Not all stars' smiles are happiness smiles, it might just be a smile for the cameras. Sometimes we forget that the rich and famous cry too. And the most painful thing in a person's life is the troubles that touched his child. In the world, every 88th child is born with autism, and 1 in 700 is born with Down syndrome. Terrible statistics, which also include star children.
Colin Farrell 
At first it seemed that Colin's son weighing 3.43 kilograms was born a completely healthy baby, later it turned out that James was suffering from Angelman syndrome. He is developmentally retarded, laughs too much and has disturbed sleep. In addition, sometimes James has seizures. Unfortunately, the disease is extremely rare, which is why it is not well understood and cannot be treated. However, Colin does not consider his son disabled.
“Only once did I remember that my son is a little different from everyone else, that he has some developmental disabilities, something that prevents calling him normal - that was when I saw him next to his peers. But I don’t think about it for a long time, ”says Colin.
Irina Khakamada 
Irina Hokomada, a talented business coach, designer and former politician, also had a daughter with Down syndrome. In addition, the girl was overtaken by another terrible disease - blood leukemia, which she coped with thanks to a course of chemotherapy. Irina devotes a lot of time to her daughter and believes that they are best friends. Also, in 2006, she founded the Our Choice interregional social solidarity fund to help people with disabilities of all ages.
Fedor and Svetlana Bondarchuk
Due to premature birth, the daughter of Fedor and Svetlana Bondarchuk was born with Down syndrome. Basically, Varya lives abroad, where she receives the necessary treatment and education. Svetlana does not lose heart, and in one of the interviews she said: “Yes, we have a child with certain problems, but something terrible can happen to anyone at any moment. Nobody is safe. Living in misery and despondency is wrong.”
Lolita
Initially, doctors diagnosed Lolita's daughter with Down syndrome, then they changed it to a more comforting "autism". Today, the girl is 16 years old, she, despite certain health problems, goes to a regular school and does not lag behind her peers.
“She constantly works with a psychologist, draws, plays music, her breasts began to grow, pimples appeared on her forehead. Fortunately, Eva is not yet interested in boys, but the guys are very interested in her ... My daughter and girlfriend have it, ”Lolita said in an interview.
Konstantin Meladze
Konstantin Meladze's son, Valery, was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old.
“This is not a sentence, this is a shooting, after which you were left to live. This is a serious disease that has not yet been cured. It is being corrected. I'm talking about a severe form of autism. These kids can be trained. I think that parents who are faced with a similar problem are familiar with the feeling of fear, helplessness in the face of grief, and shame. Our society does not accept, does not recognize “others”. But when the first successes appear in a child, hope and faith wake up - and then a new starting point for true victories and bright pride in your child begins, ”says Yana, ex-wife Konstantin Meladze.
Heavy statistics says that in 90 percent of cases, children with Down syndrome are killed in the womb, having an abortion. Even if a child is born, in 9 out of 10 cases it is abandoned by the parents. But it’s completely in vain, because these are ordinary people, just with some (sometimes very significant) developmental features. People with the syndrome have their own talents, and if they are developed, they can become successful, famous, and, with the help of their own work, not just self-sufficient, but even rich.
Strong people
Some famous people with Down syndrome are described and. Many people with this congenital disease have achieved success and worldwide fame. For example, actors with Down syndrome - Pablo Pineda, Paula Sage, Stephanie Ginz, Pascal Dukenne, Max Lewis, Sergey Makarov, athletes - Karren Gaffney, Maria Langovaya, Andrey Vostrikov, restaurateurs - Tom Harris, Nikita Panichev, musicians and singers - Miguel Tomasin , Ronald Jenkins, artists - Raymond Hu, Josie Webster, teacher Maria Nefedova. Many of those named have higher education, work as teachers, and have achieved success due to their perseverance in life.
A person, even if he is sick, can achieve his dreams, his joy makes everyone around him happier. We need to help those who need help and each of us will feel more comfortable in our small world, where everything is interdependent.
In the state of Illinois, in the United States of America, Michael Jurgue Johnson draws. This versatile artist with Down's Syndrome paints people, animals, and has many landscape works. The execution style is special, but the paintings are quite realistic, he not only paints at will, but also receives many orders for certain paintings.
