Down syndrome (or Trisomy 21) is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome.
Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes – 46 in total.
People with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome added onto the 21st pair – 47 in total.
Chromosomes act like an instruction manual that defines how our bodies look and how they work.
People who have Down syndrome usually have an intellectual disability. This is different in each person.
Some health conditions are more common in people with Down syndrome.
Around 1 in every 800 babies will be born with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome occurs naturally – there is no known cause.
Source: DSi.org
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By Ye Lei
On the World Down Syndrome Day in 2025, Upfordownschina (hereinafter refered to as UFD.China) had two events. One team flew to the United Nations Headquarters to participate in the gathering of speakers with or for Down syndrome. The other team of people met each other by the West Lake in Hangzhou. This has already become our regular meeting.
The hero of this year's international event was Ying Yue, an 18-year-old young man with Down syndrome. He performed a set of Snake ShadowBoxing at the United Nations. It matched the theme of the Year of Snake, creating a once-in-a-lifetime happy memory (this is something to brag about for a lifetime). The highlight of our domestic event was shining even before the event started: Tang Yifeng, a 16-year-old boy, our international Down syndrome ambassador, took on the cumbersome task of managing registrations. Parents contacted him with great curiosity and extraordinary patience (in Tang Yifeng's words), which pulled the registration through smoothly.
Our people with Down syndrome are truly starting to emerge with qualities such as independence, a sense of responsibility, and a willingness to contribute, just like mushrooms after a spring rain. The team leader of each group was a child with Down syndrome. UFD China is really letting go and is no longer the one pulling them forward. We are the ones behind them. Each event were prepared and discussed together with our children with Down syndrome.
Brother Dong from the Lakeside Sightseeing Tour Company was the one who took the initiative to contact me when we just started this project. l willnever forget this friendship. Secretary Jiang Xiaoyan greeted everyone kindly. She was already familiar with the children and adults who gathered together every year. We hugged each other warmly. Every year, the Party members carefully and earnestly took us around and served as tour guides all the way. They even considered in detail where to take group photos and where the restrooms were. Brother Dong said it was just what he should do!
Xu Zibo's mother and Wanqiu donated a lot of cute stuffed dolls. There were enough for everyone. The children even forgotto eat mealsand gathered around to choose the dolls. They were so happy.
he volunteer Zhang Lai is an old friend of Maolv. We met at Jinglu Hall by chance. What a coincidence (Hangzhou is a small place, and it's always easy to meet people who have mutual friends). He serves people with cerebral palsy, visual impairment, and hearing impairment. He really helped a lot this time and solved the problem of the dining venue for us. Our delicious bento came from the canteen of Chenghuang Pavilion. Thank you for your support.
Teacher Chen Lifeng is a college photography teacher. She planned to select and establish a reliable volunteer photography team for UFD China. This time, she recommended photographer Jin Liehui to take photos throughout the event, catching the bright smiles of everyone. Thank you, Teacher Chen, and thank you, handsome Mr. Jin.
On March 21st, 2025, we officially announced the establishment of the Klee Klee Art Troupe. The troupe leader, Ma Wanqiu, took over the flag of UFD.China and led the team members from Hangzhou and Shanghai to nursing homes, bringing warmth to the elderly. This was inspired by Qiqi, a child with Down syndrome from Hangzhou. Hence, Qiqi, who practiced self-advocacy became the honorable flag presenter, and Qiqi's story will be forever recorded in the history of UFD. China.
There is an interesting episode. When waiting to set off, the members of the roller skating team in front of the musical fountain, after hearing Zhang Lai's introduction, took the initiative to interact with the children with Down syndrome. The children with Down syndrome went from being unfamiliar at first to joining in one after another, perfectly demonstrating an inclusive world. I was so stunned. Isn't this inclusion? Maybe there is no estrangement originally, or maybe estrangement exists everywhere.
Thank you the kind-hearted people for donating the banners. Many hands make light work.
Finally, let's finish with a sentence from Zhang Lei, Tang Yifeng's support system and his mother: Thank you all for your tolerance and patience towards Tang Yifeng. I hope that in future activities, we can give more "work" opportunities to our children so that they can unleash their greater potential.
--by Jennifer Lv
Ying Yue is 18 years old and this is his first time going abroad. He represents UFD China for its second time inthe World Down Syndrome Day Conference held in the United Nations General Assembly. Accompanying him on this trip are his mother Zhang Ping, and me, as a volunteer. This year's theme is "Improving Our Support System", and Ying Yue's mother speaks on behalf of UFD China. What exactly is the support system that matters to those with Down syndrome? How do they practice self-advocacy? With these questions in mind, Ying Yue led us to the venue of the United Nations Headquarters.
The floor time for eachrepresentative is controlled within 2 to 5 minutes. With such a rhythm, representatives from all over the world have the opportunity to participate. Everyone contributes a different perspective. The sense of rhythm and richness make the content and form of the conference harmonious and wonderful. I hear a certain resonance, and together with the global audience of the live broadcast on that day, we all hear:
We need more affordable housing so that we can live an independent life.
We need to be given choices and respect in major decisions concerning ourselves.
We need more policy support in education and employment...
Ying Yue's mother prepared two stories for her speech, which was limited to two minutes. She directly spoke in English. It was already afternoon when it was her turn to speak. Here is her speech:
张萍发言的中文稿转译如下：
Ladies and gentlemen,
My name is Zhang Ping, the mother of a boy with Down syndrome and also the Director-General of Up for Downs China (UFD).I’d like to share two stories today.
We have a girl named Qiqi. She once performed drumping for a group of senior people with cognitive impairment. She received a warm response. Qiqi laughed so brightly that her grandmother felt that she had never been so happy before. She is not taking now. She is giving. Giving makes people much happier.Today in Hangzhou, we will have an art group named KleeKlee formed. It means TAKE IT EASY. We will have more children like Qiqi to give performances to senior people in day-care homes in the future. This kind of support is nourishing.
The 2nd story is about love. An artist named Mr. Jiang Yin has offered to donate some of his work to us. We have brought two pieces here as gifts to DSi. Let me show you. This character means LOVE. In short, love is a combination of proactive protection, true devotion and lasting support.
We believe, small efforts will gather strength when they become lasting efforts. The support system we are building is not only about love, it is also about the strength of life.
Thank you for your support!
After the meeting, Ying Yue calmly performed a set of Snake Fist in front of the United Nations Headquarters building, perfectly commemorating his trip to the United Nations in the Year of the Snake.
The great love in the world is the source of energy for the United Nations as an organization, and it is also the lasting force that supports the theme of this conference, "Improving Our Support System".