Down syndrome advocacy
Essay contest 2026
for World Down Syndrome Day, Team Iron Will invited students to reflect on the personhood of individuals with down syndrome.
This essay contest offered students the opportunity to celebrate the intrinsic value of individuals with Down syndrome, confront myths, and champion possibility.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 WINNERS!
Category 1
Middle School
Write a 500 word essay responding to one of these two prompts.
Sometimes society focuses on what persons with Down syndrome might not be able to do instead of celebrating who they are — unique people created in God’s image.
Write about what society would look like if we all saw people with Down syndrome through a new lens — one that focuses on courage, joy, and possibility instead of limitations.
OR
Many parents fear caring for a child with Down syndrome. Those in the medical profession and others within our communities focus more on disabilities and medical challenges than on potential.
Write about a myth or misunderstanding about Down syndrome, why it can be harmful, and how students your age can help replace fear with truth. Explain also the importance of choosing hope over fear when talking about Down syndrome and how that hope can have an enormous impact on the child and on the community at large.
WINNERS
FIRST PLACE: Adeline Ashcraft
Read "Kaleidoscope Kingdom"
SECOND PLACE: Andrew Vogler
Read "Choosing Hope over Fear"
THIRD PLACE: Hannah Hoxie
Read "Martha and Me"
Category 2
High school
Write a 500-750 word essay responding to one of these two prompts.
Many public conversations about Down syndrome focus on limitations instead of personhood — the fact that a human being is a person from the very first moment of creation.
Choose one common myth or misperception about Down syndrome and explain where the myth or misperception comes from, why it’s dehumanizing, and how individuals or communities can challenge it.
OR
"Our kids are not defined by a diagnosis. They are defined by their courage, perseverance, and light."
Every human being, regardless of ability, is a person created in the image and likeness of God. Their personhood rests in the fact that they are human beings. Write an essay exploring what it means to define someone as a human being rather than by a diagnosis and explain how believing in someone can transform their lives and increase their possibilities.
WINNERS
FIRST PLACE: Paige Hawthorn
SECOND PLACE: Clarence Harris
Read "Fighting Stereotypes"
THIRD PLACE: Paxson Wurdeman
Category 3
college
Write a 500-750 word essay responding to one of these two prompts.
Medical professionals, educators, and even family or friends often have low expectations for people with Down syndrome, and we know that expectations typically shape outcomes in education, medicine, and culture.
Analyze how lowered expectations impact individuals with Down syndrome and discuss the ethical responsibility of educators, medical professionals, and community leaders to set expectations high and see the dignity of all people with Down syndrome.
OR
In a culture that often measures human worth by productivity or independence, individuals with Down syndrome challenge us to rethink worth and achievement.
Explain the importance of understanding a person’s intrinsic value and how that shapes our treatment of people. Then explain what it truly means to champion possibility today in the context of that intrinsic value.
WINNERS
FIRST PLACE: Emerson Brazones
Read "Championing Possibility"
SECOND PLACE: Jimmy Varland
THIRD PLACE: Ally Turner
Ashley Ashcraft (Middle School 1st Place Winner)
Kaleidoscope Kingdom
Once upon a time, a baby girl with Down syndrome entered into a kingdom called Earth. She was born nine weeks early, weighing two pounds and 12 ounces, measuring in less than the first percentile. This princess is my sister, Finley Florence Ashcraft, a great example of courage and joy, defying all the odds during her 88 days in the neonatal intensive care unit and beyond. If we all saw people with Down syndrome through a fairy-tale kaleidoscope, then fewer women would abort their babies with Down syndrome, we would be better people, and we would feel happier.
According to the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee, about 60 to 90 percent of women in the United States abort their babies with Down syndrome. Fewer women would abort their babies if they knew that having a child with Down syndrome comes with more highs than it does lows. They bring more happiness to our lives and show us how to share the love of Jesus. Even though there are sometimes difficult experiences, like the possibility of heart surgery and extensive NICU stays, people with Down syndrome are still amazing people and bundles of joy.
Another reason some women abort children with Down syndrome is because they worry that it will make their other children's lives more challenging and that they won’t enjoy having a sibling with Down syndrome. In fact, siblings will most likely enjoy their lives better. The American Journal of Medical Genetics states that almost 90 percent of people who have a sibling with Down syndrome feel that they are better people because of their sibling with an extra chromosome. Finley is not able to communicate by speaking, so I started to learn American Sign Language. I am now able to share the gospel with the deaf community and set an example for others in my sphere of influence.
Even though people with Down syndrome are not always happy, the world would be a more joyful place if more individuals with an extra twenty-first chromosome were in it. People who have Down syndrome are usually extraordinarily content with their lives. If we were all more satisfied with our lives, we would likely be more loving toward others, like individuals with Down syndrome usually are. In the article “Self-Perceptions from People with Down Syndrome,” the authors found that “nearly 99% of people with Down syndrome indicated that they were happy with their lives.”
When I see Finley’s radiant smile as I’m signing with her, and hear her precious laugh, I too grin and giggle, happier and more satisfied with my life.
If we all celebrated people with Down syndrome instead of focusing on what they're not able to do, our world would be more like a fairy tale. Princess Finley would rule over the land of Satisfaction and Joy. We would all have the power of happiness and courage. And though there would still be some evil characters, we would all learn from people with Down syndrome to live happily ever after.
Andrew Vogler (Middle School 2nd Place Winner)
Choosing Hope over Fear
There are many myths and misunderstandings about Down syndrome that can have an incredibly harmful impact on how we think and feel about individuals with Down syndrome, as well as about the community as a whole. Many of these myths and misunderstandings can make a person with Down syndrome less confident and cause them to feel as if they can’t achieve what they are capable of achieving.
One such myth is that a person with Down syndrome remains like a child their entire life. This myth is completely untrue and leads people to believe that a person with Down syndrome will always be childlike and cannot do things like live independently, read and write, get a job, participate in sports, or even attend high school and college. In reality, this myth is entirely false. Take Gabriel Cobb, for example. Gabriel has run 18 triathlons, earned a purple belt in Taekwondo, and delivered a speech at the United Nations. Gabriel Cobb is a true example of perseverance and moving forward, despite what people think about Down syndrome and those who have it. He has shown time and time again that a diagnosis does not define a person's potential in life.
Like Gabriel Cobb, we too, even if we don’t have Down syndrome, can help spread the truth about Down syndrome and replace the fears, myths, and misunderstandings with the facts. One way is to use social media. For example, people like me can create “Did You Know” videos to help clear up the myths and misconceptions about Down syndrome, furthering people's understanding that a diagnosis does not define a person’s potential.
Another way I can help spread the truth about Down syndrome is by working to stop the bullying often associated with it. Many people use hurtful words like the “R-word” and “Downy” or talk about how someone with Down syndrome is less intelligent or less of a person, without realizing how much that can affect the Down syndrome community as a whole. I can help put a stop to this bullying by calling it out and reminding others that a person with Down syndrome is a capable human being, or by telling a teacher about what has been said. Hopefully after being told to stop, they will realize that a person with Down syndrome is just like you and me.
Sometimes, it is very hard to talk about Down syndrome because of all the misconceptions surrounding it, but it is important to choose hope over fear when discussing it. Often, when there is a talk about Down syndrome, some people, including me, stay quiet. However, if you break that silence, the wall of fear comes crashing down and the concept of Down syndrome becomes less scary. By breaking down this wall of fear, you can begin to understand it much better and help fuel hope for a brighter future for everyone.
That hope for a better and fairer future for all, especially for those with Down syndrome, can have an enormous impact on society because change is fueled by hope. This is seen throughout history, from the United States' revolt against Britain to gain independence to Martin Luther King Jr. starting the biggest civil rights movement in history. All of these changes occurred because someone, somewhere, had a dream. Someone somewhere had hope that they could make a difference in the world. By believing and hoping, no matter your disability, race, height, gender, or weight, you can change the world and how people perceive Down syndrome as a whole so they can have hope about Down syndrome and not fear. You can show them that this change is possible if you have hope, just as George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. did all those years ago. So maybe you too could change the world for the better.
Hannah Hoxie (Middle School 3rd Place Winner)
Martha and Me
In my opinion, the fear of Down syndrome originates from a lack of understanding. My sister, Martha, was born on November 1, early in the morning. My parents found out after she was born that she had Down syndrome. At first, I was afraid when she came home from the hospital because I didn’t know how to react or what Down syndrome meant. False ideas and myths are very common, since many people don’t have the privilege of knowing someone with Down syndrome.
One particularly common and harmful myth is that people with Down syndrome are always happy. My baby sister is still little but has a lot of personality. She gets upset and grumpy when she is hungry or tired, just like any other baby. She might be calmer than most babies I’ve met, but that doesn’t mean she is always happy.
This myth can be harmful to people with Down syndrome because they are often treated like they will go along with anything. Emotions are part of what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God. The Catechism says that feelings are “simply the inexhaustible reservoir of images and affections in which the moral life is expressed” (1768). Nobody would like to be treated as if their opinions don’t matter, and it would be demeaning to be treated or spoken to as if one is always cheerful. Martha will express how she feels (even without speaking). Although she is little, I can clearly tell what she means. Martha’s expression of her emotions is, and will continue to be, an important part of who she is as God’s daughter.
My sister has one extra chromosome, but she is not as different as some might think. She’s adorable and five months old right now. She is rolling, cooing, and grabbing things, including my hair. She’s very happy when she is playing or looking at her baby books, but she gets a little grumpy when she gets tired or hungry. I’ve noticed she loves listening to music or to my siblings speaking German, a language we are learning right now.
Students my age can help a lot by just asking questions, being curious, and talking to people with Down syndrome. No one is meant to be alone, and everyone likes having friends. We can help by being kind and spending time with people who are different from us. I know it’s easy to hang out with people who have Down syndrome; my younger sister has it, and she’s so much fun to be around!
Parents of kids with Down syndrome shouldn’t be afraid, and neither should siblings or classmates, because that person is a gift from the Lord, created in the image and likeness of God. At my sister’s baptism, the deacon told us to be full of hope because Martha has a special mission in this world. I love my little sister, and knowing her, I’m not scared anymore.
Paige Hawthorne (High School 1st Place Winner)
Down Syndrome: Diagnosed vs. Defined
Imagine being a book with a torn cover. You know your worth, but others judge you before even opening you. Maybe 1% pause, curious enough to look beyond the visible bruised exterior. But the other 99% walk right past you. Some ignore you and some give you looks as if they are disgusted by the fact that you are still on the shelves. They assume that your story isn’t worth reading, just by what they see. Unfortunately, for individuals with Down syndrome this can be a harsh reality. It is as if they have the words “Down syndrome" written in a bold red sharpie, plastered on the center of their forehead. They aren’t introduced by a nickname or their personality but only identified by their diagnosis.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition where unusual cell division occurs resulting in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. The newly formed genetic material causes developmental changes and the distinct physical features of Down syndrome. Although individuals with Down syndrome are diagnosed with this condition, it is only a small part of their story waiting to be understood, seen, and heard. Organizations like CoorDown work to challenge these misconceptions and show the world what individuals with Down syndrome are truly capable of. Ultimately, they are still human beings, created by Jesus Christ with the same value and potential as those without Down syndrome.
God's immense love is shown throughout the scriptures. In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness.” We were all created in the image and likeness of God. This means that He treasures us because we are His children who are supposed to reflect Him. Psalm 145:8-9 also tells us, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. The Lord is good to all, compassionate toward all your works.”
Samuel L. Caraballo, a biology teacher, reflects on the great lessons he has learned from his daughter who has Down syndrome, saying, “God’s image is displayed all over Natalia’s life. . . . Her contagious belly laugh and her dancing abilities are a reflection of her purpose rather than a justification of her worth.”
God loves us despite our “imperfections” because through His lens all of His children are perfect.
Another common misconception is that those with disabilities are less capable than others of achieving their God-given potential. Mr. Caraballo also shares insight on this topic, saying, “Raising Natalia has helped me understand the danger of reducing a person’s potential to her genetic profile.” Individuals with Down syndrome are just as capable of doing things as people who don’t have it. Many times, the reason they don’t reach their potential is because others around them enable them. This results in them believing that they can’t accomplish milestones independently or without the help of others.
CoorDown, an organization that advocates for the rights of people with Down syndrome, created a powerful 30-second Facebook reel showing a girl with Down syndrome as she approaches important milestones in her life. At each moment, people assume what she can’t do before giving her a chance to try. In one example, she goes to a bartender who assumes she can’t drink and refuses to serve her. She responds, “Hey bartender, you assume that I can’t drink a margarita, so you don’t serve me a margarita.” In another example, she says, “Parents, you assume that I cannot live on my own, so you don’t encourage me to live on my own.” These repeated assumptions hold her back from experiencing independence. However, in the second part of the video, the same situations are reenacted, but this time, people believe in her, and she succeeds.
In conclusion, individuals with Down syndrome are not defined by a diagnosis but by their humanity, their purpose, and the image God has of them. Throughout this essay, we have seen how labels can limit, isolate, and misrepresent a person’s identity. Every person deserves the chance to be understood, seen, and heard for the story they hold within, regardless of how the cover of their book looks.
Clarence Harris (High School 2nd Place Winner)
Fighting Stereotypes
A few years ago, my parents decided that they wanted to bring another child into the family, and it was something we talked about for a while before anything happened. So, once we became registered, we started learning about how the adoption process works, and to our surprise we found out that in order to adopt an infant there were about a hundred people waiting. Because of that, we honestly expected that we would be waiting for a long time, and at first nothing really seemed like it was going to change.
However, after a little bit of waiting, something interesting popped up. A premature baby with Down syndrome became available for adoption. As soon as we heard about this, we put our names in to possibly be picked by her birth mother, which was extremely exciting. At the same time, this situation also showed us something sad about the world, because even though we may have been waiting for a year or more for a typical baby, the lower “demand” for a differently abled child shortened the timeline for us. Fortunately, however, we were able to adopt her and bring her into the fold, and what a joy that has turned out to be!
Before we adopted her, we had some preconceived ideas about people with Down syndrome and how they behave, but we truly had no idea about what was to come or what to expect in real life. One of these misguided assumptions was that people with Down syndrome aren’t “able” and are generally passive, which we quickly realized was blatantly false, as we’ve watched her grow and develop. To our surprise and delight, she started walking at only eighteen months, which was well within the typical age range for most children. She also has a mischievous streak and absolutely loves to get in trouble whenever she can. One particularly memorable thing she does is to move a chair over to the sink so she can climb up and reach it. She will then proceed to turn the water on and dump out the plant next to the sink, making quite a mess every time she can get away with it. She is also super friendly. She will often say hi or blow kisses to anyone, even if she’s never seen you before or doesn’t know who you are. Her friendliness and unique personality have brightened up the family.
The misperception about abilities comes from many things. People often judge people with Down syndrome off their looks and not their character, which leads to harmful misconceptions. Due to delayed learning as well, people often think people with Down syndrome just cannot do certain things. It is a sad state of affairs when these stereotypes lead people to abort their babies with Down syndrome.
Saying someone is “not able” is dehumanizing and reduces personhood to a label. People should try to get to know people with Down syndrome better to show them how most of the stereotypes are either false or blown out of proportion. From my experience, my sister’s life is worth more than her relative abilities and has made my life better just by being herself.
Paxson Wurdeman (High School 3rd Place Winner)
Breaking the False Myth that Down Syndrome Is a Burden
When you see or hear about someone with Down syndrome, what are your thoughts about them, and are those thoughts something you would want someone to think of you? I have two brothers with Down syndrome, and it hurts my heart when I hear people judge so harshly just based on appearance, them flapping their arms, or on their lack of speech. Many have a myth set in their minds that people with Down syndrome are less important and less valuable because they look and sound different from most people.
The myth in our society is that people with Down syndrome are less important, and this is extremely sad. There are a lot of times when people interact with people with Down syndrome and they think they are better than they are and that interacting with those with Down syndrome or having them in their life is a burden. I have two precious little brothers with Down syndrome, and it always makes me feel so good when people treat them as a friend and not out of pity. God made all people in His image, and it doesn’t matter what people sound or look like to change that. He fashioned them with even an extra chromosome.
When people think that they are superior to people with Down syndrome, it’s dehumanizing to them and those who love them. It can also hurt our society by many choosing to hear the wrong narrative and choosing abortion. Now almost 80% will choose to abort based on the diagnosis of an extra chromosome simply because they think it will make their lives harder or their child will be a burden.
Why do people think they are better than people with Down syndrome? I feel our society doesn’t tell people or teach people enough about how to interact with people with Down syndrome. This causes tension and separation throughout the community, which causes confusion and fear because people don’t know how to respond or react. The majority of people are afraid of people with Down syndrome because nobody addresses that they are people just like us, oftentimes even more lovable.
When my parents told me that my baby brother had been born with Down syndrome, I was confused because I didn’t know what that was. My parents told me that he would possibly be behind and wouldn’t learn as quickly as some people do. I didn’t really understand at first, but after about a year of having him as a brother I realized that some kids younger than my brother had done things that my brother wasn’t close to doing. That opened my eyes to realize that my brother was different, but I loved him the exact same. That’s what so many people get wrong. Just because they are behind or look different or sound different doesn’t mean they are a burden. Instead, they are the biggest blessing.
Our family loved the wonder and joy my little brother brought to our family so much that my whole family decided to adopt another brother from an overseas orphanage to become part of our family. He also has Down syndrome. These two toddlers have added more chaos, mess, smiles, laughter, hugs, and love to our family than we ever could have imagined.
I believe the best way to help our world to accept those born with Down syndrome better is by publicly showing and sharing that they are made in God’s image just like everyone else. A lot of people will follow people just because of outdated opinions or not knowing anyone with Down syndrome and fail to engage or be comfortable and miss out on those with Down syndrome. So, talking and sharing with others will show people how much they are missing in their lives not getting to know or have a friend with Down syndrome. In my high school, I have found this to be true. I invited my friends to serve with me at a Night to Shine prom event for those with disabilities. Most were excited to be invited to learn and serve and be asked. But one friend said no. I found out later he was nervous and didn’t know how to be around those with disabilities. I hope my brothers can change that for him. Even just a high five makes their day and will make him smile.
Our society can do a lot better with helping people realize that people with Down syndrome are amazing humans who should be included and loved and have the chance to be born. While some things may take them longer or they may need extra therapies to learn things, it will only make us all more compassionate and stronger, but it doesn’t subtract or take away from anything in our lives. Instead, Down syndrome blesses us abundantly!
Emerson Brazones (College 1st Place Winner)
Championing Possibility
In a culture that is driven by performance and defines worth by what a person achieves, championing what is really important is affirming that identity is ultimately rooted in Christ and in our God-given dignity rather than performance, calling individuals to value people for who they are and embracing their uniqueness. Individuals who are gifted with Down syndrome challenge us to reconsider what it truly means to be human, and as Christians, what it means to be created in the image of God. Too often in today’s society a person’s uniqueness is diminished or reduced to limitations rather than recognized for how that uniqueness can contribute to our community as a whole. People with Down syndrome should be valued and affirmed that their lives are not defined by a diagnosis but by who they are—a person with a purpose and the capacity to impact their world with joy in profound ways.
One of the most significant ways that our culture fails individuals with Down syndrome is by seeing their worth through a lens of limitations rather than with dignity. From early diagnoses to educational and social environments, the focus is often placed on what a person can’t do rather than on who they are. This mindset often leads to expectations being lowered and exclusion in social situations or even society as a whole. If we shift our mindset and look at individuals with Down syndrome as whole persons who are capable of meaningful relationships, we not only challenge the world’s assumptions but allow for people who have unique abilities to contribute in meaningful ways. This challenges the harmful assumptions that society has in regard to people who are “different” than they are in any way. This way of looking at personhood is a shift in perspective and one that is necessary in our world today. We need the perspective of valuing presence over productivity, character over capability, and recognizing that every individual is created in God’s image regardless of ability, and that all people are created equal with immeasurable worth.
Understanding a person’s intrinsic value, or the belief that every human being has worth, reshapes how we not only see others but how we treat them as well. When a person’s value is seen as something that they are born with rather than something that is earned through ability, intelligence, or productivity, people are no longer viewed and judged by what they can do but instead are valued for who they are and how their unique abilities can contribute to our world. This is a major culture shift because society sees worth in accomplishments and success, yet it’s definition is one that is not accurately defined. Shifting this perspective fosters a community built on dignity and respect as well as one of compassion and patience, especially for those who are often overlooked and even marginalized in our society, such as individuals with Down syndrome. It is important that rather than overlooking people who are different, we work to include, support, and listen to them in order to build a community that is more intentional and, one might even say, more humane. It is important to reflect on the truth that every person deserves to be seen, valued, and treated with care. As a result, our actions, whether in education, relationships, or everyday interactions will become more worthwhile, and our lives will be enriched by the blessings of those who have been created uniquely and in God’s image.
This all became real for me when I was a sophomore in high school. I was blessed to be able to attend a Christian school where not only God is the center of all things, but also people from all walks of life or uniqueness are welcome. This includes students who have the gift of Down syndrome. It was during this year of high school that I met my friend named Parker. Parker was older than I, but that didn’t seem to matter. We became friends through the game of basketball. Parker loved to shoot hoops during our lunch break, and I would often join him. My buddies didn’t see Parker for his disability but rather for how awesome he was at shooting the ball. We became fast friends and had nicknames for each other. Parker called me “King” and I would call him “Bron.” We would fist bump each other in the hallway whenever we would see each other, and that often ended with a random hug or smile. My interactions with Parker honestly changed me and, most importantly, my perspective on life and on those whom God gifted differently. This relationship helped me to see the true value of all human life and how no matter what we look like, we are created equal and in God’s image. When we look at people through this lens, it truly can impact a person’s life for the better. Shooting hoops was just a start to accepting someone with Down syndrome, but this simple interaction has made me reflect on myself and how I see others.
Our intrinsic value changes the belief that every person has worth simply because they are human and not because of what they achieve or contribute. When you truly understand this, it genuinely shapes who you are and your posture toward others. People are no longer projects to fix, people to beat, or tools to use. They are individuals to honor and respect. This belief changes everyday behavior. When you start to see someone’s intrinsic value, you end up showing patience instead of frustration, you listen instead of dismissing them, you protect the individual’s dignity rather than showing their weakness, and ultimately you include rather than overlook. This all leads to championing possibility. This means more than just believing that someone has potential but instead means that you now treat them in a way that helps potential become more visible and real. It is choosing to see what a person could become rather than looking at them in the here and now.
Helping someone who has been gifted with Down syndrome means being a champion for them by advocating for them rather than underestimating them. We need to create an environment where people can grow without the fear of failing. Understanding a person’s intrinsic value, such as my friend Parker's, means that our interactions became filled with compassion rather than being just a transaction. It is important to actively live out that compassion by calling out and cultivating this same potential in others, especially in a culture where people are quick to reduce people to their performance. If I reduced my relationship with Parker to one all about performance, we would never have become friends and my view of people whom God created differently would be jaded. Instead, I now see ALL people created in God’s image and filled with value no matter what. The impact that they have on our relational world is one that cannot be overlooked, but rather should be celebrated.
People with Down syndrome should be valued and affirmed that their lives are not defined by a diagnosis but by who they are—a person with a purpose and the capacity to impact their world with joy in profound ways. This is what Parker has done for me—made a lasting impact filled with memories of joy.
Jimmy Varland (College 2nd Place Winner)
Not-So-Great Expectations, or Lack Thereof
What do our expectations mean? Are they irresponsible or irreplaceable? Are they unfair for a parent to have or just misunderstood? And what exactly do expectations mean regarding children with Down syndrome? I believe that expectations are not just healthy but necessary for the flourishing of a child, especially when they have Down syndrome.
I’ll be honest. I never did read much of Charles Dickens. I did read a slightly dumbed-down version of his book Great Expectations once, after organizing our library shelves and getting distracted. The book was for children, but we don’t judge. Upon researching it, I discovered a quote that has haunted me since: "I am what you have made me." — Estella to Miss Havisham (Great Expectations, Chapter 38)
Most conversations about “great expectations” in the nonliterary sense are from one point of view: that you can easily crush someone with the weight of what you expect them to be. But in my opinion, there is another conversation to be had about societal expectations and pressure that is often understated or forgotten altogether. Yes, expectations are a heavy rain and often crush a fragile soul, but if there is no rain at all, that is to say, if you expect nothing, then you get what you expect. Nothing. Nothing grows.
In our modern world, people with Down syndrome are often victims of this. Because of either false information, unfair stereotypes, or negative prejudice against their abilities, people with Down syndrome are robbed of their ability to grow and accomplish what is expected, precisely because there is no expectation to begin with! Maybe Dickens is right, but to word it for more nuanced conversation, I would say “I am what you expect of me.”
One thing you hear when talking about children diagnosed with Down syndrome is the constant harping on what the child won’t be able to do: “They won’t communicate well.” “They won’t drive.” “They won’t be able to get a degree or have a job.” And so on. This is surprising given numerous examples of people with Down syndrome doing all those things and more. Zack Gottsagen was the star of The Peanut Butter Falcon. Pablo Pineda was the first European with Down syndrome to get a degree. Isabella Springmuhl Tejada is a fashion designer. Sujeet Desai is a musician who’s performed globally. And that is just a tiny hint at the treasure trove of beautiful examples.
But what is it that makes some people perform such feats of talent, while others don’t? You could argue natural ability, and I would concede that God-given talent does play a huge role, but everyone is born with talent, it is just diverse and sometimes underappreciated, especially when the talent doesn’t suit the corporate world. But while natural ability does have some form of a role, expectation is the driving force behind that natural ability’s growth.
To take a bit of a side road for a second, I deeply love some aspects of psychology and have taken courses in it before. One thing we were taught is the Pygmalion Effect. In 1965, Robert Rosenthal and Lenore Jacobson conducted a study in an elementary school where teachers were told that some students would perform better than others, and some children would perform worse. As you would imagine, at the end of the study, children who were expected to perform better did just that, while students expected to perform worse also did just that. Thus, we have the Pygmalion Effect, essentially all bundled up into our single phrase “I am what you expect of me.”
This is important because, with so much stigma against the Down syndrome community, parents and doctors, through no fault of their own or through actual ignorance and prejudice, are taught to not expect anything from children with Down syndrome. And when you expect nothing from someone, you get nothing. There is a very harmful, systematic stigma at play, one that is crushing people with Down syndrome’s chances at growing or flourishing, all because we are taught and told to expect nothing. It’s not just backward, it seems intentionally malignant.
So, what can we do? Two things. First, there is a buffer, so to say, which is that while the majority of people will wither without the “rainwater” of expectation, some do rise above based off their grit and determination to oppose the system and find their own “water.” The problem is, this isn’t common, and children with Down syndrome are not encouraged to fight, nor are they given access to the proper materials or opportunities, because they are often killed in the womb long before they even get a single chance. Again, this is because we are being sold the lie that they will not perform or that they cannot achieve what neurotypical people can. And that scares parents, especially when doctors emphasize possible medical complications, even though we have excellent technology in our modern world to combat those conditions.
The second thing we can do is to fight back against the stigma by directly supporting and advocating for people with Down syndrome and putting their skills and abilities out there for the world to see. The more we flood the media and our daily lives with advocacy for those who are actually targeted, the harder it is to ignore. Using things like social media, podcasts, events, and organizations to constantly cheer on and advocate for the rights of people with Down syndrome is far more effective in the long run than trends and hit pieces or false information. It’s true that lies persist, but once they are exposed, they lose power. The best plan of action is using not just our voices to advocate but letting those whose voices are being suppressed speak for themselves. We need to let them take center stage and prove to the world that they cannot just meet but exceed expectations.
Also, it’s not enough to just expect greatness. You also have to give people with Down syndrome the resources to succeed. It isn’t special treatment if it’s necessary. People with Down syndrome may need orthotics, or specialized education, or therapy, not because they are being given preferential treatment, but because they literally need that sometimes. People with Down syndrome deserve to have the proper care and resources because they are human beings with equal value.
To hop on back to my comment about medical technology, there have been archeological findings of people in the neolithic era caring more for their children with Down syndrome than some doctors do nowadays. A child named “Tina,” who was discovered to have Down syndrome, lived to the age of six, which is astonishing, given that they were neanderthals! They didn’t have near the amount of medical technology that we do. In fact, they had zero! And yet they were more compassionate and had a better grasp on inherent human dignity than some of our modern-day doctors. Did I mention that Tina was also deaf and had vertigo? Her family and society cared for her better than our medical establishments do today. We should be appalled by our lack of compassion.
“I am what you have made me. I am what you expect of me. But I will become who I know I am.” Before you just believe the narrative, you should seek truth for yourself. Give people with Down syndrome more than just pity or sympathy, expect them to be great, and give them the resources and materials they need to do so. Support those who are providing lifesaving or life-changing materials and resources. It’s not enough to simply feel sorry. You have to change your mindset, change your view. You don’t have to crush people with your expectations, but not expecting anything is just as dangerous.
