CoorDown: Recruitment awards banner by FCB Mexico & Small New York

Many with Down syndrome are still denied aspects of life we take for granted, like going to school, playing sports, hanging out with friends, having a job and living independently, due to inadequate governmental support and continued discrimination.

In light of this discrepancy, on World Down Syndrome Day (21 March), FCB Mexico, CoorDown Onlus and Small are launching a global awareness campaign called ‘Reasons to Celebrate,’ to highlight how far we are as a society from meeting our equal opportunity obligations towards people with Down syndrome. With the concurrent theme of ‘Leave No One Behind,’ the campaign emphasizes that inclusive education, open employment, community participation, independent living and decision-making autonomy represent basic rights that should be guaranteed to everybody.

The campaign video begins by spotlighting three United Nations-declared days that are also celebrated on the same day: World Day of Poetry, International Day of Nowruz celebrating the arrival of Spring, and International Day of Forests. When a person with Down syndrome announces that this same day is also World Down Syndrome Day, there is less joy associated. The actor states defiantly that, unlike the other three international days, “we do not have many reasons to celebrate” and that, as long as even one single person cannot enjoy the same opportunities to learn, work and participate in life, “there is no reason to celebrate”.