The problem of autism also affected the family of the American actress Holly Robinson Peete— On October 19, 1997, she gave birth to two twin boys, one of whom, Rodney James, was diagnosed at the age of three.
According to the star, after a period of despair, she decided to “move from survival tactics to conquest mode.” Ten years later, this struggle turned into undoubted success: by now, 15-year-old Rodney had not only learned to express his emotions, but also began to attend a regular secondary school.
It is also impossible not to mention that the woman and her husband became the founders charitable organization Holly Rod, which studies all kinds of disorders that slow down social development and impeding communication, in particular Parkinson's disease.
“We need to accept mental health as an integral part of our existence and stop ignoring the problem of autism out of shame and fear for our reputation... Delaying action could cost your child a part of their life that you will never be able to make up,” says Holly .
Son Doug Flutie, a former NFL quarterback, developed at a normal pace until he was two years old. Later, the boy gradually stopped speaking.
Intensive therapy brought results - soon Doug Flati Jr. spoke again. Today, the young man actively helps his father at events aimed at raising public awareness about the disease and financing related funds.
“Since my daughter Ava was diagnosed, the incidence of autism in the world has increased by 500%,” says the American actor. Aidan Quinn, which supports autism research organizations throughout the world.
The son of the star of the film "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1997) and the television series "Smallville", John Schneider, has Asperger's syndrome, sometimes called a form of high-functioning (mild) autism. With a high level of intelligence, the boy had to learn all communication skills from scratch.
To the son of the head coach of the Spanish national football team Vicente del Bosque Alvaro, who suffers from Down syndrome, is already 21 years old. Thanks to his easy-going and friendly disposition, he is adored not only by his parents, but also by the entire Spanish national team, which seems to consider the guy their mascot.
Alvaro often goes to training with his father, but he was unable to go to Euro 2012. When leaving, Vincent promised his son to return with victory and he kept his promise. And at the ceremony of congratulating the team on receiving the well-deserved champion title young man personally invited by the Prime Minister of Spain.
In numerous interviews, coach del Bosque does not hide his pride in his son and recalls with surprise the times when he and his wife cried because he was born different from everyone else: “How stupid we were!”
Russian actress, singer and TV presenter Evelina Bledans She became a mother for the second time on April 1 of this year - her son Semyon was born. Three months after his birth, the 43-year-old star gave frank interview, in which she admitted that her child has Down syndrome.
While the baby is developing fully and is no different from his peers. However, new parents are ready for difficulties, and are even going to open a public foundation called “Love without conditions”, which would help children with similar disabilities and their parents.
Lolita Milyavskaya did not give up on her daughter Eva (born 1999), having learned that the baby would be born with Down syndrome. Later, according to the artist, doctors changed the diagnosis to autism. Be that as it may, the singer adores her daughter and notes her every success with special pride and delight.
It is worth noting that until the age of four the girl could not speak. In addition, she has poor eyesight. But despite this, Eva is currently in the sixth grade, speaks fluent English and is only slightly behind her healthy peers.
Irina Khakamada, head of the Interregional Social Solidarity Fund “Our Choice,” created it in 2006 to lobby for the interests of disabled people of all ages, which she became imbued with after the birth of her daughter Maria in 1997.
Down syndrome did not prevent the Spaniard Pablo Pineda from getting higher education, and also became a film actor: he played the main role in the feature film “Me Too” (2009).
Pablo Pineda is convincing proof that even Down syndrome is not a final death sentence for a person (like, probably, any illness or disability in general). A lot depends on the courage of the person himself, his willingness to fight for himself and his future, and also, 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 a cell: one chromosome, namely the 21st, is represented by three copies instead of two.
This syndrome was first described by the English physician John Down in 1862, erroneously classifying 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 back of the head, decreased muscle tone, etc.
At the beginning of the 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 began to be completely destroyed in order to “purify the Aryan race” as part of the “T-4” killing program (“Tiergartenstrasse 4 Action”).