Michael has websites that showcase his work. He also shows on his Internet resources the work of other artists who have the same disease. Mike periodically organizes exhibitions of his work.
In Ukrainian regional center Lutsk lives an interesting guy Bohdan Kravchuk. He became famous after he became the first Ukrainian student who has a gene anomaly. Despite the fact that he has Down syndrome, he is interested in history and geography, knows the capitals of all European countries, as well as the dates of the most important historical events in the territory of Ukraine.
Bogdan from the first grades was interested in books, textbooks, geographical maps. The grandfather, Vasily Kravchuk, worked with the child, who helped develop the child's photographic memory and imagination, which helped the child in his studies. Much is given to Bogdan with difficulty - he does not count well, he cannot tie his shoelaces. But most ordinary peers can envy his success - he knows by heart a huge number of poems by Kotlyarevsky, Shevchenko, Lesya Ukrainka.
The child began to walk late - after two years. He also did not speak for a long time, but his mother began to teach him to read early and the baby suddenly began to talk. There were no special methods, the training was ordinary, but my mother needed a lot of patience. The boy went to the first grade in a rehabilitation center, he really liked geography, literature, history, his interests coincided with his grandfather's and he enjoyed working with his grandson. He was also assisted by a history teacher Larisa Bondaruk, whose classes with Bogdan became his favorite.
Having finished school well, he entered the Eastern European National University in Lutsk. There were problems with admission, they did not want to issue a medical certificate, since, according to the law of 1967, children with special genetic development cannot enter the university. However, in 2006, a decree was issued in Ukraine, according to which such children can study at correspondence department, this form of education was chosen by Bogdan. A history teacher helped in obtaining a doctor's note. By the way, I passed the testing on admission on a general basis - the tests included three subjects - Ukrainian language, world history, History of Ukraine. After graduating from the university, Bogdan plans to work in the historical archive, he likes to study ancient documents.
Artist Maryam Alekberli
Azerbaijani artist Maryam Alekberi is known all over the world, she paints in an interesting, rather realistic style, which is compared with the manner of Paul Gauguin and Henri Mattis. Exhibitions are held in many countries, the most famous is a solo exhibition at the Louvre in 2015. The girl is not only well-developed intellectually, but also quite beautiful, you can’t even say that she has Down syndrome.
The girl was born in 1991 in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. She studied at a school for ordinary children, after graduating from school she additionally studied in Baku and Moscow educational institutions. From childhood, she loved to draw, showing her imagination, her mother helped the girl develop her talent, and at the age of 19, the first significant exhibition was held at the Art Garden Museum in Baku.
More recently, people with Down syndrome were perceived as an exceptionally unhealthy segment of the population who cannot independently cope with their affairs, study and work on an equal basis with everyone else and be a full-fledged member of society. But today the situation has changed radically, and many famous people with Down syndrome have proven that they can achieve great success in life, despite the terrible verdict of doctors.
What is Down Syndrome
Down syndrome, or trisomy, is a genetic anomaly caused by the appearance of an extra chromosome in 21 pairs. That is, if the normal number of chromosomes is 46, then 47 chromosomes are formed in a person with a syndrome.
This pathology occurs in 1 out of 700 newborns. However, if a woman is over 35, and a man is over 45, then this statistic changes significantly and then it is already 1 to 20.
People of the sun - who are they?
Such people are characterized by a Mongoloid incision of the eyes, which is why this disease was previously called "Mongolism". As well as a flattened back of the head, skin folds at the corners of the eyes, an open mouth or strongly lowered corners of the mouth, a short neck and limbs. In addition, these children have a severely weakened immune system and there is a developmental delay.
Nevertheless, it has been observed that children with Down syndrome are very affectionate, cheerful, kind and patient. They do not know how to hate, lie, envy or harm others. Therefore, they are called "special", or "children of the sun."
Extraordinary Actors
Today, actors with Down syndrome are no longer the same amazing story as one might imagine before. There are at least two dozen actors with this anomaly, but it did not prevent them from becoming famous.
- Liam Bairstow. He played the role of Alex in the series "Coronation Street".
- Jamie Brewer. The actress became famous for her role as Adelaide in the TV series " American history horrors."
- Luke Zimmerman. Played Tom Bowman in the TV series " secret life American teenager.
- Lauren Potter. The actress became famous after her role as Becky in the TV show "Glee" (Glee).
