World Down Syndrome Day is March 21

Guest Post by Dr. Karen Summar, Joseph P. Kennedy Foundaton Public Policy Fellow.

Efforts to increase awareness about Down syndrome are reaching new heights.  I am very excited that the United Nations has officially designated March 21, or 3/21 as World Down Syndrome Day.  A big thank you goes to Down Syndrome International who has coordinated World Down Syndrome Day since 2006 and was instrumental in gaining the recognition by the UN.

The 3/21 date is significant because of the underlying genetic cause of Down syndrome, three copies of chromosome 21.  Soon, the combination of 3/21 will be as easy to recognize as the wearing of green on St. Patrick’s Day.