It is recognized that the birth of a child with Down syndrome (on average 1 in 700-800 births) may be influenced by the age of the mother. Very often such children are born to women over 35 years of age. Usually people with Down syndrome are called “children of the Sun” - for their 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 abandon them. In Europe and the United States, if prenatal diagnostics diagnose a child in the womb with Down syndrome, more than 90% of mothers have an abortion. Doctors have been sounding the alarm about this for a long time, but they have not yet been able to cope with the problem.
Pablo is the first
Meanwhile, it is a misconception to believe that such children are not teachable. They do have delays in intellectual and physical development varying degrees of severity. These may be problems with speech and hearing, 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 delay.
A striking example of the learning ability of people with Down syndrome is the Spaniard Pablo Pineda, 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 raised. Pablo became the first person in Europe with Down syndrome who was able to receive higher education. He graduated in 1999 from the University of Malaga with a degree in educational psychology.
The boy first learned that he was different from everyone else from his teacher at the age of seven, when he was about to go to school. "I am stupid?" – Pablo asked him. “No,” his interlocutor shrugged. “Will I be able to go to school?” He answered in the affirmative, although at that time this was unusual. Today, 85% of Spanish children with Down syndrome go to general, non-specialized schools. At the same time, Pablo became one of the very first such children who studied at regular school along with the rest of the children.
Pablo remembers the school with gratitude. In one of his interviews about his school years, he said this: “School is 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 cared very much about his development and did a lot with it. Pablo himself says this about this: “I grew up in a cultured family, with daily newspapers and a library, curiosity awoke in me very early... In general, such a child should be raised as a child, and not as a “disabled person”: he needs to be educated. Parents should talk to him because worst enemy children with Down syndrome - silence... Parents must always be with them, must show that this is their child. Children with Down syndrome do not need to be overprotected: they should constantly receive mental and physical stimulation and learn independently.”
Another secret to Pablo's success is hard work. For example, he said that he studies 6-7 hours a day. Pablo explained that for him this is in many ways a necessity: after all, for people with Down syndrome, studying and mastering educational material are more difficult than is usually the case.
In his early youth, Pablo wanted to become a lawyer or journalist. However, in the end he chose the teaching profession at the university. For some time after graduation, Pineda worked in the municipality 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 the Best Actor award for Me Too, where he played a university teacher with Down syndrome. We can say that Pablo largely plays himself in the film.
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 my school period as quite useful for me. The difficulties I encountered were often caused by mistrust and fear on the part of senior teachers. They were full of prejudices, and it seemed to them self-evident that I would not cope with my studies. But I was lucky. Young teachers supported me. They approved of my stay at school and insisted that I stay.
WITH early childhood I always studied in government educational institutions. I must admit that my path was not paved with roses due to Down syndrome, and I had problems with integration.
– How do you fight for your integration? What's the hardest thing about this?
“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 hardest in my life. I always have to go “one step ahead.” I have faced “no” hundreds of times, but I have learned to fight and achieve “yes.” Some things offended me. For example, I was told 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 the tripled 21st chromosome - ed.).
– In your opinion, are young Spaniards able to truly integrate a person with Down syndrome into society?
– I have many friends and I have wonderful memories of school. Children are more tolerant, more united. It was more difficult for me as a teenager. The guys at the institute were not so understanding... Well, oh well, in any case, the good outweighs. Everyone has their own experience. All sorts of things happened to me, but, in general, my student life was happy.
– How did you get involved in your work?
– ... I am a certified teacher in the field of special education in the field of “educational psychology.” I am the only person with Down syndrome who has managed to make a career. I consider myself lucky; I am not without work. For almost a year I worked in the social welfare department of the City Hall of Malaga, then in a project for socialization and inclusion in professional activity people on the verge of marginalization... I really enjoy working.
– Do you understand that most people suffering from 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. Besides, my parents helped me as much as they could. They believed in my strength and always supported me. They decided once and for all for themselves that I was absolutely normal in everything and did not make any distinction between me and my brothers. Of course, it wasn’t easy for me.
– That is, do 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 immediately lose hope, do not invest in him as they should, because they simply do not realize his capabilities. This is what makes me different 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 ever had moments when you wanted to give up everything, moments of complete loneliness?
