This nonprofit works to assist individuals with Down syndrome thrive within the Bay Space

By the point June Lin arrived into the world, 5 weeks early and weighing 5 kilos, 6 ounces, she already had scores of supporters to assist information her for the remainder of her life.

June has Down syndrome, one thing that at one time might have meant tragedy. Now, her life and people of different kids are celebrated by the work of the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Space.

Suzanne and Mike Lin, of Danville, excited to study they have been anticipating their first little one, determined to do a blood take a look at about midway by the being pregnant to study the intercourse. The take a look at additionally would search for genetic anomalies.

“I just wanted to know if I was having a boy or a girl,” Suzanne says. “That they had the science to do it and so I assumed, ‘Why not use the science?’”

The Lins not only found out that their firstborn would be a girl; they also found out that she had a duplication of Chromosome 21, which meant that June had Down syndrome, a simple glitch in genetics that will shape not only June’s future however that of her household. The genetic situation impacts mind and physique improvement and might trigger different medical situations, together with life-threatening coronary heart issues.

The Lins struggled to make sense of every little thing. Why them? Why June? What would it not be wish to look after an toddler, little one and later an grownup with Down syndrome? Would they be as much as it?

That’s when the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Space reached out to them, providing solutions to their questions and a neighborhood of fogeys who’ve all been the place the Lins discovered themselves.

“We empower, inspire, and support people with Down syndrome, their families, and the community that serves them, while fostering awareness and acceptance in all areas of life,” says Teresa DeVincenzi, government director of the non-profit group based in 1998.

Down Syndrome Connection, based mostly in Danville however serving the complete Bay Space, works with about 250 kids and younger adults with Down syndrome, and serves greater than 2,600 individuals by a wide range of packages.

That features data and referral sources, a Communication Readiness Program, household assist teams, music remedy, workshops and neighborhood packages.  The nonprofit additionally presents the THRIVE program (an acronym for Collectively, Comfortable, Revered, Impartial, Valued and Empowered), which promotes bodily, cognitive and behavioral expertise.

“The Down Syndrome Connection is a critical resource for families with a child born with Down syndrome,” DeVincenzi says, “and we are there for them as their child grows, with programs at every stage in the life cycle.”

For the Lin household, that assist and help started earlier than June’s start.

Suzanne was in her mid 30s, which put her in danger for a excessive threat being pregnant – many kids with Down syndrome are born to older moms – however that wasn’t even a priority for her when she selected a extra superior take a look at to find out the intercourse. The couple was trying ahead to sharing the information with family and friends, however as an alternative, Suzanne obtained a telephone name saying the couple was being referred to a genetic specialist. Extra testing confirmed the sooner prognosis.

The docs at Kaiser gave the Lins a pamphlet for the Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Space, but it surely was some time earlier than Suzanne might even convey herself to have a look at it.

“Everything felt like a dead end,” Suzanne says. “There were no right answers.”

At 22 weeks pregnant, the Lins nonetheless had the choice of ending the being pregnant, however they weren’t positive they needed to try this. The ground had dropped out from below them, Suzanne says, however they discovered surer footing after reaching out, by the Connection, to a mom of an older little one with Down syndrome. The girl was sincere with them, but in addition hopeful. She confirmed not an oz. of remorse.

In the meantime, Mike began making a chart. It confirmed their fears and issues, however for each destructive, Mike discovered many positives, together with his perception that being June’s mother and pop would make them higher mother and father than they may have been in any other case.

June, now 7, loves Disney princesses, coloring, books and asking “Hey Google, fart.” Her youthful brother, Oliver, 6, taught her that. When it got here time to enter college, the Lins participated within the group’s Communication Readiness Program, which prepares the scholar and household for what’s forward and offers the youngsters with a strategy to higher talk with their lecturers and fellow college students.

The group gave June an iPad loaded with a speech program. She pushes the buttons and the iPad speaks for her. It has helped her, the Lins say, to step out of the isolation her disabilities can put her in, and to assist her converse for herself.