As World Down Syndrome Day approaches on Wednesday, several campaigns supporting those with the condition have taken over the Internet.
Fifty mothers of children with the condition put together a viral video of them and their children singing along in the car. The video helped the children and their mothers snag an appearance on the United Kingdom’s ITV, which viewers called “emotional” and “absolutely beautiful.”
“The whole group is so happy that the awareness is out there. We wanted to do it because all we read about is the negatives, a medical check list your child will be born with,” said Tania, who sings in the video along with her four-year-old boy, Henry.
“It’s really important for us to show something positive. It was to show no one is suffering here, life is pretty good, and there are big smiles all round.”
Another campaign lighting up Twitter, dubbed “odd socks,” asks people to wear mismatched socks to support people with Down’s syndrome.
On Wednesday, March 21st, make sure to rock your craziest socks in celebration of #WorldDownSyndromeDay! pic.twitter.com/rXMJYlGRet
— Lee Lancers Special Olympics (@LeeSPEDOlympics) March 19, 2018
Ready for #LotsOfSocks on #WorldDownSyndromeDay @RCSD_No81 @CdnDownSyndrome pic.twitter.com/j4jtcvHViS
— Mrs. A. Greenough (@mrsagreenough) March 16, 2018
Five-year-old Chloe brought attention to the sock campaign with an adorable video that garnered over 20 million views.
This year saw heightened Down syndrome awareness even before World Down Syndrome Day drew near.
Baby supplies company Gerber chose its first “spokesbaby” with Down syndrome, one-year-old Lucas.
Earlier this month, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R., Wash.), who has a young son with Down syndrome, reacted with disgust to a Washington Post write-up stating “women need that right” to abort children with the condition.
After reading the opinion piece in the @washingtonpost about aborting babies with Down syndrome, I struggled to put into words how offensive it is. Thread…
— CathyMcMorrisRodgers (@cathymcmorris) March 12, 2018
“I struggled to put into words how offensive it is,” she tweeted. “I know how difficult it is to be told that your child’s life is going to be different than you dreamed.”
McMorris Rogers gave a long list of children with the condition who are “changing the world,” including her own son, Cole.
“They are a reminder to us all that we live in an extraordinary time in which we’re not bound by the conditions of our birth. We should be celebrating what every life has to offer. Every baby has a right to life, period.”