Prenatal Testing

Did you know?

· 1 out of every 691 babies born is born with Down syndrome;
· There has been a 15% decrease in the births of babies with Down syndrome between 1989 and 2005;
· Currently more babies with Down syndrome are aborted than are actually born;
· Yet, there is a waiting list of over 250 families that want to adopt a child with Down syndrome…

As early as the fall of 2011, there could be a blood test on the market that would detect Down syndrome within the first trimester of pregnancy. Of those women who receive a prenatal diagnosis, about 82% of them will choose to terminate the pregnancy. Why?
It very well may be due to a lack of current information about the rich lives that individuals with an intellectual disability, such as Down syndrome, can and do lead. For example, studies have shown that some parents choose to continue a pregnancy over termination because of positive images and stories about people with Down syndrome or because of conversations with parents of children with Down syndrome.

The lack of information provided is recognized by more than just the medical community as evidenced by the passage of the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) Practice Bulletin No. 88, which both call for the provision of up to date and current information about Down syndrome and referral to a support group when the diagnosis of Down syndrome is made.

As a local support group whose mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with Down syndrome, Down Syndrome Indiana’s Outreach Program strives to build relationships with the medical community through positive interactions and encourages medical personnel to distribute up to date and accurate information about Down syndrome to the families they serve. This is a pro-information movement whose time has come.

Most importantly, we as a community need to showcase our loved ones with Down syndrome. We need everyone to see the value that each brings to their home, family, place of work and their community. We need to reach outside of just families with Down syndrome to recruit those who believe in inclusion not only because they have a child but because it is a value that they hold dear. These people are out there. I speak with them every day.

If you want to be a part of sharing positive information about Down syndrome or would like to volunteer, please visit our website at www.dsindiana.org or call 925-7617 today!

Oh and prepare to be….inspired!

Lisa Tokarz-Gutierrez, Executive Director
Down Syndrome Indiana