For the "Tards"

Today is world Down syndrome day and so I would like it to be known that I wouldn't change a thing about my daughter, who has trisomy 21) except that I wish she would eat her brussel sprouts.

She is a chortling, humming, singing, drumming lover of vivaldi, amy winehouse, squarepusher and lindsey buckingham.

She has a secret world with dolls and leprechauns.

I am honored she chose me as a mother and it is such a joy getting to know her and watch her unfold. She has no needs any more special than your own.

If you have children please take the time to get your children to know another child with Down syndrome as her kind is being weeded out as there is about 97% "success rate" of finding out the fetus has this before they are born and so can be terminated.

People with Down syndrome have so much to offer you and society if only we could redefine the word "productivity" and what is worth living for.

I hope in the future more parents choose to give birth to children with Down syndrome because the world needs them. And my daughter deserves to live in a world with others like her, we all do.