SOUTHBRIDGE, Mass. — When Schaniece Rodriquez’s daughter was born, she promised to always advocate and build awareness about Down Syndrome. 

“When you hear about these things and the diagnosis, you usually hear the bad things about it,” she said. 

Genevieve has Trisomy 21, the most common form of Down Syndrome. She’s only a month old and the youngest of four children.  Her older siblings, ages 11, 8 and 5 are totally in love with their baby sister.  

“They’re literally obsessed with her. I literally have to fight with them, like it’s my turn to hold her,” Rodriquez said. “They already said no one is making fun of my sister.”

Just last week, Genevieve brother was made fun of at school for having a sister with Down Syndrome. While it upset the whole family, it prompted them to spread awareness and educate others about the common diagnosis. It just so happens,  World Down Syndrome Day falls on Thursday, March 21. 

“We decided to contact schools and send them flyers to see if they can participate and we got so many schools to join us,” she said. “

Students in Spencer, Southbridge, Leicester and Millbury are celebrating by wearing blue and yellow or their most colorful pair of socks.

“It’s very nice to see that we have all this support.  When we found out,  we didn’t know how people were going to take it because obviously she is going to be different,” Rodriquez said. “I’m just going to be super proud and show we support our daughter and other families.”

For the Rodriquez family, advocating for Genevieve stretches far beyond just Thursday. They’re encouraging people to challenge Down Syndrome stereotypes and instead, celebrate what makes someone else a little different.  

“You are different in your own way, which was all are,” she said. “They are so loving and I feel like since we’ve had her, it’s made our family complete and we understand we shouldn’t be so judgmental about others without knowing what they are going through.”