There are one to two children, on average, born with Down Syndrome everyday in England alone.
The beautiful faces that you see before you are part of a project where I took portraits of 365 children with Down's syndrome.
One for everyday of the year, to represent the above statistic, but also to show how different from one another these children actually are. Whether we like it or not there is a stereotype of Down's syndrome, which is conjured up in our minds as soon as these words are mentioned. ‘Our lot’, the faces that you see before you, will not conform to this stereotype. These children have not been put into a corner and forgotten about. When our daughter Billie-Jo was born we believed that she belonged to everyone, just as we believe that as soon as any child is born he or she immediately ‘belongs’ to everyone.
That child has parents, maybe brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, cousins, grandparents and friends. Each person is related to that child by just being around them. The way that they respond and interact will have an enormous effect not only on the child, but also on those people around who love that child.
Some of these children may have been a ‘bit of a surprise’ for their parents, but all are now enveloped in the love of their families. As they grow up their parents know that they may not win Wimbledon or play for Manchester United, they may not become a doctor or a solicitor, but they will achieve any amount of goals and overcome any amount of obstacles as they go through life.
Like any other parents with any other child we will be watching and helping these children through every step of their lives and like any other parents we will get as much fun and enjoyment from watching those steps get bigger and bigger. These photographs are a celebration of the individuality, enthusiasm and character of our children.
Richard Bailey ©
The beautiful faces that you see before you are part of a project where I took portraits of 365 children with Down's syndrome.
One for everyday of the year, to represent the above statistic, but also to show how different from one another these children actually are. Whether we like it or not there is a stereotype of Down's syndrome, which is conjured up in our minds as soon as these words are mentioned. ‘Our lot’, the faces that you see before you, will not conform to this stereotype. These children have not been put into a corner and forgotten about. When our daughter Billie-Jo was born we believed that she belonged to everyone, just as we believe that as soon as any child is born he or she immediately ‘belongs’ to everyone.
That child has parents, maybe brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, cousins, grandparents and friends. Each person is related to that child by just being around them. The way that they respond and interact will have an enormous effect not only on the child, but also on those people around who love that child.
Some of these children may have been a ‘bit of a surprise’ for their parents, but all are now enveloped in the love of their families. As they grow up their parents know that they may not win Wimbledon or play for Manchester United, they may not become a doctor or a solicitor, but they will achieve any amount of goals and overcome any amount of obstacles as they go through life.
Like any other parents with any other child we will be watching and helping these children through every step of their lives and like any other parents we will get as much fun and enjoyment from watching those steps get bigger and bigger. These photographs are a celebration of the individuality, enthusiasm and character of our children.
Richard Bailey ©