From
NY1. Pictured is the ad with Sujeet Desai.
From the World Wide Web to top-selling magazines, the National Down Syndrome Society is in the midst of one its largest ad campaigns ever. The "My Great Story" campaign is meant to raise awareness about the achievements of Americans living with Down Syndrome.
One of the organization's most famous faces is Chris Burke, who many remember from the 1990s hit show "Life Goes On" -- the first television series to feature a central character with Down Syndrome.
Burke, a lifelong New Yorker who lives on the Lower East Side, now works as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Down Syndrome Society. First appearing on television more than 20 years ago, he says he's still on a mission to get more people to see beyond the disabilities of people living with Down Syndrome and celebrate their accomplishments.
"It's about what we're good at. This is our love. We have to stick to the idea at what we're really good at that we have the talents we have. That's my vision," says Burke.
Two other people prominently featured in the national campaign are Sara Wolff and Sujeet Desai who have made careers out of public speaking and traveling. An online component encourages people from all over the country to submit their own stories. Spokesperson Jordana Stern says something the society continues to be very much focused on is inclusion.
"One of the most striking things about Down Syndrome and people who have Down Syndrome is that the life expectancy has leaped. There have been advances medically and socially in terms of not institutionalizing people as much. In the 1980s the life expectancy was about 25 and today it's about 60, which is a huge leap, and really has done a lot in terms of allowing people to focus on their abilities and how much they can accomplish because they are here longer," says National Down Syndrome Society Spokesperson Jordana Stern.
The National Down Syndrome Society plans on running its campaign through the end of 2011 and maybe longer.
From NY1. Pictured is the ad with Sujeet Desai.
