Not a disadvantage: Celebrating the power of down syndrome

This article was written by Alara-Ann Smith

Through classroom advocacy and powerful personal legacies, your teachers are leading a school-wide charge this October to shatter stereotypes and demand baseline dignity for individuals with Down syndrome.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month kicks off this October with a renewed focus on inclusion in the community. Because of the National Down Syndrome Society’s fighting and advocacy since 1980, October has been recognized as Down syndrome awareness month. This month was created to spread awareness and fight for the rights of disabled people.

Paraprofessional Shannon Garber has been at the high school for three years. She has worked side by side with students with disabilities. Garber has anticipated this month, as she plans to make sure her students are elated and celebrated.

“Relationship is key as a parapro, so I like to build relationships and get to know them just as a person, just like you would as a friend, and get to know how I can support them better through their education,” Garber said.

To ensure her students receive the best possible support, Garber frequently enlists the help of outside perspectives.

“I feel like awareness is always key because if you’re not educated or aware of something, how can you help support it?” Garber said. “More people need to realize that they just want friends and to be teenagers. They want to have relationships and friendships and be talked to just as a normal person.”

For over 30 years now, Julie Haveman has been working and helping students with disabilities. Haveman has numerous plans to make sure she uses her role as Student Council advisor to make sure her students are seen and heard this October and on World Down Syndrome Day.

“We spend time talking about the importance of inclusion, how we all contribute to the whole of the group, we talk about the stigmas that go along with students that have disabilities, and how most of those go unfounded.” Haveman said. “We do a lot about advocating for inclusion and equality and making sure everyone feels involved, and everyone feels safe.” 

For Haveman, these abstract concepts of advocacy and equality take on a tangible, daily form when welcoming students of all abilities into the classroom.

“I’ve always had one or two students with Down syndrome in my class. Every student that I’ve had with Down syndrome is always the happiest, the most bubbly, hardworking students that I have; they bring a very good positive energy across the class, and that’s true across the board,” Haveman said.

Nathan Kukla is an art teacher at the high school and has a personal connection to this awareness month. His brother, Jayson Kukla, had Down syndrome. Unfortunately, Jayson passed away last spring. He uses this month to spread positivity and share about the impact his brother had on his life.

“I use social media to promote things that my brother was doing or things that he’s accomplished,” Kukla said. “Sharing stories about him is very humanizing and makes people understand. While Jayson was different, he was very much a character and had a lot of personality”

Kukla reflects on all of the little ways his brother’s perspective changed his own.

“I never knew a world without Jayson,” Kukla said. “It’s made me much more patient with other people in general because he helped teach me that you have to come from understanding other people’s points of view and their wants and needs.”

Kukla believes it is important for people to build their understanding and empathy for others. Little acts and efforts can go a long way.

“I would appreciate it if people educated themselves more, but also if they were more curious and accepting. I’m sure there were plenty of people who had misconceptions on who Jayson was and what he could do until they got to know him,” Kukla said. “People need to realize that we’re all people, and to not treat people with special needs differently, but to get to know them as people” 

True inclusion begins with basic human respect. We must look past our differences and recognize that every peer, disabled or not, deserves to be valued. Living by the golden rule isn’t just about kindness; it is about rejecting the hate and isolation that divide us. Disabled people do not need to be babied, pitied, or coddled—they simply need to be given the same baseline of dignity, opportunity, and respect that we all expect for ourselves. Our respect for individuals with Down syndrome shouldn’t end when October does—it needs to be a year-round commitment.