ELIJAH

PHOTO BY RANDY BACON

ELIJAH

“It’s Awesome to Have Down Syndrome”

It is awesome to have Down syndrome! For other kids like me...do not take it for loss or as a negative. Kids with Down syndrome should be proud. Proud of what they are and proud of who they are. If someone ties to bully you...don’t take that. I get upset; I start to cry and I tell that person that what they are saying is hurtful. I won’t tolerate any other kid being bullied. Don’t be negative. I am twenty three years old, I have Down syndrome, and I’m super proud.

TODD (Elijah's Father)

Elijah loves to show people that individuals with Down syndrome can accomplish great things if given the opportunity. Even when he was a toddler, he just seemed to love meeting and interacting with people. Elijah has been blessed with many wonderful friends and amazing opportunities. When he was in high school he earned seven varsity letters as a sports manager, traveling with the football, basketball and baseball teams. Currently, he is getting ready to start his third year as the head manager for the Lincoln University men’s basketball team.

He began working in the Missouri Governor’s Office as a courier in 2014 and now, at age twenty-three, is working for his third Missouri governor. He loves this job because he gets to deliver documents to other offices in the capitol and various state agencies. He is very popular and well-known throughout the capitol by elected officials and their staffers. It is our hope, that by getting to know Elijah personally it will have a positive outcome as they consider legislation and policies that affect individuals with cognitive disabilities. These are things that he has done on his own – without our intervention or the assistance of a job coach.

Because of his high visibility in the community, from working the sidelines at sporting events and often being mentioned in social media posts by high-ranking elected officials, Elijah has gained some national attention as well. In 2016, at age twenty, the National Down Syndrome Society selected him as their “Self Advocate of the Year” and he has traveled to Washington, DC on three occasions to speak on Capitol Hill to educate members of Congress about issues that are important to individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Elijah has an energy about him that is infectious. When he interacts with others he has this light in his eyes that seems to come straight from his heart. All kinds of people – whether they be high profile politicians, professional athletes, or custodial staff -- just seem to be drawn to him. He has a sense of purity and honesty when he speaks that causes others to want to hear what he has to say.

I say all this not to brag, but to let people know that a diagnosis of Down syndrome does not have to be a negative thing. Has our life with Elijah always been easy? Not at all. We have faced struggles just like any parent. Most are the same struggles that typical kids face, but there are also many times when Elijah’s limitations due to his diagnosis are evident as well. And yes, we have shed some tears of sadness over the years – but I have to say that the blessings and positives have far outweighed those struggles.