Background information about Down syndrome and useful links
Around one in every 1000 babies born in the UK will have Down syndrome.
There are 60,000 people in the UK with the condition.
People with Down syndrome are people first. Please refer to "children with Down syndrome" or "a person with Down syndrome" and not to "Down's children" or even worse "a Downs".
Although the chance of a baby having Down syndrome is higher for older mothers, more babies with Down syndrome are born to younger women. Babies with Down syndrome into families from all social, economic and racial backgrounds, and to parents of all ages.
Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in a babys cells. It occurs by chance at conception and is irreversible. Each cell in the body usually has 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total). Individuals with Down syndrome have an additional copy of chromosome 21 in all or some of the cells in their body (making 47 chromosomes in total).
Down syndrome is not a disease. People with Down syndrome are not ill and do not suffer from the condition.
People with the syndrome will have a degree of learning difficulty. However, most people with Down syndrome will walk and talk and many will read and write, go to ordinary schools and lead fulfilling, semi-independent lives.
Today the average life expectancy for a person with Down syndrome is between 50 and 60. A considerable number of people with Down syndrome live into their 60's.
Useful web links:
