When the fourth-graders were asked what they learned about Down syndrome during a visit from Preston Taylor and his family on Wednesday, one boy replied, “I learned that people with Down syndrome can do a lot of things like we do — they just need more time.”
Owen Troisi, and his classmates in Karen Roulo’s class were treated to a special visit from Preston, 5, who has Down syndrome, and his parents, Jennifer and Eric Taylor, on World Down Syndrome Day, observed March 21 of each year. The annual observation, held on the 21st day of the third month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. The global observation has been recognized by the United Nations since 2012.
The Taylors’ daughter, Kierstin, is a student in Roulo’s class, who opened the classroom for the visit. The students were asked to participate in exercises and watched a video to help them further understand the challenges of having Down syndrome. A similar visit was made by the family earlier in the day to Preston’s class at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School.
Troisi, and another classmate, Rylie Baldwin, also said they learned that more patience is needed with people with Down syndrome.
“Other people who don’t have Down syndrome don’t need patience sometimes because they can learn how to walk easier and how to bike easier,” Troisi explained. “People with Down syndrome just need more help and patience.”
Another student, Andrew Giordano, said he learned that people with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes, compared to other individuals who have 46.
“So that means their body muscles have to work really hard when they talk or when they walk and try to learn things,” Giordano stated.
His classmate, Haiden Cobb, further explained that this occurs because people with Down syndrome have weaker muscles in their mouths and arms.
Jennifer Taylor said the exercises they provided to students asked them to place a marshmallow in their mouths and then try to speak.
“They did this to show how they had to work extra hard to talk,” she said. “We saw how hard it was for our friends to understand us. We also did a coloring contest and used our least dominant hand” which made it harder to accomplish the task.
“Wouldn’t it have been a little easier to color if you’d used your normal hand to do it,” Jennifer Taylor asked the children afterward. “You had to work a little bit harder, just like Preston and other people with Down syndrome.”
Principal Sarah Tingley said she welcomed and appreciated the visit from the Taylors.
“Anytime we bring awareness” to the school is good, Tingley said. “This is the best age to make (students) aware of this” and to foster sensitivity and inclusiveness for all people.
“We should be doing more of this stuff,” Tingley added.
On a related note, Tingley said each campus in the district as well as the administration building, had a yellow and gold ribbon placed in the front yards this week in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. The ribbons, which represent the colors used for Down Syndrome, were made by Gene Woodmansee, maintenance director for the district.
