Roommate, friend, employee and budding guitarist — each of these words describe Tracy McIntosh.
Like most other Springfield residents, McIntosh gets up in the morning and goes to work, putting in her hours at the Lane Community College Downtown Center’s deli. After work, she occasionally attends an evening water aerobics session to wind down.
Unlike most Springfield residents, however, McIntosh has Down syndrome. That doesn’t limit her contributions to the community, however, and today she travels to Washington, D.C., to meet and share stories with others who have the same genetic, chromosomal disorder. McIntosh, 38, will be one of a handful of Northwesterners attending the National Down Syndrome Congress’ annual conference.
“I am excited,” McIntosh said with enthusiasm. “I am going to talk to people with disabilities, Down syndrome and people who are handicapped.”
The conference is held in various places each year; this year’s conference begins Friday and runs through Sunday under the theme “Celebrating rights, liberty and justice … for ALL people.”
Seattle resident Carol Smith invited Mcintosh to accompany her and Smith’s daughter Heather, after Heather and McIntosh met during a vacation sponsored by TRIPS, a local organization that chaperones excursions for developmentally-disabled travelers.
McIntosh and Heather met in Las Vegas and “they became fast friends,” Smith said. Smith has attended the conference with Heather for the past several years, and guesses “that less than 20 [people] will attend from the Oregon/Washington area.”
Between 2,000 and 3,500 people overall are expected to attend this year’s event, which is mostly for parents and families with Down syndrome connections, but is open to anyone.
“All kinds of people speak at the convention [and] there are workshops for parents and kids,” Carol Smith said. “The conference really gives you a good idea about the lives of people with Down syndrome. Moms even come who know they are carrying a Down syndrome child. It’s just a great thing.”
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that includes a combination of birth defects including characteristic facial features, some degree of mental impairment, often heart defects, visual and hearing impairment and other health problems. It is one of the most common genetic birth defects and affects about one in 800 to 1,000 babies. About 350,000 individuals in this country have Down syndrome.
McIntosh has already registered for a variety of workshops that the conference offers, including an art workshop and an advocacy workshop.
“This conference really gives them a sense of worth, and helps their lives,” Carol Smith said.
McIntosh isn’t the only one who is thrilled about her trip. Her best friend and housemate, Julie Prince, is also happy for her.
“Julie is kind of more like my mom sometimes,” McIntosh said.
Prince, 41, who also has Down syndrome, expressed excitement that McIntosh would be representing their shared views on Down syndrome.
“It’s great — she is going as a daughter, a friend and a sister,” she said, smiling as she held McIntosh’s hand.
For more information about The National Down Syndrome Congress or the conference, call 1-800-232-NDSC. You can also look at the Web site at www.ndsccenter.org/2000conv.htm. For information about the Down Syndrome Society call 1-800-221-4602.