At only 18 months old, Bradford’s Vince Volpe is already set to get his big break in the Big Apple.
The infant was chosen from almost 3,000 entrants to be one of more than 500 children, youths and adults with Down syndrome from the U.S. and 14 other countries featured in a video in Times Square, New York City on Sept. 7.
That’s part of a promotion for the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) 30th annual New York City Buddy Walk — an event celebrating people with Down syndrome while raising funds for NDSS, a charitable organization which provides resources for families, advocates for public policies and pushes to shift public perceptions for better understanding of those with Down syndrome.
“I don’t think there are words for how awesome it feels,” said mother, Elizabeth Volpe, of having Vince in the video.
She stressed the importance of raising awareness and providing representation both of people with Down syndrome and of Canadians in particular.
“It’s great to get his face out there,” she said. “He’s just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
During her pregnancy, Elizabeth and her husband Scott had no idea that Vince would have Down syndrome as he wasn’t diagnosed until birth.
“He surprised us at birth with the extra chromosome,” Elizabeth said. “We were definitely caught off guard, and when we found out, we really didn’t know anything about Down syndrome.”
For the last 18 months, the couple have been researching and learning as much as they can about the condition and how to best support their son to help him live the best life possible.
According to the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS) the condition relates to full or partial copies of the 21st chromosome, which can result in some intellectual disability, delayed development, or characteristic physical features, and affects one in every 781 babies born in Canada.
They explain that the condition “has always existed and is universal across racial, gender, and socio-economic lines.”
For his part, Vince is healthy and thriving, enjoying time with his family, including older sister Lennon, 8, and brother Max, 5, as well as having an affinity for swimming and playing with puppies.
“He’s a pretty happy-go-lucky guy,” Elizabeth said. “He loves most things.”
That’s helped by a variety of therapies available in both Bradford and Barrie.
Elizabeth is also on the board of local non-profit Rockin’ It With Ruby, which aims to educate about, and advocate for, people with Down syndrome. It also fundraises for bursaries for families of people with the condition to help cover supply costs as well as physical, occupational and speech therapies.
As a parent, Elizabeth said the issues commonly associated with raising a person with Down syndrome are less related to the condition itself and more a result of “very minimal” coverage from various levels of government, compared to the “staggering” difference of what’s available to those who can afford to pay out of pocket.
Otherwise, she describes Down syndrome as “a blessing” which is “absolutely not” scary, despite what people might think.
“I would encourage anyone who does not have somebody in their lives with Down syndrome to go out and make a friend, because it will be the best thing you ever did,” she said.
Rockin’ It With Ruby is planning a lemonade sale at Barrie Loblaws on Sept. 14 and the fifth annual Down Syndrome Walk in Barrie on Oct. 20, and more information can be found on rockinitwithruby.com.
