Adjustments are psychological processes that people use to adapt, handle as well as manage demand, challenges and problems of everyday life (Santrock, 2006). Thus, different situations are solved by different adjustments. These situations vary from different conditions to cases of racism and injustices. Some are genetic such as the Down syndrome while others, for example, racism are products of how members of the society behave and beliefs and are moved from one generation to the other. Strategies are adapted to help people improve on their adjustment skills. The strategies include self-acceptance, socialization to boost their confidence and a chance to participate in the society among others. They can be gained from self-help books, national support groups, in conjunction with health professionals such as psychiatrists and therapists.
Joshua Myers, who is twenty-nine years old, has always had Down syndrome that he now considers as a blessing (A mom and a son, 2016). Down syndrome is a condition that is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21 or part of it. Children and young people that suffer from it have slow developments in areas such as their social, motor, cognition as well as self- help. Apart from problems in learning and use of phonics, and short-term auditory working memory like difficulty in retaining instructions, they also get repeated periods of ill health that constantly disrupts their lives. As a result, it would get too much for most patients to cope with it and they at times gave up. Joshua admitted that the condition was so overwhelming for him to the point that he opted for death. He walked to the middle of an intersection hoping that a car would hit and kill him.
The way in which parents cope with having children with Down syndrome helps the children with their adjustment skills. Gender differences are common in parents of younger children with mothers doing better than the fathers in joining self-help groups to seek emotional and social support (Sullivan, 2002). The groups, mainly consist of people that are dealing with such conditions and they help in the suppression of competing activities and helped to focus more inventing their emotions. Thus, fathers are also advised to try them out. From childhood age, children are encouraged to avoid negativity that could make them stressed leading to self-harm or drug addiction, especially in their teen years. When surrounded by positivity they accept themselves, thus, gaining coincidence around other people too (Santrock, 2006). Thus, they can continue with their education and later get employed to avoid depending on other people, but rather make a difference in the society.
There are three ways that we can adapt the way we communicate to fit with the people that have Down syndrome. These compose of making communication visual by use of signs and pictures that overcome the challenge of understanding and using spoken communication, breaking down information into smaller bits that are easily understandable and slowing the pace of conversation. Conversations that are set in slow paces provide adequate time for one to process the information, think about it and respond to their satisfaction. Being patient with them and allow them to speak out their minds before taking our turns in the conversation. People should also not focus on their weaknesses but their abilities and capabilities. Such focus will enable us to recognize their skills, qualities and personality. As a result, we can figure out what is required to reduce experiences of disability and improve on how to identify everyone’s role.
Discrimination is one of the social issues that families with children with Down syndrome are subjected to by the community (Green et al, 2006). Some people are still ignorant of the condition and still hold on to the belief that it is a mental state. They refuse to be associated with them, and they treat them as if they are defects or lesser people in the society. As a result, the poor parents are too afraid to let the world know about their children that have the condition, thus, limiting their chances to prove the world wrong. Various people with Down syndrome have succeeded in their careers in offices as managers and schools as teachers. They are a great motivation for children and young teenagers with their condition that they also have a chance to excel in whatever they set their minds to do. Everyone was created for a reason and to fulfill a certain purpose in life, and no one should take away that from anyone.
The society took its time in adjusting their mindsets to accept same-sex relationships. People in these relationships go through much including hiding their relationship to ensure that their family and friends accept them. Andy Goodling went to the extent of changing his boyfriend’s name to that of a woman in his phone contacts in case anyone was looking over his shoulder when he received a text (A lost love, 2016). Due to their fear of how people would react if they knew their true relationship, Andy and his boyfriend Bryan did not have a chance to say a proper goodbye when they went on separate ways to Florida in the airport. Unfortunately, it took Bryan’s death for Andy to come out of his closet and reveal his sexuality to his father. In his state of mourning, Andy called his father and revealed that Bryan was not just a friend but his boyfriend. Throughout their four years of dating, Scott, who is Andy’s father, knew that Andy and Bryan were only friends.
