Can we also have a place in your world?

What does the world seem like for a special child….is it a welcoming place or one where you are shunned because you are different? This is one eight-year-old's view written for International Children's Day which was celebrated on Oct. 1.

I am an eight-year-old girl. I have been told that I have a condition called "Down Syndrome". People call me disabled, not normal, differently able and special. But my Ammi calls me her Angel. She says that my other friends like me and I were sent to this world to teach people about life.

I heard my Ammi saying that she had to wait for eight years to have me. When I was born, Doctors had said that I was not normal. She says that the first year was very difficult as my parents were scared, shocked, and afraid and didn't know very much about me. It had taken a long time for them to come out of the shock and get to know about my condition.

But now she says that she is the proudest mother to have me and that she is privileged to be my mother. At first she said that she couldn't understand and accept why this had happened to her but now she knows that there is a purpose for it.

I look different. Some of my friends, like me (whom you call "special") look just like you but will be different in their behaviour. I sometimes find people looking at me or saying things about me. I am sure you don't know how we feel, it makes us sad. We can understand when you look at us or make some remark. I wish you could tell others not to look at us like that or say bad things about us. We never wanted to be born like this nor did our parents do anything wrong. Some times things happen and it is difficult to understand what the reason is. The biggest help you could do is to accept us as we are and try to understand us. We don't need sympathy, just give us a chance. Most of us can do what you do but may be in a different way or we might need more time. Like my Ammi says, I took a long time to talk and walk and even to lift my head. But I did it.

We love to go to school like you and to have friends. Most of us can go to normal schools. I am so blessed that I am able to go to my Ammi's school. But I heard that at first, my parents were unable to even to find a nursery for me. But some nice aunties were willing to try me out and they took me in. I felt so happy and proud to go to nursery. My Aunties loved me and were always positive about me. My friends were also willing to take me as a friend even though at that time I hardly spoke. I was chosen to play "Mother Mary" at the nativity play and also to take part in the sports meet. At that time I couldn't walk very much as my hips were getting dislocated. But I completed the race holding my Ammi's hand while others were cheering me. Next year, I was chosen to garland the chief guest. Now after I left my aunties, they have started to take friends like me into their nursery.

Next my parents had to look for a school for me. Most of the schools did not like to accept me. Finally, I was taken in to my Ammi's old school.

It was not easy for my aunties and for me to settle in school. But we did get used to each other. I still remember I had a special teacher who really took me in even though she didn't know much about my condition. I have a lot of friends in school. My friends are the most important people in my life. Up to now, when I go to school in the morning, they come running to the gate when they see me. Sometimes they fight to hold my hand. I feel very proud and accepted when I am with my friends. I get invited for their birthday parties. I feel so lucky to have friends like that.

I was promoted to year 1 with my friends and I had to start real work like my friends. I took part in our school concert and was on stage with the others. My aunties made no difference and they wanted me to be independent much as possible.

Now I am in year 2. My new aunties are also so encouraging. They make a special effort to teach me. I had to sit for the term test with others, for the very first time. My aunties always believed in me saying that I will be able to do the test. Just like they said, I did it quite well. I heard from papers and TV that Children's Day is on the 1st of October. That is why I thought of writing to you about me. When you read about me you will understand that even though children like me are called "special", most of the time we spend our lives just like other children. We also have our needs. The most important thing is especially for you to understand and accept us as we are and also to give us a chance to be included in society.