– Yes, in the second year of my bachelor’s degree. That year everything was going against me. The teachers were full of prejudices, I suffered a lot from my classmates, they looked down on me, contemptuously... that was 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 on my own. In general, I moved on with my life. It's funny that in the worst moments of my life, I always meet someone who helps me and supports me. A guardian angel always appears to me.
– What is your goal for the near future?
– I have always believed and continue to 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. To this day, I sometimes ask myself whether society really understands me. It seems to me that people with Down syndrome are not yet sufficiently understood and appreciated as individuals. There is a lack of awareness and often ignorance on this topic. In general, the road ahead is long, we will have to prove a lot.
– What advice do you have for a person with Down syndrome who is having difficulty coping with their condition?
– My advice is to never lose your presence of mind, feel strength and courage, accept yourself as anyone and love yourself. Do not be afraid under any circumstances, do not envy anyone and put aside your 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 the bear stepped on my ear. Everyone decides for themselves 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 just one such day. Once, when students in a professionally oriented course were being rewarded for their success, I was awarded a special prize. I was bursting with pride when I saw the packed assembly hall in front of me, heard applause and shouts of approval. These were truly indescribable feelings. Another time I was doing an internship at a school, and they gave me an incredible celebration, they prepared a bunch of surprises and poems in my honor. I still get goosebumps when I remember... We were all crying at the end!
It is still shrouded in myths and prejudices. Many are convinced that Down syndrome is a profound mental retardation or a rare disease that needs to be treated. That such children are born to alcoholics and drug addicts and will never appear to young and healthy parents. That people with Down syndrome are unteachable, aggressive, or, conversely, always happy with everything. That children with Down syndrome are better off growing up in specialized closed institutions and that they have no place among ordinary children...
Such myths can be listed for a long time. But is it necessary? After all, like all speculations, they arise only from a lack of information.
Data
Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder. It cannot be “cured” and it cannot be “infected”, because it is not a disease. But people with Down syndrome often have reduced immunity and a number of concomitant diseases, and their life expectancy, on average, is shorter than that of others. Every 700th child in the world is born with Down syndrome. This ratio does not depend on the nationality of the parents, nor on their health, lifestyle or income.
Children with Down syndrome actually have a more difficult time developing than their normal peers. But with the support of their family and the help of specialists, they, like all kids in the world, can learn to walk and talk, read and write, draw and ride a bike, play music or sports, go to kindergarten or school. They can also be friends, get carried away, fall in love, be happy and make others happy. Like any of us, each person with Down syndrome is unique. He has his own character, his own capabilities, his own interests. A person with Down syndrome can become a famous athlete, like Andrey Vostrikov And Maria Langovaya, actor, like Pablo Pineda And Sergey Makarov, an artist like Raymond Hu or a teaching assistant, like Maria Nefedova. Or simply someone’s – and yours too – child, friend, neighbor, acquaintance. And, of course, he is worthy of respect, if only for the fact that he daily overcomes difficulties unfamiliar to us.
Yesterday and today
Unfortunately, not everyone knows about this. Therefore, even today in Moscow, almost every second child with Down syndrome is abandoned by parents at birth. In other cities, the percentage of refusals ranges from 20 to 80. And just 15-16 years ago, only five percent of such children ended up in their own family!.. This is where another popular myth comes from: in Russia there are much fewer people with Down syndrome than in other countries. Not on the streets, not in transport, not in cafes, not in offices. While abroad, a person with health problems can easily turn out to be your postman, waiter, hotel administrator, child’s classmate or office colleague. In our country, for many years, people with Down syndrome had practically no opportunity to leave the system: maternity hospital - hospital - specialized children's home - - specialized institution for adults.
However, few lived to the end. After all, the orphan system destroys even the strongest and healthiest. What can we say about babies with reduced immunity and developmental features...
Those few who ended up in the family still found themselves isolated: they were not accepted into kindergartens and schools, other children were taken aside at playgrounds, looked askance on the street...
