Join the Colorful Socks Team and show solidarity with people with Down syndrome
25.07.2024
The arrival of spring is not the only occasion for celebration on March 21.
On this day we also celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. You, too, can show your support for them by joining the #TeamColorSocks educational campaign. All you have to do is wear two flashy socks that don’t match, take a picture of them and post it on your social media channels with the action hashtag. This way, among your friends, you can show your positive attitude and help change social stereotypes.
There are about 60,000 living in Poland. people with Down syndrome.
Although their perceptions have been debated for years, public attitudes toward them continue to be a problem that negatively affects their lives. The vast majority (79%) of participants in the nationwide opinion poll have encountered offensive use of the term “You Downie.” Nearly 19% of Poles, on the other hand, believe that people with trisomy 21 are sometimes aggressive, and 11% believe that they have no sense of humor. Nearly one in ten of us (9%) believe that Down syndrome is more common in poor families.
A similar picture emerges from an analysis of content about Down syndrome published online, of which the overwhelming majority is negative (96%) or neutral (28%), and only 3% positive.
The second major social problem, besides negative attitudes, is the lack of knowledge about Down syndrome. Nearly 9% of Poles believe that this genetic defect can be contracted. There are also other harmful stereotypes in society. Still, 15% of us believe that people with Down syndrome can’t work, 12% that they can’t study at school, 12% that they can’t play sports, and 10% that they can’t use the Internet.
Ignorance is a source of lack of understanding and sometimes even fear, which causes negative reactions. Completely unnecessary. People with Down syndrome are a lot like any of us. The same way they go to school or work every morning. In the same way, they have their passions and dreams. In the same way, they need positive relationships with other people. When you meet someone with Down syndrome, all it takes is a smile, a simple gesture of cordiality that we show to others every day
Ewa SuchcickaPresident of the Association of Families and Caregivers of People with Down Syndrome “More Loved”
Colorful Socks team against stereotypes
In order to change public perceptions of people with Down syndrome, the third installment of the #DownSyndromeColorSocks campaign has just been launched. It’s a campaign that was sparked by the dream of Monica with trisomy 21, who wanted to become an Internet star. To make this dream come true, her sister, Kaja Bielawska, joined the forces of dozens of people from the world of marketing and communications who were involved in carrying out the campaign.
Anyone can join in by wearing two colorful unmatched socks on March 21. In this era of pandemics, it is especially important to promote positive ideas online, too, on social media, which is why organizers are encouraging people to upload photos of their socks on social media on that day along with the hashtag #TeamColoredSocks.
Join the Colorful Socks Team! Together, let’s remind the world that people with Down syndrome have the same needs as people without disabilities. They need respect, tolerance and acceptance. Let this positive message resound loud enough to stay in our consciousness for the whole year!
Kaja Bielawskacampaign organizer
The educational campaign also included a promotional video www.zespolkolorowychskarpetek.pl showing couples consisting of people without disabilities and those with Down syndrome. Its goal is to show the latter as active, full-fledged members of our society, who at the same time need the benevolent presence of others.
A colorful start to spring
Why have flamboyant out-of-shape socks become the way to show solidarity? Down syndrome is a genetic defect where 21. The chromosome consists of three “arms” instead of two. One of them is therefore “out of step.” It also happens that people with Down syndrome have trouble recognizing shapes or colorful patterns, so that they can sometimes be seen wearing two different socks.
But the only thing that doesn’t match are the socks. People with Down syndrome establish strong relationships with others and need our acceptance and support. Although different, like one sock from another, they can bring a lot of color and joy into our lives
Kaja BielawskaThe date of the campaign is also no coincidence. World Down Syndrome Day, under the auspices of the United Nations, is celebrated on March 21 because the numbers 3 and 21 symbolize the third, “excess” arm in the twenty-first chromosome, the presence of which is the main cause of this genetic defect. The name of Down syndrome, otherwise known as trisomy 21. chromosome, is named after British physician John Langdon Down, who was the first to describe it.
The #ColoredSocks campaign is being implemented on a pro bono basis on behalf of the Association of Families and Caregivers of People with Down Syndrome “More Loved”. Its sponsor is the Many Mornings brand. The Artegence agency is the author of the concept and script and producer of the promotional video supporting the campaign. For more information about the campaign and Down syndrome, visit www.zespolkolorowychskarpetek.pl.
