World “Down Syndrome” Day

March 21 marks World Down Syndrome Day. For many of the thousands of people with Down Syndrome in Romania, every day is a struggle, a challenge and an attempt to overcome many social, psychological and administrative barriers.

All children in Romania should enjoy equal and non-discriminatory access to education. Children with Down syndrome have the right to learn with other children. Inclusion in education is important and essential for a country that wants to build a society that accepts, does not discriminate and has no prejudices. Today, schools in our country refuse to enroll children with Down syndrome and integrate them into regular classes, because they consider these children dangerous, sick or, most of the times, because we do not have teachers trained for and open to inclusion. Socialization is important for any child, regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, religion etc. And a child with Down syndrome needs to learn how to play and communicate with others. The social and academic integration, and later the professional one, of people with Down syndrome is an important element both at the level of the European Union and nationally. However, the barriers for these people continue to have a psychological, administrative or technological nature.

There are necessary measures that the Romanian authorities must take for an effective integration in society of people with Down syndrome. Authorities must make sure that these people are provided with occupational and language therapy, as well as physiotherapy from early childhood. Government policies must include in their programs the protection, inclusion, equality, and respect for any person, whether disabled or not. We must take immediate measures of both social and economic inclusion for people who are in vulnerable groups and are under-represented in public and political spheres of our country.

In order to develop tolerance and openness towards social inclusion, we should inform ourselves and draw the attention of society to the situations facing all categories of citizens. In Romania, every citizen has the right to be accepted, understood and respected.