What do you consider most important in raising children suffering from down syndrome?

Pineda: The culture in Austria, Switzerland and Germany is different from the culture in Spain. Maybe people in these countries understand me better. First: Treat your child like a child, and not like a "disabled". You have to raise it and educate it. You should talk to your child, because silence is the worst enemy of children suffering from down syndrome. Don't over-worry. Get them outdoors. You should show that it is your child. You should never, ever over-protect it. You should stimulate it physically and psychologically and so teach it autonomy. What happens when the parents are not there anymore?

Pablo Pineda is the first academic (and soon-to-be teacher) suffering from down syndrome in Europe (in German) - and hopefully not the last.

Here's an interview with him (in Spanish)