Stephen M, age 16
Photograph by Laurin Hills (2022)
Stephen never fails to brighten the days of his friends and family. He is always willing to lend a smile or a helping hand and has a great sense of humor. He loves listening to music, finding the meaning behind the lyrics, and playing all types of games, from cards to Xbox.
Stephen’s compassionate spirit has led him to volunteer at his church to supervising the younger kids in the Special Friends area. He has also earned a 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and plays the drums. He looks forward to moving out on his own one day.
Stephen is not defined by his diagnosis of Down syndrome, his mother emphasizes. He is just like any other teenager, looking for his place in the world. Constantly looking for ways to make the world a better place, he has a bright future and will surely make a lasting difference in his community and beyond.
Stephen nunca deja de alegrar los días de sus amigos y familiares. Siempre está dispuesto a echar una sonrisa o una mano y tiene un gran sentido del humor. Le encanta escuchar música, encontrar el significado de las letras y jugar a todo tipo de juegos, desde las cartas hasta la Xbox.
El espíritu compasivo de Stephen le ha llevado a ser voluntario en su iglesia para supervisar a los niños más pequeños en el área de Amigos Especiales. También es cinturón negro de primer grado de Tae Kwon Do y toca la batería. Espera poder irse a vivir por su cuenta algún día.
Stephen no se define por su diagnóstico de síndrome de Down, subraya su madre. Es como cualquier otro adolescente, buscando su lugar en el mundo. Buscando constantemente formas de hacer del mundo un lugar mejor, tiene un futuro brillante y seguramente marcará una diferencia duradera en su comunidad y más allá.
Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.