Down’s syndrome body brings hope

NST: ALOR STAR: Like any expectant mother, Juliny Abdul Rahman had hopes and dreams for her new baby.
When her son Izzat Thaqif Izahar was born with Down’s syndrome, the bottom fell out of her world for a while.
"When doctors gave me the news, I felt sad for a very long time. The thought of having a Down’s syndrome child never crosses anyone’s mind. That’s why this association has brought hope to many parents like me."
She was referring to the Kedah Down’s Syndrome Association. The 38-year-old homemaker is its deputy chairman.
Her paediatrician, Dr Razif Abdul Razak, who co-founded the association three years ago with a pair of cousins, Tunku Shahariah Tunku Yusoff and Tunku Zamharir Tunku Daud, told her about the body and its work.
After months of despair over her youngest child’s future, Juliny is now looking forward to the day the four-year-old will go to primary school.
"We teach the children to be self-reliant so that they can assimilate into society. Our long-term goal is to enrol them in regular primary schools.
"Who knows, maybe Thaqif may grow up to be a sportsman or something... Whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll be all right."
With 100 members, comprising parents of Down’s syndrome children, the association has been teaching children aged two to 12, and it plans to have classes for youngsters up to 18 within four years.
The Kedah Down’s Syndrome Association has been nominated in the Team Humanitarian category of the New Straits Times Press- PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysian Humanitarian Awards.
Juliny said the association organises speech therapy and physiotherapy sessions.
Yusmaliza Mohd Yusof wishes society would be more accepting of children with Down’s Syndrome.
"Children with Down’s syndrome are very friendly. They are the first to start a conversation when meeting new people. Unfortunately, most people are afraid to approach adults or children with Down’s syndrome," said the 28-year-old. Her eldest child, five-year-old Farhan Daniel Mohd Jefri, attends classes organised by the association.