What has changed today? Much: kindergartens and schools have appeared that are ready to accept children with Down syndrome - both correctional and regular, inclusive. The media willingly started talking about Down syndrome and famous people, and parents of special needs children no longer hide the diagnosis from family and friends. There are more specialists - doctors, teachers, psychologists - who know the truth about the potential of children with Down syndrome. And most importantly, the Russian charitable foundation “Downside Up” has appeared, which has been promoting these changes for 16 years. Yes, a lot has changed. But not all. After all, in maternity hospitals it is still sometimes heard: “The child has Down syndrome. Write a refusal and you’ll give birth to a healthy one.” Although changes are taking place here too: last fall, Olga Golodets instructed the Ministry of Health to pay attention to such cases and recommended that doctors stop advising parents to abandon their children for health reasons. As before, people thoughtlessly use the word “down” as an insult, without fear of hurting someone’s feelings and without thinking that this is, in fact, the name of a doctor. As before, myths often replace facts. Cases of adoption of children with Down syndrome are still very rare in Russia... But in other countries, attitudes towards people with special needs have not changed overnight. It just happened several decades earlier than ours.
Make a step
Any journey, even the longest one, begins with a small step. If you are reading this article, it means you have already done it. And I'll tell you a story. One out of thousands. I think that after reading it, you will no longer laugh at a crude joke “about downs.” Or maybe you’ll take even more important steps—we’ll talk about them at the end of the article.
Nastya and Lesha. She was 19 years old, he was 23. A beautiful young couple. Unplanned but happy pregnancy. Excellent results of all tests and examinations. The long-awaited birth of a daughter. And silence.
“All the doctors suddenly fell silent. I saw that they were bending over her and didn’t understand what was happening,” Nastya recalls. Later pediatrician told Nastya that the newborn girl was suspected of having Down syndrome. A blood test is needed to confirm.
“But don’t be upset,” the doctor added cheerfully. “After all, there are defective toys - you can return them to the store.” The world shook and shrank to the size of a microscopic particle called a chromosome. 46 or 47 chromosomes? My whole life now depended on it.
Nastya waited a week for the test results. Each of these days will remain in her memory forever. Other mothers brought their children for feeding, but she didn’t: “Why do you need it? You’ll get used to it!..” Wherever she went: for procedures, in the corridor, she heard: “Refuse immediately, he’s a freak. Have you seen her diagnoses?! Young - you will give birth to others. Otherwise your husband will leave, your friends will all turn away, you will be left alone, and with such a burden.” Barely recovered from childbirth, unable to meet her family, she approached the children's room and peered into the tiny face. The doctors told her: “Look, it’s all written on her face!” And Nastya saw a small child - with pink cheeks, huge blue eyes and blond hair standing in a mohawk on the top of her head...
She already knew what it was - Dasha. After all, that’s the name they gave her back when she was in her stomach. Daughter Dashenka is the most beloved, the happiest...
There was a discharge department under the window of Nastya’s room. And every day she saw through the window how joyful mothers with children in their arms came out, how their relatives greeted them... Nastya could communicate with her family only by video phone. Just as shocked and confused as she was, they didn't know what to say. Everyone was waiting for the test results. Meanwhile, the doctors, it turns out, personally met with each of them in turn: with the husband, mother, mother-in-law. And, like Nastya, they were informed of dire predictions: “This is not a child, but a vegetable in the garden: he will never walk, will not speak, will not recognize any of you. And in general, he will die in your arms. Take him home and he will die.” A week later confirmation came - Dasha has Down syndrome. On the same day, without consulting Nastya, the family removed all the children's things from the house - a stroller, a crib, the first tiny clothes... And a little later, under constant pressure from doctors and in the presence of a lawyer, Nastya and Lesha wrote a waiver of the child. Each one separately, because they never had the opportunity to meet and talk with the whole family. The female lawyer was very lively and cheerful: “Well, we found something to grieve about! Young, healthy, give birth to a dozen more and forget everything, like a bad dream.” Dasha’s parents met only when Nastya walked out of the doors of that same discharge department. One.
