“So, you’re raising awareness?”

This is the question we are asked quite often when we talk about who we are and what we do. Our answer, yes, but we want to go a step further and raise not only awareness but even more so, acceptance. You may think, ‘well aren’t they the same thing?’. No, they’re not. They’re quite different. Awareness is simply knowing that something is there. It’s easy, you don’t need to do anything, you just know. Acceptance is more difficult. Acceptance requires action and is more than just knowledge. You see, you can have awareness without acceptance, but you can’t have acceptance without awareness. It’s easy to be aware of something and not be accepting, but you can’t accept something if you’re not aware of it first. Acceptance is the next step up from awareness.

Acceptance requires effort. It means facing something that perhaps initially makes you feel uncomfortable, thinking about why it makes you feel that way and then getting to the root of it. You need to make a conscious decision to overcome any issues or discomfort you feel in order to accept what is in front of you.

Acceptance also requires a different mindset. Awareness looks at the differences. It notices the differences in how we look and act and focuses primarily on those differences. Acceptance will see the differences but will look for the similarities. Acceptance sees those with Down syndrome as being equals, humans with feelings, and treating them no differently despite their differences.

Acceptance meets people where they are. Acceptance doesn’t “tolerate”, it embraces. Acceptance doesn’t just “know”, it cares.

Awareness is knowing someone has a disability.
Acceptance is including them anyway.

Awareness is knowing an individual may have challenges.
Acceptance is seeking to understand those challenges.

Awareness is telling your children that another child has a disability.
Acceptance is explaining what this means and helping your children understand them.

Awareness is realising that someone finds tasks challenging.
Acceptance is inviting them to join in anyway.

Awareness is seeing a person struggle.
Acceptance is going and seeing how you can help.

Awareness is simply that… awareness.
Acceptance is taking action!

While awareness is great. Our ultimate goal is to live in a world full of acceptance: Where Hope can grow up knowing that those around her will love her, despite her differences. To know that she will grow up with more than just a handful of people on her side willing to help. To know that she won’t be alone.

I’m getting teary thinking about it and my own journey towards acceptance. I know it’s not easy. For years, I was happily sitting on the fence of awareness. I knew about Down syndrome, but I didn’t make any effort to understand it, I didn’t make any effort to help and I really didn’t go out of my way to make them feel like they belong. Why did it take me having a child with Down syndrome to really begin to accept it? Perhaps the opportunities were just not there, I don’t know. I now know we need more people out there talking about Down syndrome not only to adults, but to the kids. We need more kids with disabilities out there showing off what they can do. We need to stop hiding those with disabilities away so others have the opportunity to move from awareness to acceptance.

So ask yourself, “Am I aware, or do I truly accept?” and start taking action. When you see someone with a disability struggling, go over and see if you can help. If. you see a parent in the park with kids with a disability, go over and talk to them. Trust me, a few words could go a long way for a parent who may be struggling each day feeling more and more alone in a world that sometimes tries to hide what is considered different. Let them know they are not alone, see if there’s anything you can do to help, and simply accept. There’s always going to be people out there who choose not to accept, and will walk the other way when they see a disability, but if we can reduce the number of people doing this, well then the world will be a better place.