Contributors
By: Grace Ling Chan
I am a Down syndrome person and if it is not for all the love and care my parents have given me, I would always have an impossible dream. Instead, many of my dreams have become real.
First, let me tell you a little about Down syndrome. Down syndrome I must emphasise is not a disease or illness like SARS or dengue. Nobody can catch it from me or any of the millions of Down syndrome persons all over the world. The reason you see quite a few of us is that one in about 800 babies are born with Down syndrome. Because of an extra number 21 chromosome, we are faced with many challenges in life. This wonky gene causes us to be slow learners. We are also prone to getting heart, hearing and other medical problems.
However, it is not the end of the world. With love and care we reach for the stars. I think I have done so in a way. I am fortunate to be born to loving and understanding parents – parents who are very proud of me. Parents who make sure I have the same chances that my cousins have and most importantly, I am happy being who I am.
Would you believe it that my mom used to fly me from New York City to Boston for infant stimulation at the Boston Children’s Hospital every month. She also attended many courses so that she could teach me to be the best of my capability. My parents were so proud of me when I learnt to read by age four.
It was my parents who taught me to be the best. My mom reads to me every evening and sometimes at night. As I grew older we took turns to read to each other. My Pa taught me through playing detective games he invented and we acted them out. By writing up our cases, I learnt how to write well. My parents are always teaching me and are still doing so to this very day. And because they care so much for me, I always try my best in everything I do.
I am proud of what I have achieved. Love and care inspired me through school and helped me not only to pass my ‘N’ Level in English with a good grade and for me to finish my certificate of office skills in ITE with good credits too. I have worked in Goodwood Park Hotel in Human Resources for 10 years now as a clerk. I am also most proud like my Pa that I am published author. My book is called “I am Human Not Alien”.
I would like to end by emphasising that most of us go through life needing some kind of help or another. And if we are lucky enough to find this in our caregivers, we respond by being the best we can.
** Grace, who has high-functioning Down syndrome abilities, had wrote this speech at the AWWA Caregivers Launch back in September 2007. Her mother Rose felt that these words are still very relevant today in the life of her daughter who is in her 30s. She still works at Goodwood Park Hotel in Human Resources and is a keen potter. After writing her autobiography (which is available still at: The Art Faculty at Pathlight www.theartfaculty.sg/product_info.php?products_id=106), Grace visited many neighbourhood schools as a speaker to motivate the children there.
Rose shared this with Project Care: “My husband, Chin Bock, and I have always brought up Grace, our daughter with great love. I believe love and care is what every child needs especially one with special needs. We acknowledged from day one that being a Down syndrome child, she would need special care. We went out and researched, and talked with other parents to help, guide and teach Grace to achieve her developmental milestones.
Through the years, we noticed that she has different levels of abilities. We helped her along teaching and guiding her with those that she is slow in and focused in on her strengths. We helped her to build and thrive on them giving her great confidence and pride in herself. I never compare and wish that Grace be what the next Down syndrome child can do or is, because for me it is what Grace can do and how I can teach and help her to attain it as she wrote in her speech to achieve her ‘impossible dream’. Grace knows that her dad and I stand solidly behind her and are very proud of her and love her very much for her achievements or no achievements, after all she is our daughter, our child, our very own flesh and blood.”
