Who We Are: A World Down Syndrome Day Reflection
This year for World Down Syndrome Day, CDSS Awareness Leader Paul Sawka wanted to reflect on life with Down syndrome, who the Down syndrome community truly is, and how to confront loneliness in your life. #TogetherAgainstLoneliness #WDSD2026
1. What would you like to tell someone who has never met a person with Down syndrome before?
If I was going to meet someone who has never met a person before with Down syndrome, like me, then I would tell them a little about my past and the things that I am doing nowadays. Good things about my life are:
- Being able to still play and be competitive in sports.
- I was able to get a good education. This was crucial for me in how to live.
- Over the years, I have been very lucky to have people in my life like roommates and community support workers, coworkers at CDSS and Friends.
- Having a roommate is a great thing to have. Having your independence and living by yourself is a great thing to have.
When I had first moved to my first rental Condo, I did have a very good first roommate and we had to really get along. We did meal planning and the shopping aspect and we also had to really share so many things like having a cleaning schedule of all the things that need to be done and we did it every week. During my time of renting and living with my roommate, it was so good because I was born with Down syndrome and the importance of being able to really get around the city is huge. Doing things is all about sharing and helping and giving – it is all part of life. Having a very good relationship with a roommate is also very important as well, and not just the first one, it goes for every roommate that I have had over the years and now.
Some hard things about my life are:
- Sometimes it is hard to remember to do stuff like clean my room. Things get dirty.
- People sometimes look at me and see I’m strange or weird. They can be unfriendly and inconsiderate. They don’t see me. They look down on me and can be not very kind.
- People don’t trust me or believe in me and what I can do. They don’t see my potential or ability.
2. Can you describe the Down syndrome community to someone who doesn’t know anything about it?
If someone doesn’t know anything about the Down Syndrome community, I would tell them the following so they would get a better and more full understanding of who we are: We are strong. We are very kind to everyone. We love. We laugh. We sometimes get lonely. We want to live our lives just like you do. This is who we are.
People can also learn more about the Down Syndrome community by getting involved with groups like PREP, Ups and Downs, Dolphins, and CDSS.
3. Do you have any suggestions or conversation starters for people who are shy?
Please don’t be shy. If you want to say hello to me, you can! Just start the conversation and you can be very sure that we would learn lots about each other. Perhaps we could be friends and talk more in person or over text.
I am interested in things like having music in life and doing a lot of sports, like Special Olympics curling and baseball and also having a lot of fun with friends. I do travel with my loving parents like camping with family and with my very good friends .
More things I like to talk about are:
- All sports, but especially curling, baseball, and golf.
- I like to collect things – rocks and minerals, miniature footballs, teddy bears, and hats from around the world.
- I love music and singing. I want to be a Canadian Rock Star.
- I love reading and listening to audiobooks, especially my Harry Potter, Pirates, and Star Wars books.
- I like to climb on rocks, but not necessarily do rock climbing because of the harness.
- I have so many hobbies! Like helping my Dad in his workshop with all kinds of things in the wood department. I also help my mom with her baking things and I do know how to swim because I do love swimming every spring and during the summer.
4. Why do you think some people find it hard to say hi?
I understand that it can be very hard to say hi sometimes. People can be shy. Sometimes they don’t understand. Sometimes they just don’t want to say hi and that is okay.
5. This year’s World Down Syndrome Day theme is Together Against Loneliness. What do you do when you are feeling lonely?
When I feel lonely sometimes, I always try to find something to do. I’m also very happy when I am around other people. Sometimes I talk or text my friends and family over the phone. I sometimes feel very sad and lonely when I think about things like a death in my family.
If anyone is feeling lonely, then I would say that they can find many things to do in order to feel really good and better about themselves. Things like playing some games, watching a very good movie, going to a bar to meet people, or playing mini golf.
I also like to watch shows and listen to music when I am lonely. When You’re Gone (by Avril Lavigne) is a very sad song and I really do wish that everyone can remember who I am and that I just might be their new friend.
I watch Frozen, I like how the story of Anna and Elsa can be seen in my relationships. Them being together, then drifting apart because of the magic, and then coming back together at the end. I would like to see that happen with some of my relationships. With some friends and family, we aren’t as close to each other like when younger. I want to reconnect. I listen to “Let It Go” when I’m lonely and sad.
The Hannah Montana theme song always cheers me up. There are so many songs that help and I like – it just depends on my mood.
6. What would you say to a child at school who is being bullied for having Down syndrome?
Any child at school who is being bullied for having Down syndrome really can stand up for themselves because I know how it’s feels to get hurt or get bullied by others and so this is something that any kid can do.
I have been bullied many years ago and I really had to stand up for myself because this did happen to me when I was at school. What happened was I gave them a letter and they took it and read it and threw it away, so that was when I had to tell on them to a teacher.
Through my life journey, I knew that in school, there might be bullies. That some might pick on you. I went to the Principal for help with my bullies.
If you’re being bullied, you need to stand up for yourself and ask them to please stop or leave me alone. If you need help at all, you have go to your teachers or principal. Also speak to your parents. You are not alone. There are people to help.
7. Some people are nervous speaking to a person with Down syndrome because they do not want to insult you by saying the wrong thing. Do you have any tips for them that they can use when talking to a new friend with Down syndrome?
Do not speak too fast. The reason why people can’t speak too fast is because they have to know how to stop and to really give someone time to think about what they are saying.
Do not ask multiple questions in a row without giving a chance to answer the first question. Really give them time to answer your question!
When anyone talks about something that is on their mind, then you should give some extra time to the other person to think about it first and respond back when they can.
Please do not be afraid to ask us to repeat stuff. Do not be afraid to speak up for yourself!
You can learn more about speaking to people with Down syndrome here.