- Chris Burke. The actor appeared in the film "Desperado", where he was noticed by the producers of the series "Life Goes On" and invited to leading role.
- Pascal Duquenn. Belgian actor who played in the film "The Eighth Day" and received an award at the Cannes Film Festival.
- Sara Gordy. British model, actress and singer. She played Pamela Holland in the series Up and Down Stairs.
- David DeSanctis. Got the role of Produce in the famous film "Where the Dream Lives".
- Richard Beckett. The British actor starred in the TV series No Offense.
- The Spanish actor gained popularity after the movie Me Too.
The world also knows such actors as E. Barbanell, T. Jessop, S. Brandon, T. Barella, A. Friedman, K. Garcia, E. House, D. Laurie, K. Nausbaum, D. Stevens and others.
To sports with a smile
No less famous people with Down syndrome have joined the ranks of athletes.
- Karen Gaffney. The girl's leg is paralyzed, but this does not prevent her from participating in competitive swims. She swam across the English Channel at 15 o C, 14 km. In addition, Karen is a disability rights activist and the first person to receive a PhD in humanities with Down Syndrome. She also became the owner of gold at the Paralympic Games several times and founded a foundation that helps people with handicapped.
- Paula Sage. Participated in the Paralympic netball games. In addition to sports, he actively acts in films and practices law in the interests of people with Down syndrome.
- Aylen Barreiro. The young girl is a professional dancer. Participates in competitions on an equal basis with other participants. She has been doing rhythmic gymnastics for many years, has incredible plasticity and energy.
Successful and strong people
And now we will talk about the most successful and famous people with Down syndrome in the world.
- Judith Scott. This woman's story is amazing. She was born with a twin sister. However, the sister was absolutely healthy, while Judith herself turned out to have Down syndrome.
Parents gave the girl at the age of 7 years to a shelter for the feeble-minded. There she spent 35 years of her life until her sister found her and took custody of her. The woman did not know how to read and write, no one took care of her. But one day, having got into courses of weaving from threads (fiber art), Judith was so carried away that she began to create sculptures from the first objects that came to hand.
Now she is no longer alive, but her creations are sold in the museum of outsider art, the price of which reaches 20 thousand dollars. Judith is one of the most famous people with Down syndrome.
- Raymond Hu. The California-based artist captivates art lovers with his Chinese-inspired paintings using rice paper, watercolor and ink. He depicts birds and animals, often drawing from nature.
- Ronald Jenkins. American musician. Composer of techno music, rock and roll, hip hop, etc. Electronic music lovers recognized him as a genius.
- Tim Harris. A restaurateur who owns the friendliest and most welcoming restaurant in the world. In addition to a delicious lunch or dinner, Tim's warm and sincere hugs await each visitor. By the way, even Barack Obama ordered these hugs.
- Madeline Stuart. Australian model, catwalk star. World designers and brands are just fighting for the girl. In 2016, she was the star of New York Fashion Week. Filmed for Vogue and became a designer.
- An artist who learned to paint on his own. Now he is a successful and very talented professional who has already had an exhibition at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
- Noelia Garella. A great teacher works in Argentina with kids from kindergarten. At first, not all parents were delighted that a girl with a similar disease was dealing with their children. But the joy of the children, their attachment to the teacher convinced them. The children themselves do not notice the peculiarities of their beloved teacher at all.
Famous people with Down syndrome in Russia
- More recently, a girl with Down syndrome was the only one who managed to get a job officially. Doctors offered to leave the girl in the hospital, but the parents did not. Maria's mother worked with her daughter, taught her to speak and read, walked with her in the forest, as the parents of the neighboring children did not want the girl to play with their offspring.
After being fired from kindergarten she became an actress at the Theater of the Innocent. The girl also plays the flute and helps to teach "sunny" kids in "Downside Up".
- Sergei Makarov. Colleague of Maria Nefedova in the theatrical workshop. He became the owner of the prize of the festival "Kinotavr" thanks to the film "Old Women", where he played Mikolka.
- Evgenia Dubrovskaya. Vologda artist and student of the College of Folk Crafts. Has the title "Student of the Year-2016".
