For World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, a new advert is challenging people to change the way they think about people with Down syndrome.
The ad — produced by CoorDown and Small New York in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and other organizations — begins with model and actress Madison Tevlin, 22, who has Down syndrome, approaching a bartender.
"Hey bartender, you assume I can't drink a margarita, so you don't serve me a margarita so I don't drink a margarita," she said in the video. "Your guess comes true."
Soon, she touches on other incorrect beliefs that persist, including the idea that people with Down syndrome cannot live independently.
"Parents, you assume I can't live alone, so you don't encourage me to live alone," says Tevlin.
CoorDown, an Italian organization, runs the "Suppose I Can" campaign.
"I discovered that there is a concept in psychology called the self-fulfilling prophecy, whereby a teacher who thinks a student cannot understand will act accordingly and therefore not teach the student. The self-fulfilling prophecy ," she said. "In my opinion, there are no difficult or easy concepts, there is always a simple way to explain things. If I think about all the things that have not been explained and taught to me, then I get very angry."
Kandi Pickard, president and CEO of NDSS, tells TODAY.com that people are already talking about how this ad has changed their perspective.
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"The whole purpose of this video is to end those stereotypes of people living with Down syndrome. Many times people with disabilities are assumed to be unable to take care of themselves or unable to make their own decisions. theirs and it's not like that."
The ad also emphasizes the diversity of people with Down syndrome and that their wants and needs are the same as any other person.
"This video is opening up these conversations in such a healthy way for the public to see not only the beauty but also the ability of people with Down syndrome," says Pickard.
Stereotypes about people with Down syndrome limit what they can achieve. When Tommy and Maryanne Pilling - who both have Down syndrome - fell in love three decades ago, many people criticized their families for allowing them to marry. But Maryanne Pilling's family encouraged them and their marriage lasted 25 years until Tommy Pilling died in 2020.
"When your child is born with Down syndrome, everyone tells you what they can't do and how hard it will be...but they can do anything!"
"Being the first opens a lot of doors for him and people like him."
