Down Syndrome Models

            I read something recently that made my heart skip a beat with gratitude. TARGET and NORDSTROM recently ran an advertising campaign, which featured photographs of beautiful and handsome girls and boys. What made one photograph special was the fact that one child, six-year-old Ryan Langston, has Down syndrome.

            Equally fascinating is the corporations made no reference to the fact that Ryan suffers from this disability. This heartens me because it alerts me to the fact that our society has come a long way.

            Time was when children suffering from this disability were placed in institutions at the encouragement of family physicians and doctors. Several factors have converged to change this.

            One factor has been leaders such as former Alabama football coach, Gene Stallings, and his family, who defied doctors' recommendations and raised their son, John Mark, as a fully integrated member of their family. Thousands, maybe millions, of American citizens had their attitudes transformed by the example of the Stallings family.

            Individuals and families like the Stallings-deeply committed Christians-also reveal to us the power of Christ-like lives to bring salt and light to our culture. So enjoy these advertisements from TARGET and NORSTROM, and, if you're so inclined, jot them a letter or an e-mail thanking them for doing so.

Source on Ryan Langston story: WORLD MAGAZINE 2/11/12