They told friends and acquaintances that the child had died. And we tried to live as before. “We managed to pretend to others, even to each other. But in front of myself... I was then ready to go to any job, do anything - just not to think...” Nastya still remembers her first visit to the orphanage. They drove along with Lyosha - and from the street they heard a child’s cry. For some reason, it immediately became clear that it was Dasha. She lay in the infectious disease ward and cried - her leg was stuck between the slats of the crib. She couldn’t get her out, and there was no one to help - there wasn’t enough staff for everyone... Then it was easier to come, we got used to it. It was more difficult to leave. “She lay there and looked at us. And we had to turn away from this look and leave...”
Love syndrome
One day Nastya realized that next time she simply couldn’t leave like that - without Dasha. The doctors said that it was possible to take the child home for the weekend. Then Nastya took a vacation and took her daughter for a whole month. “When we were dressing her, the nanny decided that we were dressing her for a walk, as usual. And when she suddenly realized that we were taking her home for a stay, she suddenly burst into tears: “Lord, I wish you, Dasha, would never come back here again!” The nanny did not know that her words would be prophetic. However, no one knew this then. And Lyosha was categorically against taking the child away, even temporarily. Visit, help in some way - yes, but don’t take on such responsibility. They even agreed that they would live separately for this month: Nastya and Dasha with their mother, and Lyosha with hers.
All month Nastya waited for other doctors’ predictions to begin to come true: when friends and relatives began to turn away, when they would point fingers at her daughter. But everything was different: the whole family immediately fell in love with Dasha, and her husband came every weekend and fussed with her. On the street, it was no longer Nastya looking longingly into other people’s strollers, but people looking at her in the stroller with the words: “Oh, what a miracle! So nice!” During this month, one-year-old Dasha, who upon arrival home could only lie down, learned to sit up on her own and walk by the hand, changed a lot... Meanwhile, the month was coming to an end. “Can you return her?” — Nastya’s mother once asked. Of course, Nastya couldn’t. But Lyosha could not change his decision. She persuaded him for a long time, citing a variety of arguments: “I just can’t give her away now. She needs to at least be supported, allowed to get stronger...” But then I realized that you cannot demand from a person what he cannot give. “An innate maternal instinct spoke within me, which Lesha could not have had. And I didn’t have time for arguments and insults: I had to raise a child.” Lyosha and Nastya officially divorced. Later, Lyosha will remember this - Dasha’s abandonment and divorce - as the biggest mistake in his life. However, he still continued to visit Nastya and her daughter and help them.
Dasha grew and developed. Nastya is already accustomed to the fact that even doctors, seeing her, are amazed: “And this is a child with Down syndrome?!” But we didn’t even know that this was possible, we were taught something completely different...” But still, the first place where she heard the words: “What a wonderful child you have!” was the Early Development Center of the Downside Up Foundation. Nastya accidentally found out about it from other parents, came to classes with two-year-old Dasha - and realized that it had begun. new life. “It was there that I finally began to ‘let go’. And not only me, but also Lesha, because he also came with us. There we saw other parents, other children - both young and older - and were finally convinced that it was not scary. We saw what a huge amount of work was being done to help us - and we realized that we were not alone.”
Dasha recently turned 15 years old. Having completed her studies at Downside Up at the age of seven, she studies in a regular school, on the basis of which a specialized class has been created for children with special needs: they take some subjects together with everyone else, and Russian and mathematics follow an easier program. She has a big loving family: mom, dad, grandmother, great-grandmother, beloved little sister Anya.
At the invitation of the First Lady of Great Britain, Dasha went to London to light the lights on the Christmas tree, participated in photo shoots for the “Love Syndrome” calendar, and talked with journalists and celebrities. She is very polite and caring, it is easy and pleasant to be with her. Dasha finds mutual language with everyone, but with special tenderness she treats children and elderly people who answer her in kind. Nastya thinks that Dashina future profession will be associated with caring for people. And it’s okay that so far in our country people with Down syndrome have practically no employment opportunities. This is the next step and one day we will definitely take it.
