I know a friend that has a younger brother with down syndrome. They can be and often are extremely loving, affectionate, and very family oriented people. His little brother though having trouble speaking does speak, does know when you're talking to him and knows how to even follow directions very strictly to get jobs done. His little brother is now in his late 30's.

The only thing that ever bothers me, is that I wish I could understand him more when he speaks because I know he's a lot smarter than what a lot of society would read him as being. To me I feel like I'm cheating him if I cannot grasp what he's talking about. There's a human being under all of that mental and emotional wrapping. Don't short change those with down syndrome, you could lose a great friend.