Having a successful career as an individual with Down syndrome is about breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and showcasing the incredible talent and unique perspectives that individuals with Down syndrome bring to the world. It's a powerful reminder that individuals with disabilities are just as capable, creative, and deserving of recognition as anyone else.
Down syndrome occurs when an individual has three copies of the twenty first chromosome (3 x 21). This is why the 21st day of the third month of the year, 3/21, is celebrated as World Down Syndrome Day.
PALS Magic. This phrase circulates within the PALS community, but what exactly does it mean? It is the transformative work of the PALS community that brings together unique individuals with and without Down syndrome, from diverse backgrounds and experiences, where attitudes are changed, lives are transformed, and we inspire a world of belonging.
At PALS, we aim to create inclusive camp experiences for people with and without Down syndrome to form meaningful connections and build lifelong memories. Achieving this mission requires intentional efforts to foster a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for every participant, volunteer, and staff member.
As we look forward to Summer 2022, we are excited to bring back the PALS model - week-long programs at our host universities with on-campus activities and trips in the local area. Explore what a day at PALS looks like as Lauren describes her week at Philadelphia in 2019. We can’t wait to see you in 2022!
This past month the PALS staff spent time learning about and discussing cultural appropriation and appreciation. While always relevant, this was a particularly good topic to discuss in advance of Halloween and all the diverse holidays coming up as a way to be more intentional and aware of our biases and perspectives.
While the federal calendar marks the second Monday in October as Christopher Columbus Day, many calendars, possibly even your own, recognize it as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a time to recognize and honor the diverse histories and cultures of the peoples on whose land we are living.
In preparation for summer 2022, PALS staff are working hard towards accreditation for all of our programs with the American Camp Association (ACA). The ACA is ”a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs.”
Shining light on situations like these help us all to know where we have room for growth. At PALS, we realize how important it is to continue to do this kind of work. By sharing my story, I hope it helps to prevent things like this from happening in the future. At the end of the day no one is perfect, but we must all do our part to understand one another and to make sure we are providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone which PALS is focused on doing year round.
After launching PALS Affinity Groups in March, we wanted to create a space specifically for individuals with Down syndrome in the PALS community to discuss their shared experiences, triumphs, and challenges beyond programs. Thanks to the help of Sam and Zoe, co-facilitators, we are introducing a Self Advocate Affinity Group!
