Contact: Gail Williamson, Director Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles
818-515-1375
What: October: National Down syndrome Awareness Month 8 actors celebrate living a life that doctors told them was impossible.|
Who: Eight actors with Down syndrome
Lauren Potter: Becky Jackson on GLEE
Robin Trocki: Jean Sylvester on GLEE
Luke Zimmerman: Tom Bowman on THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER
Jamie Brewer: Adelaide on AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Katelyn Reed: Young Adelaide on AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Andrea Friedman: Amanda on LIFE GOES ON, Emmy nominated for LAW AND ORDER:SVU, FAMILY GUY
Blair Williamson: Guest star on SCRUBS, NIP/TUCK, CSI, ER, THE GUARDIAN
When: Thursday, October 6, 2011
9 AM to 11 AM
Media Access Awards, honoring casting of actors with disabilities in the Media
David Radcliff, Production Coordinator, Media Access Awards 213-327-5476
12:30 PM
Down syndrome Power Lunch
Narrative
Eight Hollywood Actors will meet up for a power lunch with representatives including talent agents, personal appearance agents, screenwriters, dialogue coaches, union reps and disability advocates. Of the eight actors five are, or were, recurring guest stars on high profile shows; GLEE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, THE SECRET LIFE OF AN AMERICAN TEENAGER and LIFE GOES ON. Two have had many guest starring roles including shows like ER, CSI, 7TH HEAVEN, SAVING GRACE, SCRUBS, NIP/TUCK, FAMILY GUY and more. One was even nominated for an Emmy for a guest star role on LAW AND ORDER:SVU. And the youngest at 8 years old and will open the new FX show AMERICAN HORROR STORY on Wed. Oct. 5th.
What brings these actors together for an unprecedented power lunch? What is the common denominator between them? They all were born with an extra 21st chromosome. They all have Down syndrome. Yet today, during October, National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, they are taking time to get together, to network and to enjoy the life that doctors told them they would never have.
All these actors have surpassed the expectations set for them by the medical community. Following their passion and talent, with the help of their family’s they are teaching an entire generation about what it is to have Down syndrome through the television screen.
END
Photos
President Barack Obama has signed into law Rosa’s Law, which will change references in federal law from mental retardation to intellectual disability, and references to a mentally retarded individual to an individual with an intellectual disability.
