genetically (like your dad’s terrible sense of humor), the 21st chromosome itself doesn’t determine who you are or how you’ll perform in life.
Yes, people with Down syndrome do perform at different levels and have different skills and abilities. But so do people without Down syndrome.
In fact, all people are shaped by a variety of internal and external forces — their experiences, their health, their environment, the expectations that are set for them, the activities they participate in, the behaviors that are modeled, and yes – their genetics… Not only that, but how each person applies those forces is as unique as the person is themselves. Even identical twins are ultimately unique individuals.
At the end of the day, a diagnosis of an extra 21st chromosome does not define a person’s abilities anymore than their genetics of having brown hair or blue eyes can predict what they are capable of.
My confession for the day — I have been guilty of this thought process in the past. When we were very first told that AJ may have Down syndrome, my first thought was “Maybe it will be mild and he’ll be high functioning”. To my credit, it wasn’t fear or worry or panic, but it was definitely still an incorrect line of thinking.
AJ is simply AJ, and he is certainly unique in his own ways!
