Celebrate Down Syndrome Day in Flagler County

By Shanna Fortier and Andrew OBrien
| 4:00 a.m. March 21, 2011

The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed March 21, 2011, as Fun Coast Down Syndrome Day at its Monday, March 21, regular meeting.

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March 21 was chosen by Down Syndrome International as World Down Syndrome Day. The inaugural day was launched in 2006, in Singapore.

To celebrate the day, the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners presented Fun Coast Down Syndrome Association with a proclamation declaring March 21 as Fun Coast Down Syndrome Day in Flagler County, at its Monday, March 21, regular meeting.

The date was chosen to signify the uniqueness of Down syndrome in the triplication of the 21st chromosome. Thus, the third month and the 21st day.

“We use this day to raise awareness … they are an amazing group of people,” said Paula Wilburn, executive director of the Fun Coast Down Syndrome Association.

The exact cause of Down syndrome is unknown. It was first reported in 1866.

One in every 733 babies is born with Down syndrome and nearly 5,000 children are born with the chromosome disorder each year in the U.S.