Something Special

Four year old Seb White has chubby rosy cheeks, bright soft blue eyes and a mischievous smile. He will be the Marks and Spencer’s campaign model for their Christmas kid’s collection; coincidentally he also has Down’s syndrome.

Caroline White, Seb’s mother, grew tired of being bombarded with images of happy smiling families and children in advertising campaigns which did not represent children and people like her beautiful young son. She said: ‘When Seb was born, I vividly remember seeing lots of ads with hundreds of beautifully perfect kids in them and it just added to my sense of isolation and difference.’

Following a post by Caroline on M&S’s Facebook wall the company seized on the idea after a wealth of support from fellow Facebook users. What could be regarded as fortuitous timing on the part of Marks and Spencer’s following the success of the Paralympics and the extensive promotion on Channel 4 coverage, the high street retailer can be viewed by pessimists as jumping on a currently popular band wagon. Regardless of motivations, I am more than in favour of this move.

Growing up with an elder sister with Down’s syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality caused by a third copy of chromosome 21, one of the most upsetting experiences has been witnessing the rude stares and quizzical looks from others whilst walking down the street or out in a public place, who I would prefer to optimistically believe do so as a result of unfamiliarity with the condition. Down’s syndrome can cause a varying spectrum of cognitive and learning disabilities as well as physical and medical complications.

The condition also results in a distinct set of facial characteristics, my sister is six years older than me, she has perfectly fine arching eyebrows which have never been plucked, poker straight hair which never requires product and the same hazel eyes and long eye lashes as me and my mum. Whilst she shares the same facial characteristics as many with Down’s, this does not cover all, not all people with Down’s syndrome look the same, they look like their families.

A Christmas children’s wear collection modelled by an adorable young boy, one who has a disability which in past times would have him kept out of public sight, will help promote an understanding and a familiarity of the physical characteristics of people with Down’s syndrome. I for one cannot wait to see the cheeky grin of four year old Seb in the windows and printed ads of Marks and Spencer’s.