From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council proclaimed October 2022 as Down Syndrome Awareness Month on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in support of individuals with Down syndrome, as well as their families, advocates, researchers and medical professionals.
“I encourage all Trussville citizens to work together to promote respect and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome and to celebrate their accomplishments and contributions,” Mayor Buddy Choat said.
According to the proclamation, Down syndrome is the most frequently occurring chromosomal disorder and is the leading cause of intellectual and developmental delay in the United States. Approximately one in every 700 children are born with Down syndrome, representing an estimated 6,000 births per year in the United States, with approximately 85 of those annual births occurring here in Alabama.
Down Syndrome Alabama representative and Trussville resident Stephanie Langford, along with her son Zac, Langford’s friend, Liana, and Liana’s daughter, Layla, accepted the proclamation.
“We live here in Trussville; Zac goes to Magnolia and Layla goes to Cahaba,” Langford said. “I’m just so grateful that the mayor and city council acknowledge this awareness month because, more than anything, just giving them the opportunity to thrive in their own community is very important to us, and these kids are obviously thriving. They’re living their best life.”
The proclamation states that possessing a wide range of abilities, people with Down syndrome are active participants in educational, occupational, social and recreational circles of our communities.
“Yet despite significant increases in lifespan and intellectual opportunities over the past decade, there is still much work to be done regarding the rights to equality, inclusion, education, medical care, research, employment, and support for people with Down Syndrome,” the proclamation stated.
Langford invites everyone on Oct. 21, 2022, to help turn Alabama blue and yellow in awareness of Down syndrome. Then, on Oct. 23, 2022, they’re going to have a walk at Wald Park, located at 1973 Merryvale Road in Vestavia Hills.
“Just everybody come up and celebrate their accomplishments, their friendships, and what they’ve been able to accomplish over the year and all the milestones that they’ve hit,” Langford said. “So we just appreciate this full room and audience.”
Trussville encourages all citizens to work together to celebrate the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and remember to appreciate and regard every individual with dignity as a valued member of the community, and through public awareness, the City of Trussville supports the initiatives of organizations working to ensure people with Down syndrome have adequate services, are valued by society, and can lead fulfilling and productive lives in our community.