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Down’s
syndrome
Down's syndrome is caused by a chromosome
disorder that changes the orderly development of the body
and brain. Down's syndrome occurs in all races, social classes
and in all countries. It is not hereditary.
A person with Down’s syndrome
may have the following features:
- Reduced muscle tone which results
in floppiness (hypotonia)
- Small head, flat appearing face,
small nose, small mouth and short neck
- Upward slanting eyes
- Small, broad hands
- Broad feet with short toes
- Shorter than normal height
All people with Down’s syndrome will have some degree
of intellectual disability. Some learn to walk, talk and
be toilet trained slower than others.
Loh
Yoke Chan
Yoke Chan was born in 1984. She has Down’s syndrome
and moderate intellectual disability.
Yoke Chan started attending special school since she
was 8 years old. As her legs were weak, her mother
used to carry her to her classroom. It was only through
constant training and physiotherapy that Yoke Chan
was able to walk slowly at the age of 15.
She joined COH in Jan 2003. Being fair, cute, the
youngest and smallest in size (1.39m tall and weigh
34kgs), she is well liked by her teachers and peers.
One of the potential we saw in Yoke Chan was to be
able to walk normally. In order to help her strengthen
her leg muscles, we started on a morning walk programme.
Every morning, the whole class will walk round the
school field three times. Yoke Chan benefited much
through this programme. Now, she walks steadily and
on many occasions, she even walks faster than her
peers! Yoke Chan’s mother noticed that her daughter
is now more cheerful and her health and stamina has
improved remarkably too.
We want to attribute Yoke Chan’s progress to
God’s goodness. We believe it is only by God’s
grace that her progress is made possible.
Written by Yoke Chan’s teacher,
Jenn Chong |
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