Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that occurs when a baby is born with an extra chromosome in each of its cells. It is the most common of the chromosomal disorders. One in 691 children is born with DS (Down syndrome), and today in the United States there are approximately 400,000 people living with DS. Although it is not a genetic fact, it has been shown that mothers over the age of thirty-five are more likely to have a child with Down syndrome. Individuals with Down syndrome have various cognitive delays, meaning they learn and develop more slowly than the average person, but are still able to live a normal life. Many people with Down syndrome attend school, go to work, and are able to have normal relationships, such as marriage. John Langdon Down officially classified Down syndrome in 1866. Langdon Down grew up in Cornwall, England and worked in the family business until he entered medical school when he was eighteen. After receiving his degree, he was appointed medical superintendent of the Royal Earlswood Asylum for Idiots. He spent his time there perfecting his description of the “idiots” who lived in this asylum. Because their physical appearance reminded him of the people of Mongolia, he called the disorder “Mongolian idiocy.” When Langdon Down studied these patients, he described them as “nice” and having “considerable power of imitation” (Mark Leach). He also stated that although “the speech [was] thick and indistinct,” they were “able to speak” (Mark Leach). Down syndrome wasn't actually called Down syndrome until 1961, when a group of geneticists, eager to rename the disease, looking back on their work, renamed the Mongolian idiocy after John Langdon Down. Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder...... middle of paper.......Ultimately, people with Down syndrome may be different from average, but they may still possess many unique gifts and talents. It is important to know that they have feelings just like any normal individual. Not many people know much about Down syndrome, so instead of automatically judging someone who has DS, one should first become better informed about this disorder and try to get involved with people who have DS in different communities. During the month of October, Down Syndrome Awareness Month, there are many different activities you can participate in to help spread awareness about Down Syndrome. One example is the Buddy Walk presented by the National Down Syndrome Society. The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in several communities across the United States that helps raise funds to support local and national affiliates and to promote acceptance of people with DS.