Hello hello friends!
Happy Wednesday to you 🙂 We are over halfway through October which blows my mind. But I can tell as the leaves are starting to fall off the trees and the wind has turned bitter cold up here in Chicago.
The other great part about October … it is also Down Syndrome Awareness Month!
When thinking about this month, I came up with two separate campaigns I wanted to run from the blog, Facebook and Instagram to spread awareness and encourage acceptance.
First Campaign
I reached out to several Instagram accounts I follow that have and/or feature someone with Down syndrome and asked if I could have a picture of their rockin’ kiddo. I wanted to share one picture with one fact about Down syndrome every single day of the month. To my delight, more than 31 people responded and every single day this month, I have shared another Instagram account and fact to educate our friends and followers! If you haven’t seen these pictures, please head to my Instagram and Facebook pages to check them out.
Second Campaign
This one was harder! I knew I wanted to create a video for Down syndrome awareness but didn’t know what I wanted it to be….then I was watching Tyler and Emily play with Hudson on the floor and my heart was overcome with gratitude and happiness. It was in that moment that I knew … the video I would create would focus on sibling relationships with Down syndrome present.
I reached out to a few of my Down syndrome Facebook groups and asked for moms to submit videos and pictures of their kiddos interacting, laughing, playing, being silly, etc. The response I received was TREMENDOUS. I’ve enjoyed every minute of editing and watching these clips, putting them together, and creating a digital love song about the joy of having siblings with special needs…..
To the point where I couldn’t just make ONE video. Oh no – that was too easy – or actually too hard haha! I have made 3. So for the last 2 weeks in October, I will be releasing 3 videos to honor the unconditional, accepting, joyful love siblings share. And my first one drops today 🙂
So….
Check it out and please let me know what you think! Feel free to share with your friends, family, and respective networks. I would L.O.V.E. a couple who is pregnant with a prenatal Ds diagnosis to see this video and not be afraid of how beautiful family is with Down syndrome!!!
Love,
Hollyce
