We already knew that children with Down syndrome are spectacular. But one Utah dad is using his photography skills to drive home the message that there is no limit to what people with Down syndrome can accomplish. Alan Lawrence’s photo series features his 18-month old son Wil in a variety of settings flying through the air like a superhero.
Here are some examples!
As reported by Buzzfeed, “’Lawrence said that he and his wife Nikki didn’t know their son had Down syndrome before he was born. While his wife handled the news ‘really, really well,’ Lawrence said he struggled with it at first. ‘I was a little more selfish about it,’ he said.”
“However, Lawrence said he quickly grew to understand what a blessing Wil was to his family. ‘Wil is going to be able to do anything he took his mind to,’ he said.”
Lawrence says the idea came from Wil’s unique crawl that made him look like he was about to take off in flight. It grew from there once Lawrence realized the broader impact the photos could have.
In an interview with Buzzfeed, Lawrence noted that the message he hopes viewers, especially parents expecting children with Down syndrome, will take from the photos is “A child with Down syndrome can be a blessing to your family.”
More photos can be viewed on Lawrence’s Instagram.
Raising a child with Down syndrome is not easy but along with great challenges comes great joy.
Leticia Velasquez, co-founder of KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome), writes this about raising a daughter with Down syndrome, “This is a priceless gift. Each one of us is grateful that living with Christina has made us more tolerant of diversity in others, more patient with their weakness, and more able to give of ourselves in response. Christina has increased our compassion and our joy.”
As pro-life advocates, we know that unborn children who prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome face a tragically high abortion rate. It is vitally important that parents receive the information they need to make a life-affirming decision. Hopefully, efforts like Alan Lawrence’s photo series will touch people’s hearts and help pave the way for a society that fully embraces people with disabilities, before and after birth. An unborn child should not be denied her right to live because she has an extra chromosome.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
