The TOUCHDOWN 21 project is only working with the bright people with Down syndrome.
Many people think that.
And also they are saying that.
But it's not true.
Here we explain what you have to be able to do in order to participate in the TOUCHDOWN 21 project.
In the Touchdown Exhibition, there are many texts on the walls to read.
Somebody may read one of these texts, and find that it is very interesting.
And this person may believe that only a very bright person with Down syndrome could have written such an interesting text.
It might be thought, that the writer must be able to read and write.
And they must be able to speak very well.
Somebody might say, “my daughter has Down syndrome, and she wouldn't be able to do that”.
But these people don't know how the text came about.
Let us explain.
Adults with and without Down syndrome work for TOUCHDOWN 21, and in the Ohrenkuss office.
They do that because they want to.
They are interested.
They all have something to say.
They have thoughts in their minds and they have opinions.
They like to learn things.
When we work together we take our time.
There is support if it is needed.
We happily explain things a few times, if necessary.
We take our time when the texts are being written.
There are many assistants when we are working.
They have different roles.
They work as comprehension support.
They act as a scribe for texts that are dictated.
They write-out difficult words.
They help with finding any necessary information.
But the important thing is, they only offer their support when it is needed.
And when the person with Down syndrome asks for it.
That means that the thoughts and texts come from the people with Down syndrome.
Everyone can participate in the project.
Even if they can't read or write.
The important thing is that they are interested in a topic.
And that they want to participate.
It does not matter if they are particularly bright, or not.
Ansgar Peters explains it like this:
“There are some things I sometimes don't understand.
People then think: He isn't very bright.
But I am very bright.
I am smart.
And I'm in a good mood.
I'm very good at writing and arithmetic.
I 'm able to do everything I want to do - and yes, I'm very happy about that.”
We at Ohrenkuss must admit, we are getting a bit annoyed by this question.
Besides, who gets to decide who is bright and who is not?
And how do you know?
Is it how well someone can talk?
Is it how well someone can read and write?
We think that intelligence has nothing to do with language or writing.
We think that all our colleagues are bright.
In many different ways.
Julian Göpel agrees.
He says:
“I am bright.
My Ohrenkuss colleagues are bright.
I see that!”