Down Syndrome and Amazing Grace

 

                     Adam Bauld works on his latest painting in his Halifax home. (Robert Short/CBC)

I've mentioned that when I was considering a call to my final congregation before retirement we attended worship on a weekend away from the pulpit. I was impressed by the inclusion of two girls who live with Down Syndrome. It was clear that they were part of congregational life and we discovered later that they have an older brother with Downs. The older of the now young women loved it when we sang Amazing Grace because her name is Grace and she knows that she is amazing. 

Their adoptive parents have been exceptional in involving them in a range of activities as well as pursuing advanced education and employment opportunities. I see them around town from time to time and although the son is now well into his thirties he usually greets me with a hug. He is a happy reminder that persons with Down Syndrome are living much longer than in the past. A CBC piece explains:

Laura LaChance, the executive director of the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, says evidence shows an extraordingary growith in life expectancy over the last few decades.

"The research is showing us that life expectancy has more than doubled in the last generation, and where in the early 1980s you might expect a life expectancy of 25 years, now 60 is the average," she says. 

Many people who have Down syndrome also have a heart defect. In the past, it went undiagnosed and could cause death in infants and children. Today in Canada, more people are diagnosed early on and the condition is treated. 

In the past, Canadians with intellectual disabilities often were compelled to live in large institutions from a young age. LaChance thinks the move to community and family living over the last 40 years has also led to longer and happier lives. 

This is an example of a positive advancement in science. On the other side, screening in the womb can identify Down and parents may chose not to continue with a pregnancy. This is being flagged as unethical and the irony is that while those with Down Syndrome are living longer the screening could lead to the end of Down persons in society. I can say from the three in our congregation, this would be a tremendous loss. 

Adam Bauld (above) is passionate about his paintings. 

"These paintings over here are like collage, a camp, abstract, a religious painting over there about Calvary and the Cross of Christ," he says during a tour of his work.

He says some of his friends have Down syndrome and some don't. "My experience is that God created every person in His image, whether it's Down syndrome or not Down syndrome," he says. 

Amen. 

                      Brittany Bennett works on a new project at L'Arche Homefires in Wolfville. (CBC)