Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

Trisomy Awareness Month
458 Shares
458 Shares
March

Trisomy Awareness Month – March 2024

Trisomy Awareness Month is observed in March. It is a congenital disorder that occurs when there are three copies of a chromosome instead of the typical two. Down syndrome is one of the most well-known manifestations of trisomy, where chromosome 21 is copied. Trisomy 16, with chromosome 16 getting copied thrice, is the most commonly occurring trisomy during pregnancy. In modern times, as we learn to celebrate peoples of all kinds, it is wonderful to see adults with trisomy live full lives. They are accepted in the workforce too.

History of Trisomy Awareness Month

March is chosen as the Trisomy Awareness Month in the U.S. because it is the third month of the year, which correlates to the three copies of chromosomes that characterize the disorder. There are many organizations in the U.S. that take the lead in spreading awareness about different kinds of trisomy. SOFT, or Support Organization for Trisomy, is a leading advocate and awareness creator for specific kinds of trisomy like 18 and 13. They hold annual trisomy conferences for parents and families with affected children. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (N.I.C.H.D.) is the federal government agency that also joins in to spread awareness of trisomy this month. It has a dedicated center to research intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The objective behind observing such a month is not only to raise awareness about the condition among the public, but also to recognize and celebrate the lives of those children living with trisomy, their parents, and caregivers. Some forms of trisomy such as 18 and 13 can greatly affect the lifespan of a newborn, and their chances of surviving beyond the first year are low. Trisomy Awareness Month is also a great time for fundraising and networking activities that can further the state of research, treatment, and care for children with trisomy. It is also a time to raise awareness about the existence of preventive or diagnostic tools for aspiring parents to get a better sense of the risks associated with their pregnancy.

Trisomy Awareness Month timeline

1866
Dr. John Down Describes The Syndrome

Dr. Down is the first physician to describe Down syndrome in terms of its characteristics.

1940s
Short Lives

Children with down syndrome have a life expectancy of only 12 years.

1959
Trisomy Has A Genetic Explanation

The rising field of cytogenetic helps to genetically describe Down, Klinefelter, and Turner syndromes.

1980
A Dedicated Organization Is Established

SOFT, a non-profit dedicated to Trisomy 18 and 13, is founded.

Trisomy Awareness Month FAQs

Is trisomy hereditary?

No, trisomy is not considered a hereditary disorder, and it manifests due to irregular cell division during the initial phases of reproduction. 

Is it possible to screen for trisomy during pregnancy?

The risk of giving birth to a baby with trisomy increases with the mother’s age, or if she has already delivered a baby with trisomy. It is possible to screen for risks of the baby developing trisomies 21, 18, 13, X, and Y using Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing or NIPT early on in the pregnancy. 

What kinds of treatment are available for adults with down syndrome?

The Trisomy 21 Program is one of the few programs at Children’s Hospital that treats patients beyond age 18 and into old age. There are care homes for these adults as well.

How To Observe Trisomy Awareness Month

  1. Share a resource

    There are resources for caregivers looking after children with trisomy on the sites of organizations such as SOFT and N.I.C.H.D. For instance, SOFT has resources for physiotherapy, trust-building, managing specific environmental conditions such as light, and internal side effects such as epilepsy. If you know a caregiver for a child diagnosed with trisomy, you can share some useful resources with them, even if they may have come across it already.

  2. Volunteer your time

    Another way to help out is to find a local charity that supports the cause, and ask them if you can volunteer your skills in any way. This could include managing their digital and social media presence, taking care of administration, or even working with families, if you are equipped for it.

  3. Raise funds

    If you have a great network of individuals and organizations looking to pitch in for charitable causes, you should consider using your skills to raise funds for organizations working with trisomy. This can include research organizations, or even families looking for some support in treatment or care.

5 Fascinating Facts About Trisomy

  1. Down syndrome was considered a race

    Dr. John Langdon Down described people with Down syndrome as ‘Mongoloids’ who shared racial features with Mongolians.

  2. Trisomy sometimes gets better with age

    Although the infant mortality of Trisomy 18 and 13 is very high, there is a 60% chance of the child living beyond five years of age if they survive the critical first year.

  3. Trisomy can be partial

    Full trisomy occurs only when the entire chromosome has been copied. If only a part has been copied, it is partial trisomy.

  4. Trisomy 16 fetuses usually miscarry

    Even though it’s the most common trisomy among pregnant women, they frequently cause miscarriages.

