In the end of 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 21st as World Down Syndrome Day. The General Assembly wanted to raise awareness about Down syndrome in all the people and all the organizations related to the United Nations, as well as in every public and private organization.

This genetic disorder is present in one of every 700 newborns in the United States and there are approximately 6000 babies who are born with this condition in this country each year. Therefore Down Syndrome is the most usual chromosomal disorder in society.

According to an article in National Down Syndrome Society the disorder was named after Dr. Down: “for centuries, people with Down syndrome have been alluded to in art, literature and science. It wasn’t until the late nineteenth century, however, that John Langdon Down, an English physician, published an accurate description of a person with Down syndrome. It was this scholarly work, published in 1866, that earned Down the recognition as the “father” of the syndrome. Although other people had previously recognized the characteristics of the syndrome, it was Down who described the condition as a distinct and separate entity”. Doctors and scientists are always researching about new conditions, characteristics, needs and challenges that people with Down syndrome face. However, it is also important to increase understanding of this syndrome in everyone, especially in governments that need to help improve these people´s quality of life.