Jacob Varghese Exemplifies Living Life to the Fullest with Down Syndrome

Jacob Varghese is a 14-year-old who is into sports, music and fashion—he also has a new recent interest: girls. What sets him apart, however, is the fact that he has Down syndrome.

[Photo Courtesy: Anand Jayaraman of AJ Photoz ]

Jacob Varghese,14, enjoys sports, music and fashion—he also has a new interest: girls. What sets him apart from many teenagers, however, is the fact that he has Down Syndrome.

Like any other kid with Down Syndrome, Jacob’s parents encountered many challenges when it came to raising him. He was a heavy kid and had several developmental and health issues—including three holes in his heart. Yet, not only did he survive, he has since flourished.

Today, Jacob is in his last year of middle school and completes all of his daily tasks independently, such as settling his own restaurant bills and—the typical teenager request—insisting that his privacy be respected.

Jacob’s ability to lead a mostly normal life is largely due to years of dedication and support from his parents. From an early age, they provided him with venues for growth, which included swimming and percussion lessons. As his interest in swimming and music started to grow, he also learned to play the keyboard and drums. His passion for music and sports has only increased over the years.

Recently, Jacob had a particularly memorable moment. His love for fashion and celebrities is well-known among his peers. When he was introduced to Miss Maryland World 2015, Syanne Centeno, he couldn’t control his excitement—he requested a photo shoot with her, and Centeno agreed. The two did an exclusive photo shoot in historic Georgetown. His dad’s friend, Anand Jayaraman of AJPhotoz, was more than happy to capture the moments. Looking through the pictures, one can’t help but agree that all three did an amazing job.

[Photo Courtesy: Anand Jayaraman of AJ Photoz]

While Jacob is lucky to celebrate his special life, his father, Saji Varghese shared that he has met kids with special needs who are totally ignored by their families and society.

“Parents needs to play a big role and the first thing we need to have is patience,” Saji said.

But, where do Jacob’s parents turn for support?

“I review and discuss these issues on Facebook and Twitter, and also participate in discussion groups to learn more about Down syndrome,” Saji explained. “It is a good idea for parents to get engaged and to understand the key things that support a child with Down syndrome. Every parent should support their child because special needs kids always have a hard time getting included or accepted by other normal kids.”

Additionally, Jacob’s family has found the lack of support for special needs kids within the South Asian community particularly disappointing.

“I have not yet seen any platform or discussion groups where others within the South Asian community can leverage. It would be a good idea for parents with special needs to share their experience, ideas and thoughts around this subject,” Saji said.

He said he also feels the best way to get real information is to connect with people who have faced similar challenges.

It is indeed important to spread awareness on Down Syndrome and special needs children. Browsing through Jacob’s website, for example, can be an eye opener for many parents. If parents of special children can share information about challenges they face and how they are trying to overcome them, it would bring awareness of these issues to our communities. Inclusion, not only within schools but also within families, is the key to success for any child with special needs.