University of North Carolina Athletics
Educate and Advocate: Down Syndrome Awareness
December 2, 2020 | Women's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Throughout the 2020-21 campaign, the UNC women's basketball team will highlight various causes, dedicating the season to advocating for and bringing awareness to issues that are near and dear to the Tar Heel student-athletes and coaching staff.
UNC hosts South Carolina State on Thursday and Charlotte on Sunday, and the team has dedicated both games to Down syndrome awareness.
Some facts about Down syndrome:
• People with Down syndrome work, vote, have relationships, attend school, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways. (ndss.org)
• People with Down syndrome have low muscle tone, which impacts speech, digestion, fitness, fine and gross motor skills and more. Since people with Down syndrome share common physical facial traits, they are often subjected to bullying, prejudice and cruelty. (gigisplayhouse.org)
• About one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome. While the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother, higher fertility rates in younger women lead to 80% of children with Down syndrome being born to women under 35 years of age. (ndss.org)
This week the team hosted a Zoom call with GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh. Players were able to meet their pen pals, and a fun evening of conversation and laughter was had.
Some ways you can help:
• Be accepting and inclusive and use your voice to encourage others to do the same.
• Empower and support individuals with Down syndrome.
• It is not okay to use the word "retarded" in any derogatory context. Use of the word is hurtful and suggests that people with disabilities are not competent. And that just isn't true.
The following organizations offer opportunities to make an impact.
Click to read more about:
• GiGi's Playhouse
• National Down Syndrome Alliance
• North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance
• Special Olympics North Carolina
Together we can make the world better for individuals with Down syndrome.
UNC hosts South Carolina State on Thursday and Charlotte on Sunday, and the team has dedicated both games to Down syndrome awareness.
Extra chromosome, extra awesome 💙
Join us in bringing awareness to Down syndrome ➡️ https://t.co/TV6elcqSGT
#EducateAndActivate | #TogetherWeWin pic.twitter.com/Ge03UB0m25
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 6, 2020
Some facts about Down syndrome:
• People with Down syndrome work, vote, have relationships, attend school, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways. (ndss.org)
• People with Down syndrome have low muscle tone, which impacts speech, digestion, fitness, fine and gross motor skills and more. Since people with Down syndrome share common physical facial traits, they are often subjected to bullying, prejudice and cruelty. (gigisplayhouse.org)
• About one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome. While the incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother, higher fertility rates in younger women lead to 80% of children with Down syndrome being born to women under 35 years of age. (ndss.org)
This week the team hosted a Zoom call with GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh. Players were able to meet their pen pals, and a fun evening of conversation and laughter was had.
Our team hung out virtually this week with some new friends from GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh and also welcomed one of our favorite friends to practice 💙
Learn more about Down syndrome here ➡️ https://t.co/TV6elc9hPl#EducateAndActivate | #TogetherWeWin pic.twitter.com/avXFboDTOV
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) December 5, 2020
Some ways you can help:
• Be accepting and inclusive and use your voice to encourage others to do the same.
• Empower and support individuals with Down syndrome.
• It is not okay to use the word "retarded" in any derogatory context. Use of the word is hurtful and suggests that people with disabilities are not competent. And that just isn't true.
The following organizations offer opportunities to make an impact.
Click to read more about:
• GiGi's Playhouse
• National Down Syndrome Alliance
• North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance
• Special Olympics North Carolina
Together we can make the world better for individuals with Down syndrome.
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