A 15-year-old gymnast from Auburn, Alabama, recently saw her face projected onto a Jumbotron above one of the busiest intersections in the world. Bentlee Williams, who has Down syndrome, traveled to New York City with her family in September for a national video presentation hosted by the National Down Syndrome Society.
The National Down Syndrome Society organized the Times Square presentation ahead of its annual Buddy Walk, which the organization describes as the world's most widely recognized public awareness program for the Down syndrome community, according to AL.com. For the September 12 presentation, NDSS selected more than 500 photos out of over 2,700 global submissions representing individuals with Down syndrome from around the world, according to a GlobeNewswire release. Roughly 95% of those chosen for the annual video are first-time honorees, under a policy intended to maximize how many families get the spotlight, Hoodline previously reported in its coverage of the September 12 tribute.
Williams has since become a two-time Level 4 national Special Olympics champion in gymnastics, per the article from the seed publisher.
A Setback at School, Then a National Spotlight
In April, Williams did not make her junior high cheerleading team, and her school did not offer more inclusive cheerleading options, the seed report states. Months later, NDSS asked her to represent the Down syndrome community in the Times Square presentation, giving the teen a very different kind of stage.
Williams traveled to New York City with her family for the September 12 Times Square presentation. Her photo appeared on the screen.
A Walk Rooted in Three Decades of History
The NYC Buddy Walk was established by NDSS in 1995 as a single event and has since expanded into an international network of more than 150 annual walks, according to the GlobeNewswire release.
The annual Times Square presentation is displayed on two Jumbotron screens above the Dos Caminos restaurant in Father Duffy Square, at 7th Avenue and West 47th Street, using billboard space donated by Clear Channel Outdoor for an hour-long slot each September, according to the GlobeNewswire release.
Broader Context for Families Navigating Down Syndrome
Down syndrome occurs in approximately one in 640 to 700 U.S. live births, resulting in about 5,700 babies born with the condition annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome in the U.S. rose from 10 years in 1960 and 25 years in 1983 to nearly 60 years today, according to Emory University School of Medicine.
In Alabama, adaptive athletic opportunities extend well beyond gymnastics and tennis. Special Olympics Alabama engages nearly 1,000 athletes across 10 summer sports at its annual State Games at Troy University, according to Troy Today.
