Making society more welcoming to differences

by Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Marjorie Dannenfelser from philly.com:

More than two decades after Chris Burke, playing Corky Thatcher, first won the hearts of TV audiences in the Life Goes On series, another American with Down syndrome will soon grace the silver screen. Albuquerque's KOAT-TV reports that filming will soon begin for Everybody Loves Tim, a "docu-series" centered on Tim Harris who, since 2010, has welcomed customers to his popular breakfast-and-lunch joint in the "Duke City," called Tim's Place.

The casting call is unique. Producers are looking for "people seeking to live a more confident and inspired life," and are interested in "learning how to live more like [Tim] does, with supreme confidence and the ability to live life to the fullest."

The energetic, inspiring young restaurateur, and self-styled "hugging machine," has Down syndrome.

The outlook for Tim and other Americans living with Down syndrome - as well as their families - has steadily been improving. Since their commonalities were first identified in the mid-19th century by Dr. John Langdon Down (1828-1896), we have come a long way in understanding and helping people with Down syndrome.

Gone is the erroneous belief that the condition was somehow a parent's fault. Also gone, or nearly so, are hurtful and inaccurate descriptive terms. The advent of antibiotics, starting in the 1950s, has extended the life span of those with Down syndrome to around 60 years by eliminating the respiratory infections that usually ended their lives in childhood.

Brothers and Sisters: Learning from Each Other

by Chris Burke from NDSS:
When I was little, my brother and sisters found it difficult to have a little brother with Down syndrome.  It was hard from the beginning because they didn’t expect anything of me.  But then I started learning a lot from them, and they started learning a lot from me too. They taught me how to understand certain things that I needed to learn – how to read, count and get to know my alphabet. They let me watch children’s television shows like Sesame Street, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood and the Electric Company. My brother taught me to play basketball.  He has always been my coach.
My brother and my sisters always let me hang out with their friends when we were growing up. We grew up with their friends, and they got me involved.  JR, Ellen and Anne taught me love, support and encouragement.  They have always taken good care of me.  They showed me how to understand myself and stay true to myself, and made sure that I had the opportunity to be all I could be.
Now, all of us are doing fine; we are a family.  We are still helping each other, and we have fun conversations. I am very lucky to have all of my siblings.   If you have siblings or relatives with a disability, you need to give them a chance to be included; it’s called family inclusion. Be aware and understanding!

Interview with Chris Burke

View more videos at: http://www.nbcnewyork.com.

You know him best as Corky from Life Goes On, but actor Chris Burke has come a long way from the small screen. Now he's an ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society and is urging folks to share their experiences with the My Great Story campaign.