- Bogdan Kovalchuk. The sunny boy lives in neighboring Ukraine. A very educated guy was the first in his homeland who entered the university with such a diagnosis. He is a computer virtuoso English language, he has an excellent memory for dates and names. Knows almost all the capitals of world states.
Russian will to win
The list of the most successful people with Down syndrome in Russia is replenished by our athletes.
- Leysan Zaripova. In Russia, she became the first to have a license to teach Zumba-fitness dance. Received the Grand Prix award at the Inclusive Dance-2016 festival. And has the title of "Graceful Pearl of Tatarstan-2016".
- Andrey Vostrikov. The Voronezh guy became the absolute champion of the world and the Russian Federation in artistic gymnastics among people with disabilities. In the Paralympic Games Andrey took gold (4 medals) and silver (2 medals).
- Maria Longovaya. Swimming Paralympic Games winner. Won a gold, silver and bronze medal. When the parents gave the girl to the pool to improve their health, they did not even imagine that they were raising a future champion.
- Arina Kutepova. The only person in Russia with Down syndrome who became a candidate for master of sports. Her niche is gymnastics.
Sunny children from the West
In addition to adult famous people with Down syndrome, we would like to draw attention to babies.
- Max, son of actor John McGinley. The boy was diagnosed with Down syndrome. John loves his son very much and takes care of him all his free time from filming TV shows. He calls to love these children and calls them "a miracle from God."
- Alvaro is the son of Spain's head coach Vicente del Bosque. This is a young 21 year old guy. And the whole team considers him their talisman.
Unusual children in Russia
Children with Down syndrome from famous people in Russia have always attracted a lot of attention.
- The actress is raising a wonderful 5-year-old boy, Semyon. She never hid him from the public, on the contrary, she constantly shares her son's successes and is very proud of him.
- “Both celebrities themselves and children with Down syndrome” - this is how they talk about Lolita Milyavskaya and Irina Khakamada in social networks.
Eva, Lolita's daughter, has poor eyesight. At first, Lolita hid her daughter's illness, but now she is trying to help her realize herself.
Masha, Irina's daughter, was born when her mother herself was 42 years old. Now she is studying abroad and is dating a guy with the same diagnosis.
All these stories of famous people with Down syndrome cannot leave humanity indifferent. These people prove every day that they deserve to be in society. Their incredible strength and lust for life are worthy of admiration and great respect.
It is very important for people with disabilities to be represented in the media, as well as to have the opportunity to express themselves creatively. According to the Ruderman Family Foundation, although real life 20% of the population are disabled, as less than 2% of TV characters are shown disabled.
If you have a child with Down Syndrome or love someone with an extra chromosome, you may understand why it is so significant to see people with Down Syndrome and other disabilities in show business.
The first time I saw a person with Down Syndrome on television, it was Chris Burke on Life Goes On. At the time it seemed that sole actor with Down syndrome, but later in our favorite series or films, more and more actors with this diagnosis began to appear.
Here are 25 Actors With Down Syndrome:
1. Liam Bairstow
Bairstow's talent was discovered by the producers of Coronation Street during a master class for actors with disabilities. They were impressed with Bairstow's abilities and offered him the role of Alex.
2. Edward Barnabell
Barnabell has been acting since 2000, predominantly in plays. He is best known for his role as Billy in The Simulator. Barnabell will fill in for actress Jamie Brewer when necessary in Amy and the Orphans, in which case the play will be called Andy and the Orphans.
3. Trevor Barella
Barella is a young actor who starred in the movie A Normal Life. He plays Nathan, the younger of two brothers. The film tells about the relationship of brothers and about family life.
4. Richard Beckett
Beckett is a British theater actor best known for his role in the drama series No Offense. Speaking at various venues, he describes himself as an amazingly talented theater actor with a less talented selfish companion - a friend named Richard.
5. Stephen Brandon
Brandon is a British actor who was discovered during master classes at the Mushroom Theater Company. Then he was invited to play the lead role in the film "My Feral Heart".
6. Jamie Brewer
Brewer is best known for her role as Adelaide in the hit TV series American Horror Story. She has acted in dramas, musicals and comedies. Brewer is the star of the new avant-garde play Amy and the Orphans.
7. Chris Burke
Burke started acting career from the ABC TV movie Desperate (1987). The producers of the TV company were impressed by his talent, and they began to shoot the popular series "Life Goes On" ("Life goes on"), creating for Burke the main role of Corky. Burke was the first actor on the network's television series to have Down syndrome.