Sometimes it is our great expectations that make a lasting difference in the withering or flourishing of a child, and it’s time to accept that and expect greatness because the truth is that people with Down syndrome have accomplished great things time and time again. Society needs to learn that you only grow in the storm, but you should have the faith and love to expect that your child will make it to the other side.
Ally Turner (College 3rd Place Winner)
The Importance of Intrinsic Value
Human beings are amazing and complex creatures with varied talents, abilities, levels of strength, beauty, and more. We are all different, and that’s one of the things that makes us beautiful—both inside and out. In the book of Genesis, when God said “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness,” He gave us an immense gift—inherent worth simply because we belong to Him.
As children of God, we all have intrinsic value. That means that we don’t need to do anything to earn our worth as human beings; we simply are worthwhile. This is a concept that I wish more people understood, especially when it comes to people living with Down syndrome.
For far too long, people with Down syndrome were locked in asylums and treated like they had no value, no worth, and no potential. The world at large thought that they could never amount to anything. But the world was wrong, and it missed the big picture. They missed what really matters, and sometimes today they still miss what matters. People with Down syndrome have value just because they exist. They are someone’s children, someone’s grandchildren, maybe a brother or sister, a cousin, a friend. But most importantly, they are children of God. That means that they don’t have to have a fancy job, a big house, or make millions to prove their worth. Their worth comes just because of who they are.
When we see others through this lens rather than through a utilitarian lens of what they offer the world, we are more likely to also see their potential and all they can accomplish, if only given the chance. And believe me, people with Down syndrome have endless potential. You need only do a google search to find people who excel at sports, who own their own shops, who advocate at the national level, and more. I believe this is because they have people behind them cheering them on and not letting the world tear them down.
But for every one person with Down syndrome who owns a business or advocates in front of Congress, there are thousands more who live their day-to-day lives accomplishing amazing things that the world will never see. They have finally mastered a new skill, they shopped independently, they graduated high school, they go to a job every day, they show immense compassion and love to their friends and family, or they start their own family.
In short, they live their lives and live them well. They do so because someone in their lives has told them that they are worthy, that they have value, and that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to. They champion them, and they champion their possibilities.
This reminds me of a family friend whose son has Down syndrome. I have known the family since the little boy was three. Arthur is now sixteen, and I have always thought that he is the luckiest kid to have his mom as his advocate. From the day he was born his mom has spent nearly every waking hour helping him reach his potential and advocating for him. She was there in schools, in doctors’ offices, in therapy appointments, and more making sure he got the best possible treatment and opportunities so he could thrive. God sure knew what He was doing when He sent Arthur to this particular family, as his mom knows the true meaning of championing possibility.
Arthur has both medical and behavioral problems, but he is so loved and so cherished. This is how the world should see everyone with Down syndrome. If doctors, nurses, and those in the general population saw people with Down syndrome the way that Arthur’s mom sees him, and the way that other parents within the Down syndrome community see their children, our world would be a much kinder and patient place.
We would not have a near-70% abortion rate when babies are prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome. We would not have bullying or stigmas. We would not have widespread fear. We would simply have love. Love for our fellow human beings not because of what they look like or what they can do but simply because they are. They exist, and they’re part of our human family.
The world needs a mindset change, and that change starts with every one of us. It starts with education, kindness, patience, and understanding. And it requires us to see others with God’s eyes.
St. Teresa of Calcutta once said “I see God in every human being.” That is what we are all called to do. We are not meant to see others for what they can give us. When we look at them through God’s eyes or when we see Him in everyone, we start to have a different outlook on life. When we put aside the mentality that people are useful and come to understand that they have inherent dignity, we do something important. We change. We don’t expect others to change to conform to our standards. We meet them where they are and love and encourage them to strive for greatness and reach their God-given potential.
Championing possibility means championing the person and advocating for their needs. It means loving them, taking pride in all their accomplishments, acknowledging their value, and treating them with the respect we would want others to give us. So I encourage you to become an advocate and to spread the truth that people with Down syndrome can accomplish so much if just given a chance. Maybe, just maybe, the fear would dissipate, and finally the world would see value in all people.