I'm a sucker for cute kids. Who isn't, right? But a little girl named Maddox McClintic is more than just your everyday adorable toddler. The 2-year-old with Down syndrome is quickly becoming the best reminder to the world that special needs kids are more than their diagnosis.
A clever (and now viral) video made by Maddox's mom, Jamie, specifically to teach a lesson to people who call her little girl a mongoloid or retard is striking a nerve with the special needs community. Through the now popular YouTube trick of flashing cards at the screen, Jamie McClintic explains that everything people assume about her daughter is wrong.
The video is too powerful not to share, but first, pop quiz time: when you hear the words "Down syndrome," what do you picture? A child with upward slanting eyes and a flattened nose? A child with diminished mental capacity? Or do you just picture a person? Period? Get ready to have your mind changed.
It's hard to say it better than that. Although the words on the McClintic family's website do it pretty well: "I am just like any other child, I am not fragile, I like to laugh, play, cry, and have all the same feelings, emotions, and desire for acceptance that you do. "
Trying to lump kids into one group because of their diagnosis is a pervasive problem in the special needs community, and it stretches much farther than any of us would expect. Last week when I shared a story right here on The Stir about a mother whose son has autism, I heard many moms of children on the spectrum voice frustrations with school districts that fail to realize that autism affects every kid differently!
If school professionals supposedly trained to work with kids don't know, the chance that these kids can get a fair shake from the general public is slim to none. And yet, that's why videos like the McClintic's are so important to share, why seeing Maddox's beautiful little face behind those words is so impactful. We need to start looking at these kids as just that: kids. Beautiful, wonderful, unique kids.
Tell us about the special needs kid in your life. What makes them so special TO YOU?
Image via McClintic Family/YouTube
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Comments 67
regina savage..im confused...if u dont like children, and u dont like viral videos..y in gods name r u on a website dedicated 2 moms? and leavin such negative comments on a VIRAL VIDEO when u dispise them? Especially one so heart warmin and sweet as this 1? 4 WORDS... KEEP IT MOVIN B*TCH.. ur opinion is 1 of no importance.. I think the lil girl is absolutely adorable, and infact my brother is expectin a baby in april whos test results came back positive 4 downs, and regardless a child IS a BLESSING, and he will be loved greatly, and couldnt be born into a more loving family. This goes 4 everybody else w/ the negative comments, u guys r @$$holes and clearly lack compassion..i believe u all completely missed the big picture.. instead of knit picking at the minor details, such as her bein 2 young 2 actually write the words, grasp the concept that people w/ downs are bein judged, discriminated against, and seen as outcasts, when they are humans w/ genuine feelings like everybody else!!!!! smh..u pessimistic people r the exact reason this video was created and reason bein y human sociaty has became the shame it is 2 day..congrats!
she's precious
i have a 3 yr old in my class that has cerebal palsy. he's so bright and very vocal. where his legs don't work his words make up for his disability. he is a blessing and i'm glad that i can be a part of his life.
I just got goosebumps seeing this video :)