8. David DeSanctis
Desanktis - an actor who glorified famous movie"Where the Dream Lives" He plays Produce, a man who works at a small grocery store and befriends a former baseball star.
9. Andrea Faye Friedman
Friedman is a talented actress who has starred in TV series and films. She played the role of Amanda in the series Life Goes On. Friedman voices the role of a character with Down syndrome in Family Guy. She can also be seen in separate episodes of the TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ambulance" and "Save Grace", as well as in many other television series and films.
10. Kennedy Garcia
Photo: facebook.com/kennedyjean04
Garcia is a dancer, model and actress who made her film debut in Pure Country 2. She appeared in commercials for The Bounty, an episode of Sesame Street, and the music video for Earl Arnold's "What About Them."
11. Sarah Gordy
Gordy is a British actress, dancer and model. She is best known for her role as Lady Pamela Holland in the 2010 BBC television series Up and Down Stairs. She also starred in episodes of Call the Midwife, Holby City and Doctors. Gordy took part in short films, played in radio shows, commercials and many theatrical productions.
12. Amber House
House is best known for her role as Grace in the film The Senior Prank (Touched by Grace). In this film, Grace became a friend of a newly arrived girl in the city and played an important role in her life.
13. Tommy Jessop
Jessop is a gifted actor who has appeared in several TV movies, radio shows, movies, documentaries and starring on stage. At the Southampton International Film Festival and the Manchester Film Festival, he won Best Leading Actor in a Short Film for his role in Down and Out.
14. Daniel Laurie
Laurie is a British actor best known for his roles in Call the Midwife and Stella.
15. Crystal Hope Nausbaum
Nausbaum has had roles in the films and TV series The Rainbow Kid, Blood Honey, Between the Lines: Pretty Lake High - Yearbook Assignment, and The Secret Keeper's Daughter.
16. Lauren Potter
Potter rose to fame playing the role of Becky Jackson in the hit TV series Losers. She also appeared in the films Guest Room and Mr. Blue Sky" and in some other films. Potter is known as an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
17. John Franklin Stevens
Perhaps Stevens is best known for his speeches in defense of the rights of people with Down syndrome: his recent speech in Congress went "viral". Stevens is also an actor, his most notable roles are in the films Dawn and Touched by Grace.
18. Brad Silverman
Photo: facebook.com/brutalbarrett
Silverman has starred in I'm Sam, Quantum Leap, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
19. John Taylor
Taylor played in the films "The Simulator", "Dorian's Sadness" and "The Seventh Sign".
20. Sofia Sanchez
Sanchez was born in a small town in Ukraine. Her parents abandoned her and she spent the first 14 months of her life in an orphanage. After that, she was adopted. Sanchez is an actress and model. She has acted in plays, commercials for Build-A-Bear and Target, and in an episode of the TV series "Switched at the Maternity Hospital".
21. John Tucker
Tucker became famous as the star of the reality show "Born This Way" ("Born This Way"). He also starred in the Amazon "pilot" "Love You More", but the project was not approved for filming the series.
22. Blair Williamson
Williamson has guest starred on Clinic and The Protector, and has appeared on ER, Parts of the Body, C.S.I. Crime scene". Movies include "My Antonia" as well as many independent films and short films.
23. Ricky Whitman
Whitman has appeared in Airwolf, California Highway Patrol, and the TV movie Marian Rose White. He died of Alzheimer's disease a month before his forty-fourth birthday.
24. Ashley Wolfe
Wolfe starred in the film Mr. Blue Sky. This is the role of a woman with Down syndrome who falls in love with an ordinary man, and they have to fight the world to get their relationship recognized. She also appeared in the movie Jewel.
25. Luke Zimmerman
Luke rose to prominence as Tom Bowman on the ABC Family series Secret From My Parents. He can be seen in the film "Adi Shankar's Gods and Secrets" and the TV series "Old Age Is Not a Joy" and "Losers", as well as in other projects.
Ellen Stumbo
Translation: Olga Lisenkova, original: themighty.com
Down syndrome did not prevent the Spaniard Pablo Pineda from pursuing a higher education, as well as becoming a film actor: he played a major role in feature film"Me too" (2009).
