Cri du Chat Syndrome Awareness Week - Striped Socks Campaign

Introduction

During the first full week of May, the 5p- Society of North America, along with support organizations from over 70 countries, are bringing awareness of Cri du Chat Syndrome, also known as 5p- Syndrome, a permanent deletion on the "p" arm of the 5th chromosome.

Main Digest

Each year in the United States, approximately 50-60 children are born with 5p- Syndrome. It is characterized at birth by a high-pitched, "cat-like cry" caused by an underdeveloped larynx and weak breath support. Other characteristics include low birth weight, poor muscle tone, microcephaly and potential medical complications. The severity of the disorder varies among individuals and can be considered a spectrum disorder. Symptoms go from mild and unnoticed, which causes a delay in diagnosis, to severe where the individual requires to be cared for 24/7 and will require ongoing support from a team of parents, therapists, medical professionals, educational professionals and extended family members to help the individual achieve his or her maximum potential.

The 5p- Society's mission is to maximize the quality of life of an individuals with 5p- and their families. One way to improve the lives of individuals with the syndrome is by creating a Caregivers Guide with current information on diagnosis, therapies, educational goals, transition and adult living. Information for the guide is currently being collected with the hopes of having it completed by the end of 2017. It is also committed to connecting parents to network, vent and share information through their Social Media platforms.

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"Families who have felt alone in their journey of raising a child with Cri du Chat Syndrome can now find immediate resources, support and information." Laura Castillo, Executive Director, 5p- Society. "This was not available to me 29 years ago when my daughter Katie was born." "Learning about each other's child, their strengths and weaknesses has become extremely educational and has created new and unique conversations." "We'd love to see more research done on the various genes affected on the 5th chromosome and the correlation with the characteristics of the syndrome."

"Individuals with Cri du Chat Syndrome are Super Heroes and strive to be the best that they can be despite their limitations" Jennifer Wong, President, 5p- Society. "Awareness of self is also an important aspect of having a child with a disability. If someone is able to have a basic understanding of their self, and diagnosis, then they are able to understand that their struggles or inability to do something is not a shortcoming of them, but a result of their diagnosis. Therefore creating greater confidence in one self."

In an ongoing effort to raise awareness, members and supporters are encouraged to participate in events throughout the week.

• Stripy Sock Campaign: Wear striped socks, one long, one short, representing the whole and deleted fifth chromosomes, especially on May 5th. #stripysocks
• Virtual 5k for 5p-, to raise awareness and money for programs that benefit the Cri du Chat Syndrome community. A Virtual Walk can be anything you want it to be, a walk, a run, a picnic, or any type of event. Over 20 "Teams" have been created all over the world. #5pminus5k
• Where in the World is C5? In an effort to encourage worldwide participation, we are asking families to pose for a picture with C5, the mascot of International Cri du Chat Awareness Week (named C5 for Chromosome 5) and share their picture on social media using the #SeeC5 and #criduchatawareness. Looking forward to seeing pictures from around the world and maybe even with a celebrity or two!
• Join us for a 5k Walk on May 7 - Southern California - Lakewood - (1:30 PM) Katie Castillo's Cheetahs 5k Walk

For more event ideas, please visit https://fivepminus.org/event/awareness-week-events/?event_date=2017-05-01

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Cite This Page (APA): 5p- Society. (2017, April 30). Cri du Chat Syndrome Awareness Week - Striped Socks Campaign. Disabled World. Retrieved September 17, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/disability/awareness/cdcs.php

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