Someone once said to me about Wil, “ but don’t you want him to be the best he can be?” This was in relation to a claim certain supplements could help take some of his Down syndrome features away.

Of course, I want Wil to be the best he can be. But what I don’t want, with all the feeling I have within me, is for him ever to be ashamed of who he is. Down syndrome is part of who he is. Not a disease to be erased, or fixed to look more “normal.”

Why is it that we see people with disabilities as people to be fixed? Why is it so hard to see the value of an individual who does things in a way we hadn’t considered?

I saw a YouTube of a 12-year-old girl with CP who used an assistive technology device to talk. When she was asked what it was like to use that device to talk, her answer was, “normal.”

Do you know a great way to miss seeing someone as their best? Not seeing value in the person as a human being exactly as they are. Not seeing there are many versions of best, no matter how many legs, arms, chromosomes, etc. you have.

I mean, look at those almond-shaped eyes. Why would I want to fix anything he is? 💙

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Published by Christie Taylor

Christie Taylor is the creator of the website, www.WILingness.com, and author of "Stories of Wil: Puberty Part 1" (Amazon.com: amzn.to/30mFoZ5) Christie believes that if we all had the opportunity to spend a day with our loved ones with Down syndrome, many of the stereotypes and stigmas would dissipate. Christie invites you, through her stories, to spend a day with Wil. The more the merrier!

2 thoughts on “Not A Chromosome Too Many For Being His Best”

  1. Nail meet head, again! 🙂 I could not agree more, I’m already at 1000%! I feel you! Miriam’s beautiful little face is magic! Her eyes, her smile, her freckles!!! They just slay me! I melt and fall head over heels in love with her every day, even when she pushes all my buttons and makes me want to pull my hair out and cry and thump my head on the wall! LOL!

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