Down Syndrome Archives - More Than Quirky

Down Syndrome Awareness Month 2024

October 14, 2024

TRIGGER WARNING: mentions miscarriage, still-birth and termination October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Down Syndrome is considered a neurodivergence, as a consistent trait is that their brains work differently to the neurotypical expectation. The brain structure of most Down Syndrome people is noticeably different to the average human brain. All people with Down Syndrome experience some degree of cognitive delay, with most having a mild to moderate intellectual disability. It is said to be the[…]

Celebrating Neurodivergent Strengths

March 18, 2024

As neurodivergence is frequently viewed using the medical model of disability, focus is primarily on problems. Impairments, inabilities, difficulties. Meltdowns, learning differences, problematic stims. However, as perception moves more and more towards the social model of disability, so too can the focus not only on the fact the majority of supposed disability is due to society, but that there are benefits. Many neurodivergent traits are strengths, both to the individual, and within a neuronormative society.[…]

The Best Incentive: Happiness

March 31, 2023

There are many tricky elements of neurodivergence that can – and potentially should – be addressed, without this being perceived as forcing neurotypicality or not being neuroaffirming. Usually, the measure of this can be whether overcoming this hurdle is of benefit to the neurodivergent person’s self-esteem and happiness. This might include helping a person with dyslexia learn to read to the best of their ability to allow them to succeed in neurotypical society, or teaching[…]