Culture
23:13, 21-Mar-2018
World Down Syndrome Day: When dancing challenges disability
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A group of people with Down Syndrome are fighting discrimination through dancing, spreading awareness about the genetic disorder as Wednesday marks World Down Syndrome Day.
Jen Blackwell, a young woman who has Down Syndrome, founded DanceSyndrome after feeling frustrated with the lack of training and performance opportunities for disabled people.
Blackwell's initiative to empower disabled people through dancing and free body expression led her to set up the charity group in 2009.
Her dancing troupe welcomes everyone, enabled and disabled alike.
"I do have Down Syndrome, but my disability doesn’t define me," Blackwell said, adding that she wants to inspire others too.
Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a third copy of chromosome 21.
People with Down Syndrome experience intellectual and physical disability, including lack of characteristic facial appearance and developmental slowdown. However, most people in the dance troupe have learning disability, thus they are still able to challenge themselves with physical activities, such as dancing and swimming.