As World Down Syndrome Day approaches on March 21, the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware (DSADE) is encouraging the community to raise awareness for Down syndrome in their schools and workplaces through an unexpected wardrobe staple: mismatched socks!
Known as “Rock Your Socks,” this program inspires conversations about Down syndrome and provides funding to support the DSADE’s year-round and statewide programs and resources—including a boxing program specifically designed for individuals with Down syndrome, outreach to parents who recently received a Down syndrome diagnosis, and much more.
These mismatched socks touch multiple communities on their journey to World Down Syndrome Day. First, volunteers assist the DSADE in preparing socks—which symbolize Down syndrome chromosomes—for distribution to schools, businesses, and organizations. In turn, these groups sell socks to their community members to rock on and around World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, a date that represents the three copies of the 21st chromosome present in individuals with Down syndrome.
Bulk orders for those committed to selling 100+ socks and picking them up locally—pick-up locations are in all three counties—are due by Feb. 8. Individual online orders will remain open until World Down Syndrome Day and can be shipped anywhere.
Since 2014, the DSADE has distributed over half a million socks throughout the state. Every school district in Delaware participates in some fashion, as well as hundreds of businesses that support the effort. But Rock Your Socks has grown beyond the state borders—Down syndrome associations and community groups throughout the country rock their socks in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day.
“Over more than a decade, Rock Your Socks has become a tradition for many schools and businesses across the state, and is an entry point into education about Down syndrome,” said Lauren Camp Gates, executive director of the DSADE. “This year, we’ve seen more need than ever from our families for increased resources and opportunities for their loved ones with Down syndrome. Rock Your Socks fundraising helps us fill those gaps.”
