What’s on Your Resume?
I stood before the full-length mirror and recalled an article I’d seen recently about a teen- aged girl who has Downs Syndrome. As a clumsy little girl, she wanted to be a gymnast. Against all odds, her parents allowed her to participate. She worked much harder than most lithe, athletic girls and became a four-time U. S. National Special Olympian, and a two-time-defending World Champion.
Her name is Chelsea Werner. I’ve watched her videos from the time she was a chunky, clumsy little girl with “typical Down Syndrome appearance,” as she became trim, muscular, and graceful. In addition to that came the poise of confidence and self-acceptance. It made me wonder about a lot of other kids I’ve known. What if all the Downs Syndrome kids were encouraged, had orthodontia, were as groomed as their peers, and participated in activities that encourages healthy weight? What if Chelsea Werner’s parents had said, “No. Downs Syndrome kids can’t do gymnastics. It’s not safe; it’s not healthy; people will laugh; I can’t stand to see my child ridiculed; she’d have to work too hard; she can’t.” I think those might all be understandable as parents of special needs kids. The job of raising these kids is exhausting without adding competitive pressure, and being so…public.
Chelsea, a confident, successful spokesperson for special needs, has now become a fashion model with We Speak Agency that specializes in women who have bodies and appearances that audiences can relate to. You can see by her picture, she is lovely. So much of that appearance has everything to do with her self-perception, I believe. She still has Downs Syndrome, of course, and always will. But she is so much more than that diagnosis.
She hopes to be an inspiration to others who deal with conditions that could become their resume, their persona. She says, “Look!” There’s so much more you can do. Look better, feel better. Don’t let the condition decide how you look and act and who you can’t be. You can have dreams, and you can work harder to make those dreams come true.
I’ll think about Chelsea today while I’m modeling clothes. She has an astonishing resume for any young woman, special needs or not. She is a success in every sense. She’ll inspire me.