October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and two amazing kids are reminding the world why it’s OK to be different.
OshKosh B’Gosh is among the few brands synonymous with babies, and now a mother is asking the company to revolutionize its marketing strategy by including her son with Down syndrome in an ad campaign to help change the world’s perception of people with disabilities.
Last week, Facebook page Kids with Down Syndrome posted a series of photos of Meagan Nash’s smartly dressed son, Asher, making funny faces. The post said when Nash brought Asher to a casting call, she was told the company hadn’t “requested a special needs baby.”
“Let’s find out how he can model for OshKosh B’Gosh and show the world what he’s made of,” the post read.
The post soon went viral with more than 87,000 likes, 97,000 shares and scores of people commenting on how cute Asher is.
The Georgia mother told The Mighty that while she “would love” for the brand to meet Asher, she doesn’t want it to be “because of this fuss we are making on the internet.”
“I want them to use him because they value him and see how much he could contribute to their advertisement,” Nash said. “Children with Down syndrome and other disabilities are incredible human beings, and we want OshKosh to want to help change the world’s perception.”
People with disabilities are still widely underrepresented in the media, according to Changing the Face of Beauty.
“Without truly accepting my son and others with special needs, there can be no inclusion for them in the future,” Nash said.
Meanwhile, a 7-year-old girl in northern California has captured the hearts of millions after a video of her explaining that having Down syndrome is not “scary” went viral.
Earlier this month, Rocklin resident Jennifer Sanchez posted a video of her daughter, Sofia, talking about the condition for Down Syndrome Awareness Month, KABC reported.
When Sanchez asks Sofia is having Down syndrome is scary, she replies “No, it’s not scary! I can do anything!”
Sofia was born in the Ukraine but was adopted by the Sanchez family when she was 16 months old. Her older brother also has Down syndrome.
She went from being abandoned for her disability as a newborn, to showing the world how beautiful Down syndrome can be. pic.twitter.com/hhFN5zIMPY
— Humankind (@Humankindvideos) October 18, 2016
“She is basically being a self-advocate for people with disability and that they have a love of life,” Sanchez said of her daughter, adding that she is a ball of energy who loves to dance, act and play soccer.
Sanchez said she hopes Sofia’s inspiring message will teach people that being different is a good thing.