ADSS to Host Color Walk on World Down Syndrome Day
After two years of delays, Altamaha Down Syndrome Society will finally be able to host their Uniquely Me: Coloring the World With Kindness event on World Down Syndrome Day, Saturday, March 21.
The idea to host a color walk – an event where participants run or walk through areas where volunteers are spraying color powder – first arose in 2024, when the group were seeking ways to not only bring awareness for the special needs community, but to also celebrate each individual’s uniqueness. The event was scheduled several times, but weather caused cancellations every time. Now, the organization is bringing the event back and making it brighter than ever.
“Every person is different – we have unique qualities, abilities, likes, and dislikes that are special to who we are. Individuals with special needs are no exception to this, and we believe that this uniqueness is worth celebrating,” Altamaha Down Syndrome Society Director Makaylee Randolph emphasized.
The Altamaha Down Syndrome Society was created several years ago as a way of connecting families of individuals with special needs, and helping them to have a safe space where they can be themselves, while also advocating for acceptance and inclusion. “I read a quote once that said, ‘Inclusion isn’t just inviting someone to sit at your table – it’s believing they belong there.’ That quote really sums up why we do what we do,” Randolph continued. “We don’t need a society that just holds space for everyone to check off a box; we need a community that loves, accepts, and celebrates all people for who they are without expecting them to change or conform.”
Since its creation, the Altamaha Down Syndrome Society has hosted awareness events – such as the Differences Aren’t So Spooky Walk For All Special Needs – and connected the community through Easter Egg hunts and Christmas Character Meet and Greets. The organization has provided individuals with special needs and their families opportunities to enjoy activities in sensory-friendly environments, hosting events at the Vidalia Aquatic Center, Sweet Onion Skating Rink, Ryals Clubhouse, and more. Yet, this event is different, as it will connect the community and advocate for acceptance simultaneously.
The walk will begin with a small ceremony at the Montgomery County Recreation Department, and then will trail one mile down the nearby roads. During several stations within the route, volunteers will line the road and spray color powder at participants, which will bring a fun blast of color to the white shirts, which are given to all who register for the event.
Currently, the Society is accepting vendor requests, sponsorships, and volunteer registrations, and will be until Saturday, March 14. These requests may be submitted by email to altamahadss@gmail. com, or by phone at (912) 253-1447.
Registration for walkers is also open, and costs $15 per person. This registration may be completed through the Altamaha Down Syndrome Society Facebook Page. For more information, call or text Randolph at (912) 2531447.
