This Christmas, something is going to be different in the advertising campaign of Oshkosh B'gosh, a century old company that makes and sells children's clothes and accessories. The new face of Oshkosh B'gosh is going to be Asher Nash from Georgia, USA. Like any other 16 months old, he enjoys toddling around. The difference? He suffers from Down syndrome.
As the story goes, Meagan Nash, Asher's mother submitted professional shots to the local agent of a modelling agency. She was surprised that the photo was rejected as the requirements were not for a special child. . However, there was no reason not to include his photos for the selection.
She decided to raise awareness about the non-inclusion of babies with special needs in mainstream media.
Using the power of social media, she began her #changingthefaceofbeauty campaign. The idea was simple: a child should not be excluded from anything just because he is special. Before long, it gained momentum and Oshkosh B'gosh took notice of this.
So this winter, Asher will be featured along with other models as the face of the clothing brand in their Christmas 2016 catalogue. Needless to say, his mother, father and elder sister are thrilled. With this decision, Oshkosh B'gosh becomes one of the rare names in the apparel industry to feature someone with Down's syndrome.
So how is Asher different from your child?
Asher has a condition where his body has an extra copy of the chromosome 21. Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic condition in the USA, with 1 in 800 infants born with it. While it can be detected during pregnancy, most mothers decide to continue the pregnancy.
Children like Asher would have some difficulties in life. They may have some trouble learning things like other children. They may grow slower and attain an average height. Day to day life may become hard for them, but it need not be so.
Asher is like any other toddler. He has his sense of space, a curiosity about his surroundings and a smile that will melt the heart of even the toughest person you may know. As his mother says, Down syndrome is only the piece of what he is.
Down syndrome: Why you are lucky to share the planet with these angels
I am not going to tell you how to be sensitive towards children with special needs. Instead, I am going to give you reasons why you should consider yourself lucky if your kid befriends someone with Down syndrome.
1. They are really happy
Your kids may be happy most of the time, but you know how they are when they throw a tantrum. Well, if there is something your son can learn from his special friend, it is how to be happy most of the time. True, these kids have their ups and downs, but they are never down with Down all the time.
2. They are fighters
15% of the infants born with this condition do not live to see the age of one. 50% of them pass away before they turn 50. While these statistics are a huge improvement from a few decades back, they are far from the average life expectancy of a regular person.
Even then, these kids do not show the strain of living with a disability. Many have congenital heart problems, a few others cannot hear properly, but you will never find them complaining about it. This is definitely something other children, and even adults should learn to do.
3. They change the lives of their parents
Well, all children do that to a degree. However these children make two individuals understand what caring for really means. Parents of these angels become immensely patient and are the pillars of strength for new parents of children with Down syndrome.
4. They make the world a better place
They don't litter. Their carbon footprint is negligible. They do not take advantage of others. They do not cheat, lie, hurt or injure others. Children with Down syndrome do not chop down trees to suit the landscape, or hunt for sport. They do not drive fuel-guzzling SUVs or vandalise other people's properties.
What they do is spread the contagion of a smile. Don't we all need it?
Image and story source: Huffington Post, YouTube
Also read: He had almost perished when his ‘mother’ found him!