diversity in down syndrome: new film dispels ‘single story’ narrative
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each person living with down syndrome and their family has their lives shaped by different things, and a person’s culture or where they live can have a significant impact on how their experience with down syndrome is.
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a new film, unified voices, by the canadian down syndrome society, demonstrates just how diverse the lives of people living with down syndrome can be.
featuring six people, all from different places across the country, the film hopes to challenge the “single story” of down syndrome to break through the myth that the lived experience is the same for everyone.
six lives, six unique experiences
the film, directed by moses latigo odida, a black filmmaker and father of a child with down syndrome, showcases six unique lives.
odida wanted to highlight how narrow a view most people have about people living with down syndrome, as well as represent those who are often marginalized and underrepresented in storytelling surrounding disability, such as those who belong to black, indigenous, 2slgbtqia+, new canadian, francophone and rural families.
for example, jasmine “jazzy” ankamah, a young black woman who works at her family’s ghanaian restaurant in windsor and also advocates for inclusion and greater independence, is living an entirely different experience with down syndrome than marshall wilxoc, a vancouver native who navigates his world through close friendships and an undying love for basketball.
carmelle boutin, who lives in rural saskatchewan, works and participates in community involvement with a local disability resource centre, while mykola minilyuk and her family are rebuilding their lives after fleeing from war-torn ukraine to canada.
each person living with down syndrome and their family has their lives shaped by different things, and a person’s culture or where they live can have a significant impact on how their experience with down syndrome is.
speaking out about those experiences, from dealing with bullying and isolation to funding gaps and barriers in the health-care system that keep services out of reach, the families hope to broaden the “public understanding of down syndrome while encouraging people to think about the role they play in building more inclusive environments.”
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“historically, people with down syndrome in canada have often been represented through a narrow lens that doesn’t reflect the diversity of the community,” said laura lachance, executive director of the canadian down syndrome society, in an email to healthing.
“culture, language, geography, and community all shape everyday life and access to things like education, employment, housing, and recreation. unified voices brings those underrepresented experiences into focus and offers a more honest picture of life with down syndrome across canada.”
a nod to the power of community
inclusive communities can make all the difference for everyone involved, whether they are living with down syndrome or not. but one major theme found in the film was the importance that community brings when it comes to what matters the most: connecting with others in a way that makes everyone feel seen, heard and valued.
“whether in vancouver, moosomin, or sherbrooke, people’s experiences are deeply shaped by the support, connection and sense of belonging around them. challenges can feel heavier in isolation, while joy and possibility grow through community,” said odida in a press release.
the film, while showing the positivity of community, also shares a clear view into the “very real barriers” that families face when trying to access healthcare, education, housing and support while living with down syndrome.
but as real barriers exist, so do solutions to take them down, and everyone in the community, regardless of what community it is, can encourage positive change for people living with down syndrome in canada.
“everyone has a role to play in making their community more inclusive and accepting. we hope this film inspires people to take action, whether that means saying hello to someone new, attending a community event, volunteering, or simply helping someone feel like they belong,” said lachance in a press release.
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unified voices is now available to stream at unifiedvoices.ca.
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