Down Syndrome affects not only the physical aspect of a person— for example, growth— but the cognitive ability as well. The extra chromosome has effects on the whole body, from the brain to bone development. There is no treatment for Down Syndrome nor a “cure”. However, there are programs to help children and other people with Down Syndrome including speech therapy, education programs, physical therapy, etc.

   Up until recently, people with Down Syndrome have been in the shadows, labeled as “special needs” and pushed aside. Individuals with Down Syndrome have rarely gotten representation in media or otherwise, and toxic, bitter age-old stigmas have been a cause for conflict. In the last few years, there have been more people with Down Syndrome becoming actors or models— notably, Lauren Porter from Glee and the folk singer Chris Burke. With the fight for representation in many minority groups, people with Down Syndrome are getting— though not fast enough— more of their needed representation in media.