  5. Autosomal trisomy is worse

    Autosomal trisomy refers to copies of non-sex chromosomes, which lead to more severe complications.

Why Trisomy Awareness Month is Important

  1. It helps us understand trisomy

    Many of us may have heard of Down syndrome or other birth disorders, but we may not know that there is a common link between many such disorders based on an extra chromosome. We may not even understand all the types and risks that each involves. This month therefore truly raises our awareness of this family of disorders.

  2. It’s a chance to reach out to caregivers

    Whether we know someone caring for a child with trisomy, or we decide to volunteer, this is a chance for us to understand the perspective of parents having to deal with the imminent death of their children. This is an especially trying situation to be in, and parents find different ways to cope with it and do their best for their children.

  3. It’s a reminder of human strength and frailty

    Whether we identify as a person with a disability or not, it takes great strength of spirit to deal with this challenging condition. At the same time, it is a reminder that many accidents of birth are out of our control, and that our human existence is precarious.

Trisomy Awareness Month dates

YearDateDay
2024March 1Friday
2025March 1Saturday
2026March 1Sunday
2027March 1Monday
2028March 1Wednesday
Festival of Owls Week
Hearing Awareness Week
National Aplastic Anemia & MDS Awareness Week
National Ghostwriters Week
National Invest in Veterans Week
National Will Eisner Week
National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week
North Dakota Winter Show
Universal Human Beings Week
Universal Human Beings Week
Asiatic Fleet Memorial Day
Baba Marta
Baby Sleep Day
Denim Day for Dementia
Endometriosis Awareness Day
Independence Movement Day
International Ideas Month
International Martisor
International Women of Color Day
Mărțișor
National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day
National Dadgum That's Good Day
National Day of Unplugging
National Dress in Blue Day
National Employee Appreciation Day
National Fruit Compote Day
National Horse Protection Day
National Hotel Slipper Day
National March First Day
National Minnesota Day
National Peanut Butter Lover's Day
National Pig Day
National Sage Day
National Speech and Debate Education Day
National Texas Stress Day
National Wedding Planning Day
National Welsh Corgi Day
Overseas N.H.S. Workers Day
Peace Corps Day
Plan a Solo Vacation Day
Public Risk Management Awareness Day
Refired Not Retired Day
Self-Injury Awareness Day
Share a Smile Day
St. David's Day
Tsagaan Sar
World Civil Defense Day
World Compliment Day
World Day of Prayer
World Day of Prayer
World Seagrass Day
Yap Day
Zero Discrimination Day
Academy Awards Month
Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
Alport Syndrome Awareness Month
American Red Cross Month
Berries and Cherries Month
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
Colic Awareness Month
Color Therapy Month
Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month
Dolphin Awareness Month
Employee Spirit Month
Endometriosis Month
Essential Tremor Awareness Month
Exotic Winter Fruit & Leeks and Green Onions Month
Expanding Girls' Horizons in Science and Engineering Month
Eye Donor Awareness Month
Frozen Food Month
Gardening, Nature and Ecology Books Month
Gender Equality Month
Greek-American Heritage Month
Honor Society Awareness Month
Humorists are Artists Month
International Mirth Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
Listening Awareness Month
Mad for Plaid Month
Malignant Hyperthermia Awareness and Training Month
March Madness
Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal
Mental Retardation Awareness Month
Middle Level Education Month
MS Awareness Month
National Athletic Training Month
National Bed Month (U.K.)
National Breast Implant Awareness Month
National Caffeine Awareness Month
National Celery Month
National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
National Cheerleading Safety Month
National Clean up Your IRS Act Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Craft Month
National Credit Education Month
National Crochet Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
National Ethics Awareness Month
National Flour Month
National Kidney Month
National March Into Literacy Month
National Music in Our Schools Month
National Noodle Month
National Nutrition Month
National Optimism Month
National Peanut Month
National Professional Social Worker's Month
National Reading Month
National Sauce Month
National Umbrella Month
National Women's History Month
NZ Book Month
Play the Recorder Month
Poison Prevention Awareness Month
Read an E-Book Month
Red Cross Month
Save Your Vision Month
Sing With Your Child Month
Small Press Month
Social Work Month
Spiritual Wellness Month
Supply Management Month
The Great Daffodil Appeal
Trisomy Awareness Month
Trisomy Awareness Month
Vascular Anomalies Awareness Month
Veggie Month
Women’s Month (Philippines)
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Youth Art Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.