FREE ESSAY ON DOWN'S SYNDROME

DOWN'S SYNDROME

Description: Juvenile, non-fiction, informational, picture book, accompanied by text.
Jon O, as the boy with Down's Syndrome is called, is the main character of this
children's book. His parents, siblings, schoolmates, and friends were the other
characters that made up the story. The story briefly sums up what Jon O is like and why
he is a "special boy".
Jon O was categorized as "retarded" by the family doctor before he was even born, and the
book portrayed him as a "special" child that had many differences from all the "normal"
people around him. Elaine Ominsky made very clear all of the child's "differences" and
made every accomplishment out to be nothing short of a miracle. The Wolfensberger's
Devalued Social Roles I saw in the book were many. 
Object of pity, "His Mommy and Daddy cried! They were very sad that their baby was
different." This one was spotted in the first paragraph of the book. There was one part
that can be seen as object of pity, object of charity/burden, and a subhuman portrayal.
This part was talking about Jon O in the classroom setting, "Sometimes the children ask
her, [the teacher] "Why does he [Jon O] act so funny?" "Why is he different from us?" The
teacher tells them, Jon O has a special problem. He will not grow the way most children
do. He will not be able to learn the way most children do. He is retarded." This shocked
me, what a huge thing, to think, to say. Why would it be so hard to say "Well kids, Jon O
isn't different he just has differences. Isn't your hair, eyes, clothes, etc. different
from other peoples? Differences are what make us unique and wonderful people." Why
couldn't the teacher say something of that nature to not set him apart? 
Another section that fell under that category was about his interactions with his
brothers, which seem normal until Ominsky sets him apart. "But sometimes his brothers get
angry with Jon O. He cannot do all the things they can do. They forget Jon O is
different." Good! Great!! Why is it that he isn't different, why can't he be a brother
capable of being one of the boys and be difficult, left out, included, and all. Then it
continues, "Jon O never forgets he is different. Sometimes he is unhappy because he
cannot all the things that people want him to do." And why can't he? Who told him he
could not? 
These negative roles were interspersed with some of the 'six values.' There were positive
contributions that Jon O was portrayed as making. He "helps clean up after the art
lesson...helps his brothers build a fort...his mother set the table...his fix the dune
buggy." He also shows inherent strengths, "...Jon O will keep trying...He's lot's of
fun." There are also many relationships that are positive he plays with his schoolmates,
friends, and brothers. Jon O also has a healthy relationship with his teacher and
parents.
I think children would understand that this child was special, but also different and
that does not need to be the case. He is constantly said to be "different" and I'm not
sure that that term is useful for a positive portrayal, because it was never said in the
book that being different was good or even okay. The book reminded me of my cousin
Christopher and made me glad that no one substituted his name for Jon O's. I liked the
book for its attempt and the pictures, but the message was confusing at times for the
intended age level. I would recommend it to other students in EDU 370. 
The pictures went along well with the text and did not support or deny the text either. I
have included copies of the book attached. 
Bibliography
Ominsky, Elaine. Jon O.: A Special Boy. Prentice Hall Inc.: Englewood N.J. 1977.