Nancy Gianni was stunned when the principal at her daughter’s suburban Chicago school called her in to say that GiGi was making the parents of other students uncomfortable. Gigi, then in preschool, has Down syndrome.
“They said she had done nothing wrong,” Gianni said. “She had done nothing wrong,” Gianni said. “She simply wears her diagnosis on her face and that was enough for these parents to be concerned.” … What these parents were failing to see was the social, smart and independent child GiGi actually is. She got along with others, could already spell some words and didn’t need any help in the bathroom. But Gianni … realized it wasn’t just these parents who failed to see beyond the physical signs of a genetic disorder.
“They said she had done nothing wrong,” Gianni said. “She had done nothing wrong,” Gianni said. “She simply wears her diagnosis on her face and that was enough for these parents to be concerned.” … What these parents were failing to see was the social, smart and independent child GiGi actually is. She got along with others, could already spell some words and didn’t need any help in the bathroom. But Gianni … realized it wasn’t just these parents who failed to see beyond the physical signs of a genetic disorder.
Gianni teamed up with photographer Thomas Balsamo to create a traveling exhibit of portraits to introduce the public to people with Down syndrome.
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2009/Bright-Knights/Nancy-Gianni/
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