Gabe Kavookjian Shoots Movies at a Theater That Hires Only People With Disabilities
Life with Down Syndrome
At the Prospector, a Connecticut movie theater whose mission is to give adults with disabilities meaningful, well-paying jobs, Gabe Kavookjian has spent eleven years filming preshow ads with his coworker Ian. He dreams of Hollywood, dating, and the married life his high school friends have, while carrying the constant awareness that he is different. Down syndrome, he says, is not a sickness — and there is no vaccine for it.
Down syndrome is not a sickness. There's no vaccine for it. If there was, I would take it.
- gadders
Contrast this with Iceland: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-01/iceland-prenatal-test...
"In Iceland, upwards of 85 per cent of women elect to have prenatal testing, and close to 100 per cent of pregnancies where Down syndrome is diagnosed are terminated.
Denmark isn't far behind, with a termination rate of 98 per cent."
- nrjames
I have a friend who has a 501(c)(3) that makes really nice documentaries about people with Down syndrome, focusing on the positive influences they have on other people in their lives. They're on YouTube. Here's one I watched recently:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dCzejMK9jU
This is the non-profit:
- origini
Its a nice article and a positive one.
Unfortuna another documentary about people with Down Syndrome were more heartbreaking. A young girl got told from a doctor that not only shouldn't she get to try pregnant, the chance is very low already and that she has other medical concerns she needs to handle.
Not something she could handle without a proper care taker though.
- teekert
As a molecular biologist I would almost want to investigate if somehow the total expression of, or accessibility of this man's third Chromosome 21 is somehow reduced because this person seems to be very close to normal (2xchr21) humans on the normal to severe Down syndrome -spectrum. I have seen people with 2 times 21 with a more Down syndrome-like face than this man's even.
- dkenyser
Taking advantage of this post to encourage others to look for volunteer opportunities in your area.
Growing up my mom worked closely with children/young adults with disabilities so I was exposed to people with down syndrome from a very young age and I am so incredibly grateful for that. Today I just try my best to keep her work going.
- gwbas1c
About halfway through the article.
One of the things I like is the article really gets through the facade into understanding who Gabe really is. It doesn't focus on quirks, and instead humanizes Gabe.
- LeRaven
If you don't have someone with Down Syndrome in your life, you are missing out. They are awesome and have amazing hearts.
- ImJamal
I know a guy with down syndrome (kid of my parents' friends) and I would have to say he is the happiest person I know. Anytime I see him, he gets a huge smile on his face. He walks over to me and asks me how I am doing. He is such a friendly and cheerful guy. I saw his mom scold him for being disruptive and he got a frown for like 10 seconds and then he returned to being the happiest guy around. To be able to always be that happy is a goal so many of us fail to achieve.