Last week, a video starring Olivia Wilde surfaced on the Internet. The subject: Down syndrome. In honor of World Down Syndrome Day (March 21st), college student AnnaRose Rubright decided to make a public service announcement addressing the discrimination people with Down syndrome face every day. AnnaRose is from New Jersey and is just 19 years old. Little did she know her public service announcement would go viral all over social media. The PSA is titled "How Do You See Me?" and it's below:
The video begins with Olivia looking at herself in the mirror, with AnnaRose Rubright's narration in the background, saying, "This is how I see myself." She describes her everyday lifestyle as Olivia acts it out. Anna describes herself in the narration as "a daughter, a sister, a best friend..." and "a person you can rely on." She also talks about how she wants to find someone to spend the rest of her life with. She considers her life to be filled with singing, dancing, lots of laughter and, of course, sadness, too. Like any other college student, she wants to follow her dreams "even if they are impossible," but then she pauses and says, "especially because they're impossible." The video ends with Olivia looking back in the mirror at herself with the narration, "I see myself as an ordinary person, with an important, meaningful, beautiful life. This is how I see myself," but then, AnnaRose takes Olivia's place and says, "how do you see me?"
The video was one of Coordown's (an Italian charity for Down syndrome) annual series for World Down Syndrome Day. All videos for the series have been produced by Saatchi & Saatchi. World Down Syndrome Day was recognized by the United Nations in 2012.
AnnaRose wanted to emphasize how people look at people like Olivia differently than how they look at her. Society assumes that people with Down syndrome can't be happy or have dreams they want to follow. However, AnnaRose proves every stereotype of Downs to be false. She is a full time college student and has a part time job at a physical therapy center. Just like anyone her age, she dreams of a successful future after college. She sent this message beautifully through the short video.
This video will give you the chills and will really open your eyes to how people with Down syndrome feel, and how much they are discriminated against. AnnaRose proves that despite obstacles she may face, she won't give up her dreams and a "normal" college student lifestyle. Everyone should aspire to be as courageous and motivated as her.