Pablo Pineda is a convincing proof that even Down syndrome is not a final sentence for a person (like, probably, any disease or disability in general). A lot depends on the courage of the person himself, his willingness to fight for himself and his future, as well as, of course, on the love and help of his loved ones.
What is Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a congenital genetic pathology in which a person has one extra chromosome: instead of 46, there are 47 of them in the chromosome set of the cell: one chromosome, namely the 21st, is represented by three copies instead of two.
This syndrome was first described in 1862 by English doctor John Down, misclassifying it as a form of mental disorder. Signs of people with Down syndrome are a flat face with slanted eyes (this pathology was even called “Mongolism” for quite a long time), an open mouth, a small nose, a short wide neck, a flat nape, low muscle tone, etc.
In the early 20th century, with the advent of eugenics, people with Down syndrome began to be forcibly sterilized in many US states. The same thing was done first in Nazi Germany, and then they were completely destroyed in order to “purify the Aryan race” as part of the T-4 killing program (“Action Tiergartenstrasse 4”).
It is recognized that the birth of a child with Down syndrome (an average of 1 birth in 700-800) can be affected by the age of the mother. Very often, such children are born to women over 35 years old. Usually people with Down syndrome are called "children of the Sun" - for peacefulness and kindness, the absence of any aggressiveness.
In Russia, about 2,000 children with Down syndrome are born every year, and 85% of them turn out to be superfluous in their family: their parents refuse them. In Europe and the US, if prenatal diagnosis diagnoses a baby with Down syndrome in the womb, more than 90% of mothers will have an abortion. Doctors have been sounding the alarm about this for a long time, but so far it has not been possible to cope with the problem.
Pablo is the first
Meanwhile, it is a delusion to believe that such children are not taught. They do have delays in intellectual and physical development varying degrees of severity. These may be problems with speech and hearing, the development of fine motor skills and communication skills. However, they can still develop: learn not only to walk and talk, but also to read and write, like other children, albeit with a lag.
A striking example of the learning ability of people with Down syndrome is the Spaniard Pablo Pineda, who was born in 1974 in the Spanish city of Malaga. He grew up in a family where, in addition to him, his two older brothers were brought up. Pablo became the first person in Europe with Down syndrome who was able to get a higher education. He graduated in 1999 from the University of Malaga with a degree in Educational Psychology.
The fact that he was not like everyone else, the boy first learned from his teacher at the age of seven, when he had to go to school. "I am stupid?" Pablo asked him. "No," shrugged his interlocutor. "Can I go to school?" He answered in the affirmative, although at that time it was unusual. It is today that 85% of Spanish children with Down syndrome go to general, non-specialized schools. Then Pablo became one of the very first such children who studied in a regular school along with the rest of the children.
Pablo remembers the school with gratitude. In one of the interviews about school years he said this: “School is the best time. It was a wonderful, interesting, but also tough experience that enriched my life incredibly. It was especially difficult when I was a teenager.”
Fortunately for him, his parents took great care of his development and did a lot of work on him. Pablo himself says this about this: “I grew up in a cultured family, with daily newspapers and a library, curiosity woke up in me very early ... In general, such a child should be brought up as a child, and not as a “disabled person”: he needs to be educated. Parents should talk to him, because the worst enemy of children with Down syndrome is silence ... Parents should always be with them, they should show that this is their child. Children with Down Syndrome do not need to be overprotected: they need constant mental and physical stimulation and learn on their own.”
Another secret to Pablo's success is hard work. For example, he said that he works out 6-7 hours a day. At the same time, Pablo explained that for him this is largely a necessity: after all, people with Down syndrome study and assimilate educational material are harder than usual.
In his early youth, Pablo wanted to become a lawyer or a journalist. However, in the end, he chose the profession of a teacher at the university. For some time after graduation, Pineda worked in the municipality of the city of Malaga. Now he is busy teaching at a school in the Spanish city of Cordoba.
At the 2009 San Sebastian International Film Festival, Pineda won Best Actor in Me Too, where he played a university teacher with Down syndrome. It can be said that in the film, Pablo largely plays himself.
We bring to your attention excerpts from one of the interviews with Pablo Pineda, where he talks about his life and how, in his opinion, society should treat people with Down syndrome.
