Bloomburg students help create awareness about Down syndrome

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscountynow.com

Each year approximately 6,000 children are born with Down syndrome, approximately one in every 691 births.
Loretta Cothren, student council advisor with Bloomburg High School, said that October has been designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month as part of a national outreach designed to spread awareness.
“During the month of October, we celebrate people with Down syndrome and make people aware of their abilities and accomplishments,” Cothren said. “It is not about celebrating disabilities, it is about celebrating abilities.”
On Oct. 11 Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved a resolution naming October as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in Cass County. Several students from Bloomburg, as well as teachers and staff attended the proclamation signing.
In attendance were Student Council President Trinity Mouser, Vice President Emma Autry, Secretary (and Honor Society secretary) Katlyn Wilson, Treasurer Hope Parker and Parliamentarian Garrit Blizzard. Also, Bloomburg’s Ambassador for Down Syndrome Zach Giles, National Honor Society President Andrew Runnels, Vice President Selena Gaskin, Ttreasuer Grace Lummus, Advisor Whitney Farmer, Principal Andrew Rankin and Business Educator and Director of Public Relations Lauren Anderson.
According to the National Down Syndrome Society, in every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes.  
Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. 
Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.
This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. 
A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm-although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.