Over the past few months, with the help of associations from all over the world, CoorDown has been asking people with Down syndrome and their families, what excuses they have heard for being excluded from education, sports, jobs, and other opportunities. Some of these excuses were so incredibly ridiculous that they deserved to be brought to life and properly celebrated with a film.
Philosophy
In a world increasingly focused on inclusion, there are still those who roll out ridiculous excuses not to be inclusive. On World Down Syndrome Day, March 21 2023, CoorDown – the National Coordination of Associations of People with Down Syndrome – is launching the international awareness campaign "RIDICULOUS EXCUSES NOT TO BE INCLUSIVE," to affirm the right to full participation in society and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities, free from all forms of discrimination and ableism.
The advertisement by CoorDown, titled "Ridiculous Excuses Not to Be Inclusive," creatively highlights the absurd excuses that people with Down syndrome encounter for being excluded from educational, sporting, and workplace opportunities. It combines insightful testimonials with statistical data, as well as global collaboration with organizations to emphasize the importance of inclusivity. The ad launches on World Down Syndrome Day and utilizes social media platforms like TikTok to encourage public interaction by inviting users to share their own experiences. The campaign's success is highlighted with its wide reach, even making an impact at the UN headquarters. It effectively uses the hashtag #RidiculousExcuses to drive a powerful message against discrimination and ableism, advocating for full societal participation for individuals with intellectual disabilities.