You should avoid outdated, offensive, or pity-based terms like "mongoloid," "retarded," "victim," or "sufferer," and instead use respectful, person-first language, such as "person with Down syndrome," as it emphasizes the individual rather than their condition, though some prefer identity-first language like "Down syndrome person". Always put the person first (e.g., "a child with Down syndrome") and avoid labels like "Down's" or describing them as "afflicted" or "diseased".
Please look at the person, not their genetic make-up! Please describe people without disabilities as “typically developing” rather than “normal.” Avoid the use of stereotypes and generalisations, eg “They are ….” Consider and view each person an individual.
People with Down syndrome should always be referred to as people first. Instead of a "Down syndrome child," it should be "a child with Down syndrome." It is preferred to say "Down syndrome" rather than "Down's syndrome." Also avoid using "Down's child" or calling it "Down's."
The emphasis should be on the person, not the disability. A person with Down syndrome has many other qualities and attributes that can be used to describe them. “The person with Down syndrome,” not “the Down syndrome person.” A person with Down syndrome is not “a Downs person.”
The best person to answer a question about Down syndrome is a person with Down syndrome. Travis answers this one. www.cdss.ca ------------------- Can a person with Down syndrome drink alcohol? As long as they're the legal age, yes they can. I like to have a beer watching the baseball or hockey game. Alcohol affect.
Key to foods to limit in your diet are:
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is an alcohol-related birth disability and is the number one cause of intellectual disability in the United States. It is also the only cause of birth defects that is entirely preventable. The condition occurs from maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.
Instead of describing someone as “a Down syndrome child,” it should be “a child with Down syndrome.” This is called “person first” language and takes care to put the emphasis on a person, not a disability. Describing the condition as “Down's”, i.e. “He has Down's,” or a child as a “Down's child” should also be avoided.
Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary gives an average IQ of between 50 and 60 for Down's syndrome individuals although IQ scores of 120 have been found in some individuals with the syndrome.
written by 19 well known geneticists who proposed that the terms mongolian idiocy, mongolism, and mongoloid, with their misleading racial connotations, be replaced by Langdon-Down anomaly, Down's syndrome anomaly, congenital acromicria, or trisomy 21 anomaly.
As a result, Down syndrome was also known as “Mongolism” and people with Down syndrome referred to as “Mongoloids” but the use of the word 'mongolism' is now stopped after having so many criticisms about referring a racist title.
People with Down syndrome typically have distinct physical features, intellectual disabilities of varying degrees, and may also experience health issues such as heart problems and respiratory infections. A common question is, 'Is Down Syndrome a spectrum?” however, unlike autism, it is not.
Talking to people with Down syndrome
Use plain language and speak respectfully. Try to not make assumptions about how much the person can understand. A few key things to keep in mind when communicating with a person with Down syndrome: Assume competence.
With no one factor more important than another, it's now widely accepted that these 6 words should be the focus of childhood disability – functioning, family, fitness, fun, friends and future.
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The mental age is rarely over 8 years old, although a few cases of normal Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in children with DS have Page 2 Cognitive development and adaptive functions in children with Down syndrome at different developmental stages 85 been reported 4.
Zack Gottsagen: Actor & Oscar Presenter
Zack starred in the critically acclaimed film The Peanut Butter Falcon alongside Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson. In 2020, he also became the first person with Down syndrome to present at the Oscars.
Down Syndrome Statistics by Country in 2025
The life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has dramatically increased, now averaging around 60 years, a significant rise from just 25 years in the 1980s, thanks to improved medical care, early interventions, and better support systems, allowing many to live healthy, active lives into their 60s, 70s, and beyond. However, this can vary, with some research highlighting disparities in life expectancy, especially across different racial groups, and noting increased risks for certain age-related health issues.
Avoid treating adults with Down syndrome like children. We don't need to call them “cute” or act “surprised” when they talk about an adult topic. They have adult interests, needs, and desires. Infantilizing them undermines their autonomy and potential.
Distinct physical signs of Down syndrome are usually present at birth and become more apparent as the baby grows. They can include facial features, such as: A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose.
Yes. As children with FAS get older, they might develop behavioral problems, have problems learning and retaining information, or struggle with attention and hyperactivity, all of which may worsen as they mature.
A permanent condition, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) happens when a woman consumes any amount of alcohol during a pregnancy. Alcohol use during pregnancy can interfere with the baby's development, causing physical and mental defects.
There is no cure for FASDs, but research shows that early intervention treatment services can improve a child's development. Early intervention services help children from birth to 3 years of age (36 months) learn important skills.