BOONE, N.C. — Sara is 15 years old. She loves music, animals and school. Sara has down syndrome. 

What You Need To Know

  • March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day

  • A Boone father says it is an important day for awareness

  • He says his daughter deserves to be celebrated all year

We met Sara for the first time in 2020 when schools changed to remote learning due to COVID-19. The transition was difficult for her but her father said she's always thrived.

"She's a great kid. She's an angel," Michael Ackerman said.

He thinks generational differences are what leads to people having a different idea about people with special needs. 

"We weren't exposed. Kids growing up with special needs, they were separated from us in schools. We just didn't know," Ackerman said.

Now, Sara goes to high school and is in regular classrooms with peer mediators. Ackerman thinks World Down Syndrome Day is an important day.

"I think having a special day for these special people helps to bring to light the joy they can bring," Ackerman said. "I think there's a lot of misunderstanding, especially by people who have never been around anyone with special needs, especially kids with Down Syndrome."

He says Sara is special and deserves to be celebrated. 

"It definitely helps with exposing people to the beauty of kids with special needs," Ackerman said. "When I meet somebody and I tell them I have a daughter with Down Syndrome a lot of times they will say 'I'm sorry' and I let them know it's nothing to be sorry about. She's a blessing."