FW: photography opening and speech by a young woman with Down syndrome

[Guest guest]

I am

passing this on with Eleanor’s permission:

photography opening

Next Tuesday the Northwest Down Syndrome Association and the Oregon Health Sciences University are cooperating on the opening of a photography show at the

University.

There are 20 photos of people with Down

syndrome interacting with community members. The photos have been printed on cloth banners 15 feet tall which will be arranged in the

display space along with information and a continuous video. There will be live music and speeches by the university

president, a politician, a board member and

... my daughter Eleanor.

The point of all of this is to encourage university staff to treat people with

disabilities with respect.

Eleanor is 19 and she wrote this speech herself over the past day or two. I am pasting it below for anyone interested in getting a glimpse at the world according to a

young woman with down

syndrome. Enjoy.

My name is Eleanor . I am very happy to be here today.

People with disabilities like to be treated just like anyone else. All people should be treated nicely.

Sometimes people with disabilities are not treated very nicely.

Sometimes people just hover over us and say " just sit over there. You can't be part of the group. " They think

they're too good for us.

They don't have time to sit down and talk to us. They don't have time to help us.

I call people like that air heads.

Don't be an air head.

When you talk to me make eye contact. Pay attention to what I say.

Listen to my words. Show some respect.

If I say I'm sick I am sick. Listen to me.

If I say my tooth hurts, listen to me.

When I speak I demand to be heard. I'm nice to you.

Be nice to me.

I am more than a person with a disability. I am a human being. And I have

feelings just like everyone else.

Speak to me just like you would like to be

spoken to.

That's all there is to it.

Free Our People!

T.

Faculty

University of Phoenix

mtbclarion@...

mtbclarion@...

503 504 0318

Pacific Time