Rehabilitacja dzieci z zespołem Downa – doświadczenia rodziców

This article aims at discussing experiences of parents whose child was diagnosed with Down syndrome. It is based on a two-year fieldwork research in large cities in Poland that included in-depth interviews with families and discourse analysis of Internet sources. Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic disorders, caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21. Due to genetic nature of the disorder, there is no known cure for DS. Low muscle tone and mental impairment are one of the most common symptoms. In this article I examine the role of the physiotherapy in lives of DS children parents. Their children may never be fully functioning intellectually, but in most cases their physical development, however delayed, will be successful. I argue that the mother dedication in finding new methods of improving their children physical abilities may be seen as a way of regaining agency and acceptance.