You're Magical

About Us

You're Magical is a NPO 170-521, founded by Trudy Chetty. It is designed to assist people with Down Syndrome & other special needs and to let them know they are special, gifted and unique. Our mission is to create and nurture a loving and inclusive community celebrating every person with a disability, including Down Syndrome. We want to work together to increase education, promote public understanding and acceptance, work toward full inclusion, and defend the civil rights of individuals with Down Syndrome. We will accomplish this mission by empowering and supporting families and individuals who have been touched by Down syndrome.

What is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder arising at conception. There is an extra number 21 chromosome (Trisomy 21) which causes delays in physical and intellectual development.

Facts about Down syndrome

People with Down syndrome have mild to moderate mental damage.
The cause of Down syndrome & other special needs is not related to age, race, religion or socio-economic situations.
One in 1 000 babies born in developed countries and 1 in 650 babies born in developing countries is affected by Down syndrome.
80 percent of children affected by Down syndrome are born from mothers under the age of 35, although women over the age of 35 are at a higher risk of having a child with Down syndrome.
Although Down syndrome & other special needs cannot be cured, there is a variety of medical options to treat problems associated with the disease.
Children with Down syndrome & other special needs can be included in normal schools with regular academic procedures.
People with Down syndrome can live up to the age of 50 to 55.
Adequate access to healthcare, early intervention programmes and inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual.

People with Down's syndrome also vary in personality and ability. Everyone born with Down's syndrome & other special needs will have a degree of learning disability, but the level of disability will be different for each individual.Persons with disabilities, including those with Down syndrome, are more than persons in need of assistance; they are agents of change who can drive progress across society - and their voices must be heard as we strive to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.

The organisation's main objectives are to:

To establish and run a non-profit organisation in Durban South Africa to encourage people with Down syndrome & other special needs to fulfill their potential for successful and happy lives in a society which knows their abilities and is supportive of their needs.
To represent the interests and respond to the needs of people with Down syndrome & other special needs in all aspects of their lives, also letting them know that they are special, gifted and unique.
Create and nurture a loving and inclusive community celebrating every person with a disability, including Down Syndrome.
To promote the integration of people with Down syndrome & other special needs within the community;
To provide appropriate support and information to new parents of babies with Down syndrome;
To provide assistance and support to all parents of children with Down syndrome;
To advise families of children with Down syndrome & other special needs of the medical, educational, financial, social and legal benefits to which they are entitled;
To disseminate knowledge of relevant issues to people with Down syndrome, their parents and families and the wider community.
To campaign for educational facilities and programmes to be available for all people with Down syndrome & other special needs in South Africa, including early intervention programmes, appropriate ongoing education and vocational training;
To maintain a library relevant to the needs and interests of people with Down syndrome & other special needs and their parents;
To increase community awareness of the abilities and requirements of people with Down syndrome;
Offer speech and occupational therapies free of charge only to those that cannot to pay for these therapies;
To lobby for accommodation, recreational and support facilities and services for people with Down syndrome;
To foster research into all matters relevant to people with Down syndrome & other special needs and to provide, either directly or indirectly, assistance to any institution engaged in conducting any research into such matters;
To support people with Down syndrome & other special needs in pursuing their chosen avenues and to publicize their achievements to members of the organization and to the community.
To encourage adults with Down syndrome & other special needs to represent their own interests in this organisation and in other matters which are of direct relevance to them

More info about Downs syndrome

Causes Down's syndrome

Down's syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21 in a baby's cells. In the vast majority of cases, this isn't inherited and is simply the result of a one-off genetic mistake in the sperm or egg.

There is a small chance of having a child with Down's syndrome with every pregnancy, but the likelihood increases with the age of the mother.

There is no evidence that anything done before or during pregnancy increases or decreases the chance of having a child with Down's syndrome.

Although there is no "cure" for Down's syndrome, there are ways to help children with the condition develop into healthy and fulfilled individuals who are able to achieve the level of independence right for them.

Life with Down's syndrome

How to help:
Access to good healthcare, including a range of different specialists, early intervention programmes to provide support for children and parents, good parenting skills and an ordinary family life, education and support groups to provide information and help for parents, friends and families.
Improved education and support has led to more opportunities for people with Down's syndrome.

These include being able to leave home, form new relationships, gain employment and lead largely independent lives.

However, it is important to remember each child is different and it is not possible to predict how individuals will develop.

Associated Health Conditions

There are a number of disorders that are more common in people with Down's syndrome.

These include:
-hearing and vision problems
-heart disorders, such as congenital heart disease,
thyroid problems, such as an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism),
recurrent infections, such as pneumonia.

Your child may be checked by a pediatrician more often than other children to pick up developing problems as early as possible. If you have any concerns about your child's health, discuss them with your GP, health visitor or pediatrician.