After all, if until recently the only officially employed person with Down syndrome in Russia was Maria Nefedova, an assistant teacher at Downside Up, now everyone has learned the story of Nikita Panichev, who works as an assistant cook in one of the Moscow coffee shops. And recently, a case of employment of a person with Down syndrome occurred in Omsk - a young man, 20-year-old Alexander Belov, began working as a cleaner to prove that special people can also be useful to society. Well, and at the same time save money for a course of dolphin therapy and new jeans.
And Nastya and Lyosha are still together. They began to live as a family soon after Dasha went to classes at Downside Up. And after some time they got married again. This time - getting married in church. Parents still come to their house and call them, faced with the same situation and not knowing what to do. Nastya and Lyosha firmly made it a rule not to convince or persuade anyone of anything. They only tell their story: only the facts, without hiding anything. Of course, Nastya has been asked the question more than once: “Have you ever regretted your decision to take the child?” You can probably ask it only without seeing them all together: Nastya, Lesha, Dasha, Anya...
But Nastya simply answers: “No, not once. The only thing I regret now is that I didn’t take her right away, that we didn’t live together for the first year. And then, as soon as I brought Dasha home, even though it was difficult and scary, it somehow immediately became clear: it was bad before, but now everything is fine.”
How to help special people?
Several ways to make March 21 a truly special day, and life special people- usual:
— give a lesson, a package of specialized literature or a home visit from a specialist to children with special needs>>
- wear an orange tie, scarf or neckerchief in support of people who are also called “sunny” - and tell others about this day.
- smile at a special person.
After all, people with special needs suffer most not because of their health conditions, but from the prejudices of others.
Until recently, people with Down syndrome were perceived as an exceptionally unhealthy segment of the population who could not cope with their affairs on their own, 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 abnormality caused by the appearance of an extra chromosome in the 21st pair. That is, if the normal number of chromosomes is 46, then with the syndrome a person develops 47 chromosomes.
This pathology occurs in 1 out of 700 newborns. However, if a woman is over 35 and a man is over 45, then this statistics changes significantly and then is already 1 in 20.
People of the sun - who are they?
Such people are characterized by a Mongoloid eye shape, which is why this disease was previously called “Mongolism.” As well as a flattened back of the head, skin folds in the corners of the eyes, an open mouth or strongly drooping corners of the mouth, a short neck and limbs. In addition, these children have severely weakened immunity and developmental delays.
However, it has been noted that children with Down syndrome are very affectionate, cheerful, kind and patient. They do not know how to hate, lie, envy or harm others. That's why they are called "special" or "children of the sun."
Extraordinary Actors
Today, actors with Down syndrome are no longer amazing story, as one might have previously imagined. There are at least two dozen actors who have this anomaly, but it has not stopped them from becoming famous.
- Liam Bairstow. He played the role of Alex in Coronation Street.
- Jamie Brewer. The actress became famous for her role as Adelaide in the TV series American Horror Story.
- Luke Zimmerman. Played Tom Bowman in the series " Secret life American teenager."
- Lauren Potter. The actress became famous after her role as Becky in the TV show 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 the main role.
- Pascal Duquenne. Belgian actor who played in the film "The Eighth Day" and received an award at the Cannes Film Festival.
- Sarah Gordy. British model, actress and singer. She played Pamela Holland in the TV series Down and Up Stairs.
- David DeSanctis. He received the role of Producer in the famous film “Where the Dream Lives.”
- Richard Beckett. The British actor starred in the TV series “No Offences.”
- The Spanish actor gained popularity after the film “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 an active disability rights activist and the first person to receive a doctorate in humanities with Down syndrome. She also won gold at the Paralympic Games several times and founded a foundation that helps people with disabilities.
- Paula Sazh. Participated in the Paralympic netball games. In addition to sports, he actively acts in films and practices law on behalf of people with Down syndrome.
- Ayelen Barreiro. The young girl is a professional dancer. Participates in competitions along with other participants. She has been involved in rhythmic gymnastics for many years and has incredible flexibility 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 in a pair with a twin sister. However, her sister was absolutely healthy, while Judith herself turned out to have Down syndrome.
