18-Month-Old With Down Syndrome 'Flies' Through Life in Photographs

 

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18-Month-Old With Down Syndrome 'Flies' Through Life in Photographs (ABC News)

by Genevieve Shaw Brown from Good Morning America:
When Alan Lawrence’s son was born with Down syndrome, he said, “it was a shock. It felt as though he would put limits on what I would accomplish, what my family would accomplish.”
Fast forward 18 months, and nothing could be further from the truth, Lawrence said. Wil, his fifth child, “brings a light to our family.”

Inspired by how Wil has enriched the lives of those around him, Lawrence set out to show not only how Wil has placed no limits on the family, but rather, “has opened so many doors.” He’s convinced Wil will do anything he wants to do in life.

Maybe even fly.

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Alan Lawrence

“When Wil was little, he would lie on his stomach and raise his arms and legs like he was flying. It wasn’t something any of my other kids did,” he said. “We all said, ‘Look, he’s flying!”
Lawrence’s photo series shows Wil “flying” through beautiful landscapes and everyday scenes.

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Alan Lawrence

The overall goal of the program, Lawrence said, is to “raise awareness around Down syndrome.” The photos have proved so popular that the family wants to create a calendar of Wil’s photos and then donate half the proceeds to two Down syndrome foundations: Reece’s Rainbow, which supports adoption, and Ruby’s rainbow, which helps young adults with Down syndrome go to college. The family recently launched a Kickstarter campaign.

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Alan Lawrence

 The family also hopes to take Wil’s show on the road. The Utah dad said that by photographing Wil in other destinations he could make the project last longer and hopefully raise more awareness. Wil's loved ones also hope to visit other families with children with Down syndrome to tell their stories.

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Alan Lawrence

“Basically, we want to flood the Internet with this good message," he said. "I want to give other people new to this journey messages of joy and hope.”
Lawrence is also hoping to help people overseas who don’t have access to the same level of care and treatment through his YouTube channel. He’ll put up therapy tutorials and also video the family’s everyday life.

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Alan Lawrence

“I see my other kids with Wil and they are so excited for this journey with him," he said. "He’s already taught us so much about compassion.”

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Alan Lawrence

Plus, said Lawrence, Wil is like a “rock star” in their neighborhood.

Maybe that’s what Wil will be when he grows up. That is, if he’s not too busy flying.

HK Profile: Frank Freeman - The Purest People photographer

 

from Time Out Hong Kong:

Imagine feeling so inspired by the people you work with that it changes who you are, right down to your name. That’s what happened to Frank Freeman – née Frank Chun. The professional photographer has just launched the third in a series of exhibitions in his biggest project to date, The Purest People. His portraits capture 23 sparkling personalities all aged between 10 and 20. But these aren’t typical models. In fact, they all have Down’s Syndrome – a genetic disorder caused by an extra chromosome that affects roughly 3,000 people in Hong Kong. The condition is typically associated with physical growth delays and intellectual disability, which can lead to prejudice against people with the disorder. That’s something Freeman wants to rectify through the power of photography. He’s found, from working with the models, that they highlight the importance of honesty and truthfulness, ultimately prompting him to change his name. “After shooting the models, I changed my name,” he says. “Now I’m Frank Freeman.”