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Mar 21st 2013, 20:44

Down syndrome affects 1 in every 800 births, which makes it a pretty important cause.

But did you ever wonder why the official World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on March 21? The date was chosen because it signifies "the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome."

The United Nations General Assembly officially declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day on December 19, 2011, but the first day was actually observed in 2006. That makes March 21, 2013, the eighth year people all over the world have raised awareness about the syndrome!

If you're looking to get more involved, here are four ways you can take part in World Down Syndrome Day:

+ Educate Yourself

Not sure what the syndrome is? You can turn to the National Down Syndrome Society or Down Syndrome International for some great resources. There's even a preferred language guide to help you choose the best words when raising awareness.

+ Wear Lots of Socks

One way to raise awareness about the day is to wear Lots of Socks! The people behind the idea are hoping your colorful socks are some real show-stoppers, so much so that they hope people stop to ask you about them. Once you get the conversation going, you can tell them all about World Down Syndrome Day.

+ Tell Your Friends

If you want to spread the word about World Down Syndrome Day, you can raise your voice on Facebook and Twitter. Make sure you tag the World Down Syndrome Day handle (@WorldDSDay) in your tweets. Bonus points if you take a picture of your crazy socks!

+ Watch "Indelible"

The 12th World Down Syndrome Congress will be held in Chennai, India in 2015, but you can watch this introduction to "Indelible" today. The film is a "feature length documentary telling the inspiring stories of 7 people with Down syndrome in India."

How are you going to get involved with World Down Syndrome Day? Let us know in the comments below or send us a tweet!

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