Down Syndrome does not define Jijo. He is a person with Down Syndrome.  Calling all Mummies and Daddies to understand this.

However, it is not easy to deal with the fact that you have a child with Down Syndrome in a country like India where mediocrity is a crime – bringing up children with special needs has never been easy!  But we have to create our own world of happiness and believe in things others cannot yet see.

Step one is to accept and learn ways to tackle the issue.   After Jijo was born to me instead of thinking what should be done I began to think why I was chosen for this seemingly difficult work. A C-section child who looked angelic is actually the one who will be the cause of my worry was the only thought which stuck with me.  And then began the process of learning - which is something I have to share with you all:

People with Down Syndrome can do the same things that you can do!  Only they do it slow and take time to understand.  
Moral: Be patient with them.

They can read, write, attain school/college, can hold jobs. They can be athletes, artists, musicians, body builders, fashion models but with a little difference – they need to be guided.  They only take a tad bit more time to reach some milestones than any regular individual. 

With proper intervention, parental guidance, support from society – school, work place – they can rock the world and be an important contributor to society and their kind.  They nurture dreams and persistently work towards it!

-Moushumi Das (Jijo’s mother)