News

7-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Says It's "Not Scary," & All Parents Should See Her Message

by Becky Bracken

Sofia is a lovely and precocious little girl on a mission to help people understand people like her with disabilities. Her mother posted this sweet video of the 7-year-old with Down Syndrome who says the condition is "not scary." It's something every parent should watch.

Since Sophia's mom has put the video on Facebook, it's been watched more than 6 million times. And that's the point: to put a real face to a condition many just don't understand.

Sofia was born in Ukraine and adopted by Jennifer and Hector Sanchez at just 16 months old. Older brother Joaquin also has Down syndrome. "I'm able to give my sons, and especially Joaquin, someone that understands him and they can be on that journey together," Jennifer Sanchez told ABC News.

In the video little Sophia is shown talking to her mom, who is holding a camera. "Are you smart?" Sanchez asks Sophia.

"Yes, I am smart," Sofia answers.

"Are you kind?" Jennifer asks her daughter.

"Yes, I am kind," she answers.

"Little miss, do you have Down syndrome?" Jennifer asks. "Is it scary?"

"No, it's not scary," Sophia says. "'Cause I can do anything I want."

And that's the part where anyone who is watching the video has to grab their heart because it feels like it's going to burst.

Here it is:

As a parent of two kids with Down Syndrome, each year during October, which is Down Syndrome Awareness month, Jennifer tries to reach out to people and help them understand that the condition is nothing to be afraid of and that being different can be a wonderful thing, according to ABC News. "She is basically being an advocate for people with a disability and that they have a love of life," Jennifer told ABC.

According to the National Down Syndrome Society, there are about 400,000 people in the U.S. living with Down Syndrome. And with good support and education people with Down Syndrome can lead long, happy, productive lives, the NDSS adds.

The group also offers this helpful Q&A to help people answer their kids' questions about their friends or family members with Downs Syndrome, including how to explain the disability and help push back against many of the myths that exist about people with Down Syndrome.

So this month, take a cue from Sophia and her family and talk to your kids about people with Down Syndrome and dispel any misconceptions they might have about them. And much respect for Jennifer and the important work she's doing raising her family's, and everyone else's awareness, about the realities of people living with Down Syndrome.