In the early 1980s, people with Down syndrome (DS) weren’t expected to experience employment or live past the age of 25. Now, let’s fast forward to today and look at Coleman Jones — the nearly 30-year-old vice president of the Howdy Homemade Ice Cream franchise, which includes a location here in Indiana.
The company’s first-ever employee, Coleman inspired founder Tom Landis to hire more people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. Their efforts for the disability community even landed them on the Today Show.
This story is one of many worth celebrating in recent light of World Down Syndrome Day (March 21).
Common Misconceptions and Truths
Listed below are a few of the major misconceptions still floating around about Down syndrome.
1. Down syndrome is a rare disorder: In actuality, it is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States. Roughly one in every 700 babies in the U.S. is born with DS. It occurs when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, which alters the development of their body and brain, leading to the following characteristics:
- A flat facial structure
- “Almond-shaped eyes” that slant upward
- Small hands and feet
- Low muscle tone
- Loose joints
- Delayed language and speech development
- Short-term verbal memory loss (difficulty remembering recently spoken information)
- Impaired executive function (the brain’s ability to manage thoughts, emotions and actions, leading to procrastination, disorganization and impulsive behavior)
2. Most children with Down syndrome are born to older mothers: Although the likelihood of a child with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother, over 50% of diagnosed children are born to women under 35.
3. Children with Down syndrome cannot reach advanced motor skills: Although low muscle tone, loose joints and heart defects can delay movement, many people with DS have achieved impressive physical feats, such as Chris Nikic — the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman triathlon. There’s also Chelsea Werner, a four-time Special Olympics USA gymnastics champion and a two-time world champion.
4. People with DS aren’t considered for employment: Although this may have been partially true in the past, employment opportunities are opening up for people with Down syndrome. For example, let’s go back to Coleman Jones: He was at the forefront of Tom Landis’s mind amid the genesis of Howdy Homemade.
Landis’s initial inspiration for the ice cream shop came from the number of Dallas citizens with disabilities looking for work in the city — as well as the disability advocacy of former Dallas Cowboys coach Gene Stallings, who had a son with Down syndrome.
However, Landis’s vision didn’t come into sharp focus until he saw Coleman rise to the occasion on a particularly busy night at Landis’s cheesesteak restaurant, Texadelphia. The sandwich shop was hosting a banquet for the Highland Park High School football team when Highland senior and Texadelphia bus boy Coleman Jones went above and beyond his duties.
“It was a real busy night, and Coleman just immediately jumped in and helped serve food,” Landis told the Today Show. “He was super-friendly. I called his mom up the next day and said, ‘Hey, I want to hire this guy. He has so much potential for leadership written all over him.’”
Assistive Technology Support
AT can be a great help for children growing up with Down syndrome. For example, when it comes to language and speech development, solutions like the Speak My Mind app can help kids with DS communicate, expand their vocabulary and increase their confidence with expressing themselves.
The app’s icons are particularly helpful since children with DS tend to gravitate toward visual learning.
“Even common technological solutions like calendar reminders on our phones can make a huge difference for people with Down syndrome, as they can face difficulty with short-term memory,” said Josh Anderson, director of assistive technology at Easterseals Crossroads. “Note-taking apps can also help with retaining spoken information. As we raise awareness of Down syndrome this month and beyond, it’s important to highlight the everyday tools within easy reach — not only for those with DS but for the entire disability community.”
In order, images courtesy of:
NBC / The Today Show
The National Down Syndrome Society
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Apple