Andy’s main fear was that he would disappoint his father if he were gay. However, Mr. Scott accepted his son’s sexuality and told him that whatever made his son happy was what mattered to him and whoever was important to his son was also of importance to him. Brian and Andy represent most people in our communities who are worried about other people and their feelings that they sacrifice their happiness. The community’s role, therefore, is ensuring everyone’s happiness and that they are given a chance in love. However, that would only happen if we all became more open minded and accepted same-sex relationships. Parents’ upbringing should not be blamed for their children’s sexuality, but rather supported so that they can also accept their children. Fingers should not be pointed to gays and lesbian neither should they have labels be put on them that they live in fear and fail to spread their wings.
When they are accepted by everyone, they can interact with other members of the society and can, therefore, seek employment. In another situation, they act on their talents and create their companies that create job opportunities. Stereotyping them would only make them sad and lonely and limit the chances of a major accomplishment. Just like in accepting children with various conditions, fathers are slow in accepting that their children’s sexuality, especially if they are gay or lesbians. Some even force their children to visit therapists because they assume that it is only a stage or an act of rebellion that will eventually pass. When teenagers are subjected to therapists visit, they become more rebellious and go the extreme of running away from their homes. In other instances, they become stressed and turn to drugs as a form of solace.
Stress is a process by which the body responds when it is subjected to any demand or threats. Though it can help one rise to his or her challenges by keeping them on their toes, it can also result in major body and mind damages. Thus, constant arguments and pressure over one’s sexuality that lead to rocky relationships with friends and families could lead to heart and autoimmune diseases, sleep and weight problems, depression, and skin diseases such as eczema. Lesbians and gay people should, thereby, avoid any negativity around them by associating with people that accept them and their relationships. Teachers play a major role as they are role models for students. Thus, they should teach students to accept and value each other the way they are without discriminating against each other regardless of their conditions or sexuality. On the other hand, people in same-sex relationships should not be afraid to show and talk about their partners.
In the 21st, the world has evolved and also developed technologically. In communication, forums such as Twitter and Facebook have been launched that have helped to fight for the rights of the gays, lesbians and people with conditions such as Down syndrome. If they are discriminated against there are those that find their justices, though these modes of communication. Hashtags of what is happening are developed, and much pressure is put on the people that are discriminating against them. Although only a few benefits, the internet is one forum that is helping to curb people’s ignorance. By researching on the internet, they read about these conditions and people’s sexuality. They read about their causes, the challenges that they face, the kinds of treatments that they are subjected to as well as how they can help them in their day to day lives. Such knowledge plays a critical role in understanding them better.
It is clear that regardless of one’s sexuality or condition, we are all the same and can achieve the same goals if we are provided with a fairground. However, the world is not always fair, and not all people are open minded nor willing to share the same space with those that they consider less than them. We should, therefore, know that we will always face discrimination at one point or the other and that that should not let anyone down. However, it should be a source of motivation that should help people rise above their conditions and prove to that they are capable of greater things too. Parents of these children should accept and love them unconditionally and with their support, they will soar and achieve their dreams. In such incidents, they should not be afraid to ask for assistance and to join self-help groups that will keep their emotions in check.
For those with conditions, constant treatment is necessary for them, and the parents should ensure that they receive the treatments. Though, they may feel like they want to give up due to the constant disruptions in life when taking extra care of them, due to the slow growths and constant health issues they should be glad they have blessings in the form of those children. When there are people that are willing to spend lots of money to treat infertility they should realize that they instead have children to show the world. Some best-performing actresses and actors are in same-sex relationships, and the world has accepted that that is who they are. People in similar situations should not be afraid to reveal to their families and friends about their sexuality since they form the basis of the support that they will need if they are to face any discrimination in the community.
References
Amid A Lost Love, A Son And Father Finally Speak The Secret Between Them and a recording [Audio file]. (2016,January29).Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/2016/01/29/464691648/amid-a-lost-love-a-son-and-father-finally-speak-the-secret-between-them
A mom, A Son With Down Syndrome- And The Love That Made A ‘Curse’ A Gift and a recording [audio file]. (2016, February 19).Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/19/467219746/a-mom-a-son-with-down-syndrome-and-the-love-that-made-a-curse-a-gift
Green, S., Davis, C., Karshmer, E., Marsh, P., & Straight, B. (2005). Living stigma: The impact of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination in the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. Sociological Inquiry, 75(2), 197-215.
Santrock, J. (2006). Human adjustment: 2007 custom edition. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill
Sullivan, A. (2002). Gender differences in coping strategies of parents of children with Down
syndrome. Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 8(2), 67-73.
