To celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness month and to continue with our T21 community in sharing positive information on what a life with DS looks like... we have made a 'day in the life' video of what Oriana gets up to during a typical weekend!
Posting this video took a lot longer than I am willing to admit lol (I am soooo bad with social media and modern technology)! However, I really hope this answers some questions about what life might look like when you are living with additional needs (still full of happiness and fun), where some of her development is at, what she enjoys doing, and mostly demonstrates that she should be offered the same inclusion opportunities as any toddler. This isn't completely representative of all toddlers with Down Syndrome; all children develop at their own pace and have their own strengths and weaknesses, including those with DS.
If you are a new parent of a child with DS, I hope this little video helps you fill in some of the blanks you have when you try to imagine how life may look. If you don't have a child with DS, I hope this video helps you feel more informed, and maybe even confident to interact with a child like Oriana.
Disclaimer: This video is not actually taken over one day (hence the outfit changes) as I am very bad at keeping on top of my phone! It is compiled of little clips taken over a weekend. Obviously not all her days look exactly like this - during the week Oriana goes to nursery and spends time with family whilst we work.
Finally, Stefan would like to issue a public apology with regards to his attire. We promise to try and turn the heating on more to reduce the amount he wears this old dressing gown over his tracksuit. He claims that he wasn't born for British temperatures...
That was truly beautiful ❤️❤️❤️