At the age of 7, her parents sent the girl to a home for the feeble-minded. There she spent 35 years of her life, until Native sister did not find her and did not obtain custody of her. The woman did not know how to read or write, no one cared for her. But one day, having taken a course in thread weaving (fiber art), Judith became so carried away that she began creating sculptures from the first objects that came to hand.
Now she is no longer alive, but her creations are sold in the Outsider Art Museum, the price of which reaches 20 thousand dollars. Judith is one of the most famous people with Down syndrome.
- Raymond Hu. A California-based artist is captivating art lovers with his Chinese-style paintings using rice paper, watercolor and ink. He depicts birds and animals, often drawing from life.
- Ronald Jenkins. Musician from America. Composer of music in the style of techno, rock and roll, hip-hop, etc. Electronic music lovers recognized him as a genius.
- Tim Harris. A restaurateur who owns the friendliest and most hospitable restaurant in the world. In addition to a delicious lunch or dinner, every visitor will receive Tim’s warm and sincere hugs. By the way, even Barack Obama ordered these same hugs.
- Madeline Stewart. Australian model, catwalk star. World designers and brands are simply fighting for the girl. In 2016, she was the star of New York Fashion Week. She starred for Vogue and became a designer.
- An artist who learned to draw on his own. Now he is a successful and very talented professional who has already held an exhibition at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.
- Noelia Garella. An excellent teacher works in Argentina with children from kindergarten. At first, not all parents were delighted that a girl with a similar disease was working with their children. But the children’s joy and their attachment to the teacher convinced them. The children themselves do not notice the peculiarities of their favorite teacher at all.
Famous people with Down syndrome in Russia
- Until recently, a girl with Down syndrome was the only one who managed to get an official job. Doctors suggested leaving the girl in the maternity hospital, but the parents did not do this. Maria’s mother worked with her daughter, taught her to speak and read, and walked with her in the forest, since the parents of the neighboring children did not want the girl to play with their offspring.
After leaving kindergarten, she became an actress at the Theater of the Simple-minded. The girl also plays the flute and helps teach “sunny” children at Downside Up.
- Sergey Makarov. Colleague of Maria Nefedova in the theater workshop. He won a prize at the Kinotavr festival thanks to the film "Old Women", where he played Mikolka.
- Evgenia Dubrovskaya. Vologda artist and student at 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 became the first in his homeland who entered university with such a diagnosis. He is a master of the computer, English language, he has an excellent memory for dates and names. Knows almost all the capitals of the world's states.
Russian will to win
The list of the most successful people with Down syndrome in Russia is completed 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 festival 2016. And has the title “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, Andrei took gold (4 medals) and silver (2 medals).
- Maria Longovaya. Winner of the Paralympic Games in swimming. She became a gold, silver and bronze medalist. When the parents sent the girl to the pool to improve her health, they had no idea 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 artistic gymnastics.
Sunny children from the West
In addition to famous adult people with Down syndrome, we would like to draw attention to children.
- Max, son of actor John McGinley. The boy was diagnosed with Down syndrome. John loves his son very much and spends all his free time from filming TV series with him. He calls to love these children and calls them “a miracle from God.”
- Alvaro, son of the head coach of the Spanish national football team, 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 among 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 the celebrities themselves and children with Down syndrome” - this is what they say on social networks about Lolita Milyavskaya and Irina Khakamada.
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 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 desire for life are worthy of admiration and great respect.
The appearance in a family of a child with special needs - with developmental disabilities, disabilities or multiple disabilities - is a gloomy lottery of fate from which no one is immune. IN last years society turns to families with such children and is engaged in their social integration.
These processes are also taking place in Russia, although unevenly; in the fall of 2017, a certain lady on television reported that “special children” are born from “drunk conceptions,” which is both factually incorrect and offensive. In response, a flash mob #yanealkash began on social networks, in which mothers and fathers of children talked about their families. There are also many such families among celebrities. We invite you to read about them.
