“Taarana’s ‘Rock Your Socks’ event was marked with numerous fun activities for the school’s students.”

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), a day where we “Rock our Socks” to celebrate everyone with Down syndrome that makes our world brighter.

The campaign also aims to raise public awareness and advocate for the rights and inclusion of those with Down syndrome.

Socks were chosen to symbolise the disorder and honour the day because chromosomes are shaped like socks. Individuals with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome.

Taarana School’s “Rock Your Socks” event was marked with numerous fun activities for the school’s special needs students.

The celebration started with a fashion show by the children. Some of them dressed in outfits inspired by famous Disney cartoon characters like Peter Pan, Snow White, and Sheriff Woody.

The two-hour event included other exciting activities, including a treasure hunt and an arts and crafts session. The treasure hunt involved the children looking for a hidden sock in a toy chest or around the school’s premises.

Later, they delved into their creative side by colouring and decorating a sock printout. The teachers then cut the completed artworks and helped the students paste them on a World Down Syndrome Day canvas.

While the fun and games ensured the children had an enjoyable day, the activities were also curated to help them develop their motor skills.

“Fine motor skills involve our intricate hand and finger movements. Therefore, differently-abled children need to be constantly trained to develop these skills to carry out activities of daily living,” Taarana Principal Dr Sunitha Sivakumaran explained.

Dr Sunitha added that this includes everyday activities like feeding themselves, playing with toys, writing or drawing, or using gadgets.

According to the WDSD website, March 21st was selected to commemorate the day because it signifies the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome.

This year’s WDSD theme is “Inclusion Means…”. The theme illustrates that everyone should make efforts to include people affected with Down syndrome or other disabilities in all matters of life.

Taarana School provides programmes with social and emotional support for children with, among others, Down syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) or Dyspraxia, and Global Development Delay.

 In addition, the school presents a holistic learning environment both inside and outside the classroom. Students engage in community life, from classroom and extracurricular activities to field trips, to gain independence, build confidence, and develop strong relationships with their peers.