“I Do My Own Thing”: Hannah’s Story of Confidence and Connection 

For Hannah, life includes work she looks forward to, friends she enjoys talking to, and plenty of time for music and movement. This Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we’re sharing her story through the interests, achievements, and connections that matter to her—and the words she chooses to describe herself. 

“I am kind. I am positive and confident,” Hannah says. 

She loves spending time with her family, drumming, and dancing. Talking with friends makes her happy. When asked what she would like everyone to know about her, her answer is straightforward: 

“I am a fun and active person. I do my own thing. I have down syndrome.” 

That sense of individuality runs throughout Hannah’s story, from her enthusiasm for work to the growing confidence her family sees when she meets new people. 

Work to Look Forward to and Achievements to Celebrate 

When Hannah has work, she is ready well ahead of time. Her family shares that she is up, showered, and dressed two hours before her shift begins. 

It is a small detail that says a great deal about how much she looks forward to going. Having a job is one of the accomplishments highlighted in her questionnaire, alongside gold medals in Special Olympics and her enjoyment of cooking and baking. 

These different parts of Hannah’s life give us a fuller picture of her: someone who enjoys being active, takes pride in her accomplishments, and has interests both at home and in her community. 

Her family is proud of the progress she has made and the confidence she has developed. Their responses celebrate the achievements themselves, alongside the ways Hannah is becoming more comfortable sharing who she is with others. 

Growing Confidence, One Connection at a Time 

One of the clearest examples of that confidence involves something Hannah now enjoys: karaoke. 

Her family recalls that she previously did not want to attend because she was afraid to sing in front of anyone, including her mom and dad. Today, they say, she really enjoys singing at karaoke. 

The contrast offers a concrete glimpse into the change they have noticed. An activity she once felt hesitant about has become something she looks forward to. 

Since joining OneWell, her family reports that Hannah has become more outgoing. She enjoys seeing her friends at the activities available to her, feels more confident meeting new people, and is more open to new friendships. 

These connections matter to Hannah. In her own response, talking with her friends is among the first things she identifies as making her happy. Her family’s observations add another perspective, showing how that enjoyment of friendship is accompanied by a growing willingness to connect with others. 

Down Syndrome Awareness: In Hannah’s Own Words 

Hannah describes herself as kind, positive, confident, fun, and active. Each word belongs in the picture she wants people to have of her. 

Her story is personal: it includes her enthusiasm for work, her sporting achievements, her relationships, and the music she enjoys. Listening to her means making room for all of those details, including the everyday preferences that make her life her own. 

During Down Syndrome Awareness Month, we’re celebrating Hannah by sharing what she and her family want others to know. There is pride in her accomplishments, happiness in spending time with people she loves, and confidence in her own description of herself. 

As Hannah puts it: “I do my own thing.”