In highschool, I volunteered as a tutor in the special needs class during my spare period. It was my first experience really being around Down Syndrome people for an extended period of time...and they were the sweetest, most caring, misunderstood people I have ever met. It really opened my eyes and helped me to accept peoples differences...those kids definitely taught me more than I could ever teach them.

I know a gal in her 20's who has a sister with Down's Syndrome. This gal Carrie is so cute. She looks a lot younger than she is and you sometimes think she is a kid. The other day she grabbed her bag and it was a Pokemon tote bag. She was eating a hamburger and the ketchup made a saucy grin on her cheeks. She is one of the most friendly and nicest people you would ever want to meet. She is always smiling and happy to see you. Her sister is tall and beautiful with curly hair and she is very short with straight hair. They remind me of that movie "Riding the Bus with My Sister".

My cousin had down syndrome. He was 18 and had the mind of a 10 or 11 year old. He was the sweetest, most selfless person I have ever known. He passed away in the summer of 2004 from a disease that came along with down syndrome. He was made fun of a lot, but in high school more people started giving him a chance and when he passed, so many people were affected.

When I was going into the 5th grade, I changed schools. The new one had a "special class" of about 4 students, 2 of which had Down Syndrome. Every day at recess they would just stand around doing nothing. No one would talk to them or play with them at all. The little group that I hung out with decided to invite them to play with us. Every day after that they would be waiting for us to come out, grinning ear to ear. We had SO much fun..those were the sweetest 4 kids in the whole school, and no matter what game was being played, they went at it with such enthusiasm. Of course, my friends and I were then avoided because we played with "kids from the special class" but we really didn't care, we had made 4 REAL friends and hopefully made their day at school a little better..recess anyway. Here's the "good" part. After about a week one of the teachers pulled us aside and told us not to play with them any more, when we asked why, she wouldn't say. When we went outside that day they ran to meet us, smiling, happy and ready for their favorite game of tag..so we played with them anyway. The teacher made us go inside and said that she was going to talk to the principle. I don't know what was said in his office, but he came to the classroom and told us to go out and play..with whoever we chose. No one ever told us not to play with them again.

I have looked after many downs children and adults, and they are a pleasure to look after, i just feel sad for them that although we all try to give them a good quality of life, society still does not understand the conditon and are quite cruel about them...i have a great relationship with people who have this condition..and a big applause for the parents that raise them!