Madeline Stuart, 19, is the only professional adult model with Down Syndrome in the world.
Maddy’s goal is to change the way people discriminate against disability, She thinks of Down Syndrome is a blessing, something to be celebrated. Her joy is very apparent in her modeling photos and her runway walk – she shines!
“anything is possible with love”
She gives people hope that their children living with Down syndrome could achieve anything they set their mind to.
Stephanie Decker with her son Dominic, daughter Reese, and husband, Joe.
With a category 4 tornado speeding towards her home in Southern Indiana, Stephanie Decker had a split second decision to make. Scrambling to rush her children to safety, her home began to fall apart around her.
“I grabbed a comforter, wrapped my two children in a blanket, told them I loved them and to GET DOWN. I fully expected to die, but, miraculously, we all survived”
Shielding her 2 young children with her body, Stephanie prevented bricks from hitting them while her own legs were crushed by a steel beam.
Her children were unharmed but Stephanie was left bleeding and helpless in the rubble pile. The children, 8 year old son Dominic, and 5 year old daughter Reese, ran to get help.
Gangrene from spinal meningitis at the age of 6 cost Isaac Feliciano his left leg from the knee down. A lot of people thought this took away his physical capabilities but Isaac proved them wrong. He was a star linebacker and wide receiver on his Passaic Tech high school football team and also played second base on their baseball team.
“One of the first things you’ll notice about me visually is that I’m in a wheelchair, and have Cerebral Palsy. Then you’ll get to know me as a person, and you’ll see how little CP defines who I am. Over the years, I’ve learned to not only live with my disability, but to thrive, and I want to ensure that others have the same opportunity.”
Stephen Wampler
On October 16, 2010, on a kickoff to the Army Black Knights, Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand collided with the ball carrier. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury and lay on the ground unable to move. As the gurney rolled off the field at MetLife Stadium, LeGrand tried to force a thumbs up to the crowd to tell them that he was alright but unable to perform the gesture, saying “it felt like a thousand pounds”.
