Thread

Topic: " My sister, our pain "

By:Guest

It was interesting how just one comment by another changed the way I saw life. I was 10 years old when I overheard a conversation taking place next to me. The two boys were fighting and saying horrible things about each other. It was then I heard something I didn't understand at first but got moments later. One boy said, "Yeah, well at least I'm not dating 'D.M.'" (which he wasn't). The other boy started laughing and both walked off. D.M is my 21 year old sister, and she has Down syndrome. I had encountered such situations beforehand including children and their parents following us out of shops staring and older people whispering about the way she looked. I feel sorry for these people. My sister is a human being, just like everyone else but looks "different". But then again apart from twins, everyone looks different. That day at school, after I heard what that boy said I became angry and very frustrated about what had happened. It was the first time in my life I wanted to physically defend D.M. I regret now that I didn't say anything, I didn't stand up for my sister, the only person I wanted to be around and have fun with, I feel sad to this day. So when I had the opportunity to defend, not just her but all people with disabilities, I did just that. They said they didn't mean to make fun but that's what they were doing, besides they were laughing about calling each other 'Down syndromes'. I couldn't believe they were laughing. What makes it more annoying, we are all in high school, I thought by now they would have grown up. D.M gets more stares from people than the prime minister would walking down the street dressed as a woman. Why can't people see that people who have Down syndrome are all humans, to be treated equally, not as separate people?

D.M continues to bring light in my life and I am proud to call her my sister. I couldn't imagine my life without her. She has made me the person I am today, I have never discriminated against anyone and I'm not about to. I would like to thank her, for being my sister and for loving me. Cheers mate!

I know what you mean. Every time I push my brother down the mall, it is like he is some kind of weirdo, he looks normal but can't talk so he makes moaning and squealing noises. He doesn't mean it, he's just excited that he is around so many different people and he is in a new place. Thankyou.

Hi there,You know I had a similar experience with my brother.  When I was around 8 or 9, I was sitting in the car with Steve (who has a very servere intellectual disability) Anyway Steve was rocking back and forth playing with his shoelace like he normally did when this man walked past the car.  This man could not stop staring, in fact he walked past again just so he could get a better look and as if I was invisible in the car.  I was fuming with anger and I just wanted to yell out the window and call him the greatest loser in creation, but I didn't, I just gave him a greasy look.  But even today I still regret not hanging out the window and making a fool out of him. This sort of weird staring by people really upsets me.

Just recentIy I was at the indoor pool where a group of kids with Down syndrome and other ladies with intellectual disabilities were in for a swim with carers.  In the change rooms they were getting some stares, so I thought 'blast those staring monkeys', I'll show them.... so I went up to the ladies and had a great conversation with them.  They were absolutely gorgeous, and everyone in the change room could see that. I'd like to think I made a difference that day. Thanks for sharing your story.