21 March 2024 – World Down Syndrome Day“ Assume That I Can”

In preparation for World Down Syndrome Day 2024,
The New Zealand Down Syndrome Association (NZDSA) is joining
forces with groups around the world to end the stereotypes
and the low expectations that get between people with Down
syndrome and true inclusivity here in Aotearoa and
internationally.

On World Down
Syndrome Day, March 21, 2024, CoorDown – the
National Coordination of Associations of People with Down
Syndrome, based in Italy – is launching the international
awareness campaign “ASSUME THAT I CAN” to
call for everyone to put an end to prejudice and support the
concrete potential of each person who has Down
syndrome.

NZDSA is delighted to be a partner in this
project, and Kiwis with Down syndrome will be joining the
chorus of diverse voices, echoing around the
world.

Stereotypes, biases and low expectations
strongly affect every aspect of the lives of people with
learning disabilities: they represent an often-impassable
boundary which limits their ambitions; their opportunities
at school, in the workplace, in sports, in their
communities, friendships, and romantic
relationships.

“ASSUME THAT I CAN” features a young
woman with Down syndrome, portrayed by Madison Tevlin, who
challenges the low expectations others have of her and
proposes a reversal of perspective. She invites the viewer,
and society at large, to think outside the box and use the
self-fulfilling prophecy positively: if you believe in me,
if you trust in me, you can have a positive impact, and
then, maybe, I will achieve goals, even unexpected
ones.

The international campaign started with CoorDown
in Italy, but sees the contribution of several international
associations that are simultaneously launching the film
worldwide: Canadian Down Syndrome Society, National
Down Syndrome Society, Global Down Syndrome Foundation,
Down’s Syndrome Association UK, Down Syndrome Australia and
New Zealand Down Syndrome Association with the participation
of members of the Fundació Catalana Síndrome de
Down.

Starting today until 21 March,
CoorDown and partners, including NZDSA’s, social media
will broadcast the real experiences of people with Down
syndrome and their families from all over the
world, sharing examples of the types of stereotypes
experienced and the biases they’ve overcome. The #OfCourse
trend has seen hundreds of thousands of people revealing the
stereotypes they’ve experienced around their job, hobby or
identity, while at the same time poking fun at these common
perceptions, and now people with Down syndrome are joining
in.

Luca Lorenzini and Luca Pannese, Executive
Creative Directors, SMALL New York: «This year,
we wanted to make a very different film than in previous
years. Taking inspiration from a speech Marta Sodano gave to
the United Nations a few years ago, we set out to give a
strong message against prejudice. Thanks to Madison
[Tevlin]’s great acting skills and versatility and the
talent of director Rich Lee, we made a film full of energy
that we hope will help break down the stereotypes that still
restrict the dreams and plans of people with Down
syndrome».

World Down Syndrome Day
(WDSD) is an international awareness day officially
declared by the UN General Assembly in December 2022. All
are invited to observe World Down Syndrome Day to spread
awareness and knowledge about Down syndrome, to create a new
culture of diversity, and to promote respect and inclusion
in society for all people with Down syndrome.

In
Aoteraoa, events will be taking place on and around the 21st
of March across the motu, including:

• THE
  BIG CONNECT – New Zealand’s biggest Down syndrome
  video call, hosted by NZDSA, taking place at 7.30pm on World
  Down Syndrome Day 2024. This event originally began as a
  result of COVID-19 restrictions, but has proved so popular
  that NZDSA have continued the tradition ever since. The 2024
  event will explore the theme of
  #EndtheStereotypes.
• Down for a Walk, Heatea Loop,
  Whangārei Town Basin, 23 March
• Community Picnic,
  Papatoetoe East, Auckland, 17 March
• WDSD + Aklfest
  Picnic, Aotea Square, Auckland 21 March (Part of Auckland
  Arts Festival)
• Garden Sale, Island Bay, Wellington,
  17 March
• Lots of Socks fundraisers, nationwide, 21
  March

The choice of the date 21/3 is not
accidental: Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is
characterized by the presence of an extra chromosome – three
instead of two – in chromosome pair No. 21 within
cells.

Andrew, a young man from Canterbury, explains
one example, “I used to work at a primary school. I was
hoping to help with the school newsletters on the office
computer. I presented my CV to the receptionist to show her
what I can do. She asked me, “Who did this for you?” I
told to her I did it. She did not believe that I made the CV
and she did not let me help her”.

Film
details

The film “ASSUME THAT I CAN” will run on
CoorDown’s TikTok channel and will be distributed on all
the platforms of the organization and its partners. The
campaign is born from the collaboration with the New
York-based agency SMALL and was produced by
Indiana Production and directed by Rich
Lee, with Christopher Probst as
director of photography. Music was composed and produced by
Stabbiolo Music.

The campaign’s
official hashtags are #AssumeThatICan
#EndTheStereotypes #WorldDownSyndromeDay
#WDSD24.

LINK
TO CAMPAIGN ON YOUTUBE

LINK
TIKTOK VERSION

STILLS
FROM FILM

BEHIND
THE SCENES

FILM

COVER
FOR FILM

___________________

Film
CREDITS

AGENCY

Agency:
SMALL

Executive Creative Directors:
Luca Pannese, Luca Lorenzini

Creative
Director: Paolo Montanari

Managing
Director: Alberto Scorticati

Account
Manager: Chiara Guadagnini

PRODUCTION
COMPANY

Production Company: Indiana
Production
S.p.A.

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