March 21 is International Day of Down Syndrome.

Working with Children with Down Syndrome at the Caroline Cox Rehabilitation Center
March 21 is International Day of Down Syndrome. That number has been on the calendar since 2006. The day is chosen not by chance, it has a symbolic meaning. In people with Down Syndrome, the 21st chromosome is divided into three parts, which is why it was decided to consider the 21st day of the third month as Down Syndrome Day.
The English physician John Langdon Down first described the syndrome in 1866, which later bore his name.
It is interesting to note that the first discoverer called the disease Mongolism because the faces of people with the disease resembled those of the Mongoloid race, but the World Health Organization in 1965. The name was revoked at the request of Mongolian experts.
It is possible that the name of this disease will still change! Because the US National University of Health advised to change the name, explaining that Dr. Down did not have the syndrome.
Every year, 3000-5000 children are born with Down syndrome in the world.
Children with Down syndrome have higher levels of neural activity in the form of varying degrees of mental retardation. Children have some potential for development despite external physical signs. Therefore, comprehensive stimulation of the child’s development rehabilitation measures can give some positive results.
The Caroline Cox Rehabilitation Center is regularly attended by children with a variety of diagnoses, including children with Down Syndrome. According to our data, since 2007, 16 children with Down Syndrome have been attending the Rehabilitation Center regularly, some of whom have already been enrolled in public schools, and some of whom continue to receive rehabilitation treatment. Various specialists of the rehabilitation center work with them: rehabilitation therapists, psychologists, speech therapists, receive hydrotherapy, participate in art courses: pottery, painting, macrame. The center also has a sports club – tennis, which is a good way to improve the child’s physical condition, communication with peers. Visits to public places and playgrounds are frequent, the main purpose of which is for children to communicate with their peers, as well as to inform the public about the existence of these children.
Since 2007, the Center has had a Children’s Health Center, which is attended by children with physical and mental disabilities without these disabilities, ie it operates through an integration program. For normal development integration, the child should attend kindergarten, public school, communicate with peers, live a life as full as possible. Other wise, the child will be isolated from society, will slow down its development and maturation.
Joint learning in stills in the child a sense of self-esteem and self-satisfaction, allows him to expand and improve his knowledge. The child should communicate with as many people as possible և this should be done first of all through kindergarten, school. This is a way to help a child with Down Syndrome develop and integrate into public life.
It is necessary to instill in everyone the position that children with both healthy and special needs are equal and full members of society.