Pablo Pineda: we should be seen as ordinary people
– What do you remember about school? Was it difficult to adapt?
- I remember the school period as useful enough for me. The difficulties I encountered were often caused by distrust and fear on the part of senior teachers. They were prejudiced and took it for granted that I would fail in my studies. But I got lucky. I was supported by young teachers. They approved my stay at the school and insisted that I stay.
With early childhood I have always studied in public schools. I must admit that because of Down syndrome my path was not covered with roses, and I had problems with integration.
– How do you fight for your integration? What is the most difficult thing here?
– From the very beginning until today, I have to constantly prove and show what I am capable of. It is very difficult, it is a very difficult struggle, the most difficult in my life. I always have to go one step ahead. I've hit "no" hundreds of times, but I've learned to fight and get "yes." Some things offended me. For example, they told me that my case was artificial, that it was a substitution, that I had a “mosaic” form of the syndrome (a variant of Down syndrome, in which only some, and not all, cells of the body contain tripled chromosome 21 - ed.).
- In your opinion, are young Spaniards able to truly integrate a person with Down syndrome into society?
I have many friends and have great memories of school. Children are more tolerant, more solidary. As a teenager, it was more difficult for me. The guys at the institute were not so understanding ... Well, okay, in any case, the good outweighs. Everyone has their own experience. Everything happened to me, but, in general, my student life was happy.
– How did you get involved in the work?
– … I am a certified teacher in the field special education in the direction of "pedagogical psychology". I'm the only person with Down syndrome who has managed to make a career. I consider myself lucky, I do not sit without work. For almost a year I worked in the department of social welfare of the Malaga city hall, then in a project for socialization and involvement in professional activity people who are on the verge of marginalization… I really enjoy working.
- Do you understand that most people with Down syndrome do not have the same opportunities for a self-sufficient life?
- I feel my exceptional position and I think that several circumstances contributed to this: firstly, I myself very clearly saw myself as such. In addition, my parents helped me with all their might. They believed in my strength and always supported me. They once and for all decided for themselves that I was absolutely normal in everything and did not distinguish between me and my brothers. Of course, this was not easy for me.
– So you think that parents play a key role in the development of a person with Down syndrome?
- The most important, without a doubt. But, unfortunately, many parents who have a child with Down syndrome instantly lose hope, do not invest in it as they should, because they simply do not realize its capabilities. This is where I differ from most guys with Down syndrome. At the same time, it is very important not to overload such children with care, they must be given the freedom to develop.
– Have you had moments when you wanted to quit everything, moments of complete loneliness?
Yes, in my second year of undergraduate studies. Everything was going against me that year. The teachers were full of prejudices, I suffered from classmates, they looked down on me, contemptuously ... that was still the situation. I didn't tell my parents anything. As a result, I endured everything and came to the conclusion that I was able to overcome everything myself. In general, I began to live on. It's funny that in the worst moments of my life, I always meet someone who helps me and supports me. I always have a guardian angel.
– What is your goal for the near future?
- I have always believed and still believe that my goal is to fight for the liberation of society from prejudices and stereotypes. Our voice must be heard by society, we must be seen ordinary people. Until now, I sometimes ask myself if society really understands me. It seems to me that people with Down syndrome are not yet sufficiently understood and appreciated as individuals. Ignorance and often ignorance reigns in this topic. In general, the road ahead is long, you have to prove a lot.
– What is your advice to a person with Down Syndrome who is having difficulty tolerating their condition?
– My advice is to never lose your presence of mind, to feel strength and courage in yourself, to accept yourself as anyone and love yourself. In no case be afraid, do not envy anyone and discard complexes! We must fight with all our might. Surely, you have some abilities, and they need to be cultivated. For example, I manage to write well and study well, but then a bear stepped on my ear. Everyone decides for himself what to develop.
Can you remember a day that fills you with pride? The day when you felt that your efforts were not in vain?
- I can, and not one such day. Once, when students of a professionally oriented course were awarded for the successes, I was awarded a special award. I was bursting with pride when I saw a crowded assembly hall in front of me, heard applause and shouts of approval. It was truly an indescribable feeling. Another time I did an internship at school, and they gave me an incredible honor, prepared a bunch of surprises, poems in my honor. I still get goosebumps when I remember…. At the end we all cried!
