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As a Special Olympics gold medalist in swimming, Colby Douglas is used to hearing crowds cheer for his name during sports events. Recently, Colby heard people cheering for him once again, but it was for a different win – his successful recovery from the coronavirus. The 21-year-old Pequannock, New Jersey, native, who was born with
An emotional student’s visit to the cemetery has moved thousands of people. This is the story behind it. When Paul Marshall, Jr. heard his name announced on graduation day, he danced across the football stadium to claim his diploma. The teenager has officially graduated from Haughton High School, and he couldn’t be prouder of himself
We rarely see people with disabilities featured in ad campaigns, but that trend is slowly changing as more and more companies are promoting inclusivity in their marketing initiatives. Ellie Goldstein, an 18-year-old model from Essex, England, just starred in an Instagram campaign by Gucci Beauty. She’s the first model with Down Syndrome to pose for
Earning a bachelor’s degree is far from easy, especially for people with special needs. Despite having down syndrome, AnnaRose Rubright soldiered on and proved that even with her condition, she could accomplish her goals. In early May, the 24-year-old finally earned the fruit of her hard work. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in radio,
Jay Handlin couldn’t contain his joy when his daughter, Rachel, officially became a college graduate. While this occasion is a particularly special moment for all parents, there’s an even bigger reason why Jay is feeling extra proud: Rachel has Down syndrome. Last week, the proud father took to Twitter to announce that the 24-year-old had
Grey’s Anatomy star Caterina Scorsone commemorated World Down Syndrome Day in the cutest way – by doing ABCs with her toddler! On Saturday, the 38-year-old television star shared an Instagram video of herself and her 3-year-old daughter, Paloma “Pippa” Michaela, who lives with Down Syndrome. In the sweet footage, the mother and daughter duo are
This beachwear company in Florida just added a fresh face into their roster of models, and he is already making waves in the industry because of his charisma. In a blog post, Surf Style announced that a new model will be joining them – Ethan Holt, a 16-year-old athlete with Down syndrome. According to Surf
Confident, cheeky, and charming. These are the three words that best describe Russell O’Grady, an employee of McDonald’s in Australia who became iconic for paving the way for people with Down syndrome to be welcomed in the popular fastfood’s workforce. After rendering 32 years of outstanding service to the famous fastfood chain, the 50-year-old Russell
As adults, we have a ton of responsibilities on our plates. We are tasked to maintain our homes, we experience pressure at work, and some of us are raising children. With age comes knowledge, and as we grow older, we gain wisdom about how to deal with life’s challenges. We tend to believe that there
Watch out Naomi Campbell, Devon Aoki and Cara Delivigne there is a new supermodel in town! A four-year-old smiling girl with Down syndrome is becoming a champion for inclusion after participating in numerous fashion shows and winning various modeling competitions. In a recent charity fashion show for models with disabilities, Francesca Rausi expertly walked the
Anyone who has ever joined a game or a competition – whether it’s a board game, a swim meet, or a singing contest – knows that losing is difficult to swallow. But what if you’re a championship contender, playing among the best in the world after years of hard work and training, and you lose
As a special education teacher, Kerry Bremer’s job requires a lot of patience and understanding. But for one of her former students, Kerry gave more than that – she gave him a loving home and a family to call his own. The Massachusetts resident first met Jake Manning – a boy with Down syndrome –