Wednesday is World Down Syndrome Day, a day set aside to “raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.” They’re using #WouldntChangeAThing to drive home the fact that these are cherished members of our families and community.
While some are happily embracing something closely resembling eugenics in countries like Iceland and Denmark to prevent children being born with an extra chromosome, the UK abortion rate for babies with Downs is around 90 percent. Here in the states, that number is somewhere around 65-80 percent, but some here and in the UK are fighting back to protect these children.
A group of 50 mothers came together to create a World Down Syndrome Day video in which they sign the words to a song using Makaton, a version of sign language that is used along with speech to help people who struggle with learning or communication.
The moms all come from a Facebook group of children with Down’s born in 2013/14, and wanted to make it “to show the world just how ordinary and fun life with the condition is and how they ‘Wouldn’t Change a Thing’.”
Mom Rebecca Carless, who appears in the video, said:
“The idea is, we are just normal mums, we love our kids, they love us, and they are just like other four-year-olds, we wouldn’t change them.”
James Corden, host of the original carpool karaoke sessions with celebrities, agrees.
This is the most beautiful Carpool Karaoke. It made me cry. #wouldntchangeathing x https://t.co/56CwvSXY87
— James Corden (@JKCorden) March 16, 2018
Christina Perri, who sang the song used in the video, also loved it:
THIS IS THE BEST!!!!
i’m so honored they chose my song!
my heart is so full!!!#wouldntchangeathing #WDSD2018
💜https://t.co/AA5bPsarU6— christina perri (@christinaperri) March 16, 2018
Watch the video here. Get ready to cry:
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