World Down Syndrome Day

2 March 2021

2 Mar 2021

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) on 21 March is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. Here are some stories of people we support who have Down syndrome, and from one of our lovely volunteers.

Jenny

I have lots of achievements in my life I am proud of. The first would be representing Victoria for the Special Olympics in Hobart when I was 18 years old for swimming. I won a few medals for breaststroke and backstroke. I’m 49 now and live at a Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in Carrum. My four housemates and I moved here almost one year ago from our old VMCH SDA in Highett. I like the big spaces here and I have a bigger room. My favourite spot is the backyard where the BBQ is. I love to bake cakes, muffins and pancakes. I like to do art and craft, get foot massages, go out for dinner and to the movies. I love travelling and have been to many countries. I’ve also gone on a cruise. When we can travel again I’d like to go on a holiday overseas. 

Steven

Hi, my name is Steven and I am 51 years old. I follow the Richmond Tigers and have their team posters in my room at Carrum. My room, the outdoor BBQ area and the sensory room are my favourite parts of my new home here. I also like the veggie garden ad help staff to water it. I like to get out and about… I had a helicopter ride for my birthday, I’ve flown to Hervey Bay with my mum and my brother was the pilot, I’ve been on the Queenscliff ferry and have done a campervan trip around Australia with mum. My favourite food is Coca-Cola as a special treat and people would describe me as kind, considerate, softly spoken and gentle. I love my family (my mum Val, sister Della and brother Warren) and like spending time with my housemates.

Want to know more about our Disability Accommodation options? Call 1300 698 624

Peter

My name is Peter and I’m 33 years old. I have a certificate in Hospitality and have done some other job skills training, which has led me to my job at Alleycat Café in Balwyn. I work there Wednesdays and Fridays serving sweets, lunch and coffee. I like to spend my earnings on holidays, nice shirts and scarves. I also volunteer each Tuesday at the VMCH Op Shop in Balwyn. My role there includes watering plants when it’s hot, pricing, sweeping and ironing, which I’m pretty good at! I also pot plants in my own time and donate them to the shop for sale. I like volunteering because it helps me learn money skills and meet new people. The money from the op shop goes to St Paul’s College too, which is a good thing. In my spare time I like walking, bike riding with mum and doing yoga. I have an older sister called Clare and we get along well, I love her. My favourite foods are cake (sometimes), toast and salmon. In the future I hope to continue working in hospitality and volunteering in my local community. 

Patricia

My name is Patricia and I am 52 years old. I live at Wantirna SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) and I have three main dreams: to become a masseuse at Collingwood Football Club, to be in The Greatest Showman and sing with Hugh Jackman, and to be on Home and Away. My favourite part of my bedroom is my Pies bedspread. My interests are colouring-in, spelling and learning money skills so I can get a job. I’m the youngest of ten kids. My parents have passed away but I am very close with my siblings and I’m an Aunty to a few nieces and nephews. Love is in the Air is my favourite song; it played at my wedding to Robbie 12 years ago. Robbie lives in NSW but we talk on the phone. I miss him.

To find out more about VMCH Disability Services, visit: vmch.com.au

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Acknowledgement of Country

We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.