Read on Twitter
Rich info from @MGHDownSyndrome and #COVID for families in the Down syndrome community - some specific details to Massachusetts - But valuable elsewhere too (and a nice link to our @HCARDD vaccine info) - @DSRFcanada @CdnDownSyndrome ... a thread 1/9 https://twitter.com/MGHDownSyndrome/status/1349762314225004546
This was a busy week in the Canadian media about Down syndrome, (see links that follow) which I was so happy to see - but can we now work together to put as much effort into giving ppl info on what THEY CAN DO as we do about highlighting what is wrong? .. 2/9
This story highlighted challenges faced by ppl w Down syndrome & focused on a couple with DS in isolation, as well as a mom of a toddler - introducing the public to alarming statistics about DS COVID outcomes ..3/9 https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/it-s-a-constant-worry-individuals-with-down-syndrome-at-greater-risk-of-covid-19-1.5261333?taid=5ffbbf8e60df9a000118a771&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+New+Content+(Feed)&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
This piece began w Andrew Bingham, a young man with DS, & @WayneRLeslie explaining to @CBCStephenQuinn how in Canada ppl w Down syndrome aren’t recognized as being part of a high risk group & their ask in BC to include this group and reasons why ..4/9 https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-91/clip/15818681
And this story from Hamilton offered a family perspective on pandemic impacts, again reviewing the frightening statistics and need to include Down syndrome in vaccine priorities ..5/9 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hamilton-canada-down-syndrome-covid19-1.5872818?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar
[Strangely, this all happened the same week that @sportsnet aired this documentary about one man with Down syndrome, Joey Moss, a national hero ( @sportsnet can you post the full video for all of us to watch?).. ] https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/anything-joey-documentary-air-thursday-sportsnet/
Education & advocacy is CRUCIAL. In contrast to other countries which have named DS in their vaccine policy as well as other developmental disability groups, Canada hasn't. We must continue to build awareness about why this matters..6/9 https://healthydebate.ca/2021/01/topic/developmental-disabilities-vaccination-planning via @healthydebate
And at the same time, we need to be educating the community - self advocates, families, and workers - to help them interpret the evidence, to address their questions, and we need to support them so they can manage better as the pandemic continues & vaccines become available..7/9
To do this right means all hands on deck - curating resources together with their input - making sure they reach the people who need them in a range of formats & facilitating conversations so ppl can interact with info they receive & feel supported ..8/9 https://www.porticonetwork.ca/web/hcardd/news/-/blogs/covid-19-blog-3
For more info on what we are working on, check out http://www.hcarddcovid.com/info - you can respond to this thread with helpful resources from your community ..9/9
