I'm old enough that when I was growing up I never saw anyone with Down Syndrome. They were put in institutions and died relatively young because of ignorance and inadequate care.
By the time I had young children of my own, I loved it that we'd go out in public and would see children with Down Syndrome. They looked different and they had limitations my kids didn't have, but weren't locked away.
Here's a story that does not reflect well on me: About ten years ago an acquaintance's oldest child was born, and the first few times I saw the baby I couldn't quite figure out what it was about him that creeped me out. When he was about six months old, the mother casually said, "You know that Stevie (not his real name) has Down Syndrome." No I didn't and now that I knew everything fell into place and he absolutely did not creep me out. Stevie now has two younger siblings and is doing quite well in his life.
My only excuse for being creeped out is that I could tell there was something different about him but didn't recognize the rather clear physical signs of Down. Because I promise, I do not feel creeped out at all when I see someone with it.
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