[Please note: In the UK, Jack’s diagnosis is referred to as Down’s syndrome. In the US, it is referred to as Down syndrome.]
Freddie Powell’s brother Jack is the greatest gift of his life. His eyes light up before he even begins to speak. “Growing up with Jack was such an enriching experience,” Freddie beams. “It made me realize that people are different and I realized the importance of love and being patient with people and being more understanding. Even from when I was a child, I acknowledged that. If I could learn from such an early age that people are different and face different challenges, I feel like anyone can.” This boundless adoration launched Freddie into a lifetime of disability advocacy. “You can put yourself in somebody else’s shoes and not necessarily understand what they’re going through, because you can’t comprehend what certain people are going through, but you can certainly appreciate the struggles and you can most definitely try and accommodate them or just treat them like a normal person.” Compassion and Google are both free! “I have friends with certain disabilities and at times, it’s very frustrating to me because I might be with them and somebody will speak to them like a child. That really aggravates me because I just think, ‘No, actually he can speak to you. You can have an absolutely normal conversation with him. You don’t need to speak to him that way.’ It comes with a lack of understanding and maybe a lack of being open to understanding. A lot of people aren’t willing to understand differences. I’m grateful to Jack for making me who I am today.”
A diagnosis is simply one aspect of identity for a person with a disability. “I want people to recognize Jack for who he is and not just the fact he’s got Down syndrome. He’s actually an amazing individual and he has unique qualities that other people don’t have. He is the most loving person that I’ve ever come across. You could sit next to him and he’ll hold your hand and stroke your hand for three hours. There’s no sort of judgment there whatsoever. You really can learn a lot from him.” Freddie’s activism has recently soared to new heights – literally. “In terms of my activities with the Down’s Syndrome Association, I raised money by climbing Kilimanjaro. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was so hard. Every day, I thought it was going to get better and I would enjoy the next day. And I just didn’t, it was horrible. It was absolutely horrible.” The ascent was brutal, but the unwavering gratitude from his audience propelled him onward. “This sounds cheesy, but genuinely what pushed me through is the fact that I got so much support from my followers and people that have seen the bond I had with my brother. Every step, I was just thinking, ‘I’ve got to do it for them because these people have donated money towards this cause.’ I’ve witnessed the difficulties growing up with somebody with a disability and to think that I’m doing something for a good cause and I’m helping people and families who were in a similar situation as my brother is so rewarding. I had people messaging me from all over the world with all sorts of disabilities, thanking me for being supportive of people with differences. It was just so nice and I did it for them.”
Rallying behind those with disabilities shouldn’t end with liking a post on your feed. Taking time to cultivate empathy can bring us closer together. “I might share a post about the disability community or Down’s Syndrome Association to try and raise awareness,” Freddie says. “I think it’s amazing that the people are liking and sharing things, but it’d be nice to encourage people to look into disabilities and educate themselves about challenges that individuals face. I think that’d be nice because it just creates more of an understanding.” If you can, try interacting with people with disabilities IRL or join your local organization! Across ability, we can cheer one another on.
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Freddie Powell Spreads Brotherly Love and Disability Awareness. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Freddie Powell.
