Ahead of World Down Syndrome Day, CoorDown launched the film "ASSUME THAT I CAN” to call for everyone to put an end to prejudice and support the concrete potential of each person who has Down syndrome.

Our negative assumptions about people with Down syndrome can lead us to treat them in such a way that these assumptions become reality. In sociology, this is called a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’. Why not reverse our perspectives?

A young woman with Down syndrome challenges the low expectations others have of her and proposes a reversal of perspective. Initially, those around believe that she cannot achieve important goals. Then, halfway through the film, there’s a twist and the protagonist forcefully invites the viewer - and society at large - to think outside the box.

Stereotypes, biases and low expectations strongly affect every aspect of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities: they represent an often-impassable boundary which limits their ambitions. If we have positive assumptions about people with Down syndrome, we'll give them more opportunities in their schools, workplaces, relationships, communities and activities. And maybe these positive assumptions will become reality.