KARACHI: Five-year-old Zainab sits with her mother, having her hand painted on paper. Next to her, a toddler dabbles happily in green paint with his mom. All around, pre-schoolers wearing mismatched socks dance around to the tunes of Cocomelon’s nursery rhymes.
Two schools came together at the KDSP — A Down Syndrome Organisation (KDSP) to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD).
Rahi Montessori and Ilmesters Academy brought selected students and mothers to celebrate the day with kids living with Down syndrome at the KDSP.
Sitting with their mamas, the children had their faces painted and decorated with mismatched socks, which was the event’s theme.
They played with handmade felt toys and jumped around excitedly in the ball pit. The event wrapped up with mothers and children singing along to the ever-popular Baby Shark.
Down syndrome is a medical condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, leading to developmental delays and characteristic physical features. Not chosen arbitrarily, the WDSD is celebrated on March 21 (the 3rd month of the year) to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome.
The syndrome is named after John Langdon Down, the English physician who described the condition as a distinct set of characteristics. He noted the common features associated with the syndrome, including straight, thin hair, a small nose, and a broad face. However, each person with Down syndrome is unique and may possess these characteristics to different degrees or not at all.
The KDSP emphasises early childhood intervention to ensure children with Down syndrome have the best chance to reach their full potential.
The small, intimate event showcased that the barriers to inclusivity are societal rather than innate. Typical children played seamlessly with those with Down syndrome, without hesitation or an “us versus them” mindset. “Kids with Down syndrome can do everything; they just experience delayed milestones and require different strategies,” explained one participant.
Despite the growing awareness, data on Down syndrome in Pakistan remains scarce.
According to the National Down Syndrome Society in the US, one out of every 700 babies born in the world has the syndrome.
Extrapolating from that, there are about 300,000 individuals with Down syndrome in Pakistan and 30,000 in Karachi.
“Typical kids and Down syndrome kids playing together should be the norm and not a special event,” says Aliyah Ayoob, a teacher at Rahi Montessori (Clifton branch), which educates two children with Down syndrome.
“We shouldn’t have to plan exclusive gatherings just for inclusion. Schools shouldn’t be labelled ‘inclusive’ — they should simply welcome children with Down syndrome like any other student,” she said.
However, significant challenges and systemic issues persist. “The state of healthcare in the country remains inaccessible for people with Down syndrome and other conditions, as they are often turned away due to a lack of understanding among healthcare practitioners,” claims Samrat Channa, KDSP’s assistant manager of awareness.
Their lives, she added, are frequently undervalued, further exacerbating their exclusion from essential services.
Organisations and policymakers must promote inclusivity, whether in healthcare, economic opportunities, or recreational activities, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are fully integrated into everyday life.
Attitudinal and environmental barriers, along with inadequate infrastructure, continue to hinder their participation. “Empowering them is essential so that they are recognised as equally valuable members of society,” she emphasised.
Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2025