Advocate's Adult Down Syndrome Center Announces Awareness Day at the State Capitol

March 15, 2017 is now known as Adult Down Syndrome Awareness Day across Illinois. It is the first state to announce this specific awareness day. Approximately one in every 700 people born in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making it the most common chromosomal condition for our population.

More than 25 Down syndrome patients, families, and Advocate Lutheran General and the Adult Down Syndrome Center staff members, visited the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday to be recognized by the Senate and House of Representatives. Patients and their families met with twelve bipartisan representatives including Chief Sponsor Representative Elaine Nekritz, Representative Mike McAuliffe, and Senator John Mulroe who all sponsored the resolution. Attendees shared their personal stories and helped announce Adult Down Syndrome Awareness Day.

"We celebrated 25 years of the Advocate Adult Down Syndrome Center in the state capitol watching the proclamation being put into the official record," said Dr. Brian Chicoine, Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center. "The most amazing part of the day, however, was watching adults with Down syndrome interacting with state senators and representatives sharing stories about their lives. The proclamation was not only about how far we have come in 25 years but a statement of hope of where we are heading."

Less than 40 years ago the life expectancy for adults with Down syndrome was less than 30 years old. Now, with the appropriate medical care, adults with Down syndrome are living well into their sixties thanks in part to Advocate Medical Group's Adult Down Syndrome Center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The Center is the oldest in the nation.

The resolution can be found at this link: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/100/HR/10000HR0172.htm.

For more information about the Center and its anniversary events, please follow this link: http://www.advocategiving.org/about/foundation-offices/advocate-medical-group/adsc-anniversary/.