Evelina Bledans
Actress and TV presenter Evelina Bledans is raising her son Semyon with Down syndrome. Bledans became the first Russian celebrity to openly and proudly declare that she has a “sunny child.” She participates in the work of a specialized charitable foundation, works with her son and talks a lot in interviews about how raising a special child is not a death sentence, but simply different living conditions. In 2017, Evelina Bledans divorced her husband, but this, according to her, did not affect the child in any way.Danko
Singer Danko is married to model Natalya Ustyumenko. The couple has two daughters, the youngest Agatha was born with cerebral palsy - cerebral palsy. Complications arose during childbirth. The consequence of this was a difficult diagnosis. The editors of uznayvse.ru clarify that Danko does not live with his family, but regularly visits his wife and children. Natalya devotes almost all her time to rehabilitation activities with her youngest daughter. 
Irina Khakamada
Irina Khakamada gave birth to her second child, daughter Masha, at 42 years old. As sometimes happens, she gave birth to a girl with Down syndrome. This was in 1997, so in the maternity hospital Khakamada was persuaded to give up the child. However, the conditions in Russian orphanages are such that the mother decided not to abandon the girl. IN adolescence Masha suffered from leukemia, but she was saved. In 2017, the girl turned 20 years old, she has a boyfriend - a young man with the same diagnosis. 
Anna Netrebko
Opera diva Anna Netrebko gave birth to her son Thiago in 2008 in Vienna. The boy's mother noticed something was wrong when he was three years old, when Thiago still did not begin to speak. Only then did doctors diagnose him with a mild form of ASD (autism spectrum disorder). Anna decided to find specialists abroad, and not in Russia, and took her son to New York - the field of therapy and integration of such children is well developed in the USA. 
Sergey Belogolovtsev
TV presenter Sergei Belogolovtsev younger son Zhenya was born significantly ahead of schedule and with heart disease. In addition, after the operation he developed cerebral palsy. For several years, the parents hid their son’s diagnosis from the press and public, but later they spoke about Zhenya’s characteristics. The young man himself graduated from a school for gifted children (with cerebral palsy, intelligence often remains intact) and hosts the TV show “Miscellaneous News” on one of the TV channels. 
Tatyana Yumasheva
The daughter of the first Russian President Boris Yeltsin, Tatyana, gave birth to a son, Gleb, in 1995. The boy was born with Down syndrome. For many years, the child’s characteristics were not reported to the press in order to divert unwanted attention from the family. However, the editors of the site note that Tatyana Yumasheva recently wrote about her son herself - she said that Gleb swims well, remembers and loves many musical works, and also plays chess well. 
Lolita Milyavskaya
Rumors about the characteristics of Lolita’s daughter, born in marriage to Alexander Tsekalo, began to circulate almost from the moment she was born. They wrote that she had Down syndrome and that the girl was autistic. Lolita Milyavskaya herself denied these speculations. According to the singer, Eva, born in 1999, was born very premature, and her features are connected precisely with this. At birth, the girl weighed a little more than one and a half kilos; she was barely able to get out. 
Konstantin Meladze
The son of producer Konstantin Meladze was born in 2005, and until recently the family hid that the boy was diagnosed with autistic disorder. Details difficult life The boy’s mother told him about autism only after her divorce from her husband (Konstantin left Yana for singer Vera Brezhneva). According to her, parents should not repeat her mistakes and contact doctors as early as possible - if ASD is diagnosed in time, the opportunity to compensate for it is much higher (at the same time, we note that in Russia for a long time children under three years of age were not diagnosed with autism in principle). 
Svetlana Bondarchuk
The daughter of Fyodor Bondarchuk and his wife Svetlana lives away from her parents in London. According to Svetlana Bondarchuk, she studies there and undergoes rehabilitation. British specialists working with special needs children are more comfortable than their domestic counterparts. The girl Varya was born in 2001 somewhat prematurely, which is related to the peculiarities of her development. 
Raising a child with special needs is not an easy task even for parents with “opportunities.” However, it also happens that quite ordinary children of stars do not stand the test of parental glory and go to great lengths. We invite you to read about the most unlucky children Russian celebrities.
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