StRidiculous excuses for non-inclusion: this is the theme chosen for the world down syndrome day, from coordination – National coordination of associations of people with Down syndrome. The awareness campaign on TikTok ‘Ridiculous Excuses, Not To Be Inclusive‘ has reached 11.5 million views thanks to a series of (ironic) video-stories of non-inclusion.
Down syndrome and the most ridiculous excuses for non-inclusion
Which ones are they the excuses that are given to exclude people with Down syndrome (but generally with a disability) from education, sports, work and other opportunities? CoorDown has raised the question, with the help of associations from around the world. The community has responded. AND some of these apologies were so incredibly ridiculous that they deserved to be properly celebrated. Hence the idea of the film which tells precisely the most used excuses to deny access and legitimate space to people with disabilities in five scenes.
From “It’s not your fault, we are the ones who are not prepared to take you on a trip!” to “We already have a little girl like you in the group”, from “We don’t have enough chairs to invite you to the meeting” to “We closed registration just ten minutes ago!”, are some of the ridiculous excuses with which full participation in life is often denied.
Community video stories on TikTok
But there are also the stories of the TikTok community, one of the most active at the moment made up of over 1 billion monthly users worldwide, inspired by the campaign jingle and a specially created sticker, as well as the official hashtag #RidiculousExcuses. Many stories of discrimination told in first person by the people of the community. Like Damiano – 1/3 of the @terconauti – who told the story of his exclusion on the occasion of his desire to get a licence. Or Riccardo Aldighieri (@riccardoaldi) with a video from about 3M views. Or, again, the Paralympic athlete Arianna Talamona (@arianatalamona).
Ability, discrimination against those with a disability (not just Down syndrome)
People with disabilities suffer systematic disadvantages in all areas of their lives due to a pervasive, insidious and invisible mechanism, taken “for granted”. It is what is defined as ableism: a discrimination that is transversal. It also concerns people with other disabilities or neurodiversity, but not only. It concerns all diversities and disadvantaged social groups.
According to a recent survey by‘Eurobarometer a small but significant part of Italian society is openly hostile to the inclusion of people with disabilities. 9% of Italians (+1 point compared to the EU average) would not feel at ease with a President of the Republic with a disability. 6% (+2 points compared to the EU average) would be uncomfortable if they had to interact every day with a colleague with a disability. 13% (+2 points compared to the EU average) would have some difficulty in accepting a partner with disabilities for their children.
March 21 is Trisomy 21 Day
There World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD – World Down Syndrome Day in English) is an international appointment – wanted by Down Syndrome International and also officially sanctioned by a UN resolution. The choice of date 3/21 it is not accidental: Down syndrome, also called Trisomy 21, is characterized by the presence of an extra chromosome – three instead of two – in chromosome pair n. 21 within the cells.
Not charity but participation
The theme of this year’s world day is “With Us Not For Us“, “With us and not for us”. The aim is to question the – widespread – idea that people with Down syndrome should be “the object of charity and solidarity”deserving of pity and support from others, recipients of campaigns “for” them and not “with” them.
Persons with disabilities must be able to exercise the freedom to make their own choices and must receive full and effective support over which they can have full control.
iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED