A tenth-grader girl apparently asked a teen with Down syndrome to dance after he got rejected by a girl he invited to his school’s homecoming dance.
As soon as the news of their dance circulated, a media house took up the event and turned the night into a memorable one for them.
Kylie Fronius came forward and asked Daniel Rivas if he would join her for the homecoming event after he was rejected.
When interviewed, she said, “I think of people with disability as no different from everyone else.”
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“I think about them as normal people with a different view of the world and different learning process.
ADVERTISEMENT Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that is associated with delayed physical growth, a characteristic facial feature and usually mild intellectual disability. Since the parents are generally normal, there is no known environmental factor or behavioral activity that increases the possibility of having the syndrome.
ADVERTISEMENT It has no known cure too. It is a condition usually diagnosed at some stage during pregnancy, at which the fetus can be terminated. The stigma faced by people with this condition around the world is unparalleled. Such is the case for Daniel as he was turned down by all the girls he asked to dance at the homecoming.
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Tonya Rivas, the boy’s mom was driven to tears when she was told that a girl is going with her son to the homecoming dance.
She said, “Words are not enough to describe the emotions I’m feeling right now.”
The news house on getting wind of Kylie’s kind-hearted action decided to surprise the duo and other students on the day of the dance. The crew rolled in their vehicle into the school’s driveway and gave an explanation on why they came.
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The men were touched enough by the affair that they wanted to do something for the kids to make the dance a special one for them. The team brought the school to a standstill and brought great joy to the couple for the night by hiring a Rolls Royce so that they will arrive at the dance in grand style.
The Rolls Royce ride was not the highlight of the event for the Kylie and Daniel because bigger surprises were in store for them. Before the dance started, they were treated to a dinner at an extravagant restaurant, and they ate like kings before going for the evening dance.
A red carpet exclusively for them greeted them as they alighted from the car, they truly had a fantastic night.
It is estimated globally that Down syndrome occurs in 1 of every 1000 births and results in close to 17,000 deaths around the world.
Countries that are predisposed to a higher rate of the syndrome are those that have strict laws against abortion and those with a widespread lateness in pregnancy. The age of the mother is a known factor that affects the possibility of having kids with Down syndrome.
Generally, women in their twenties have lower chances of giving birth to kids with the condition while much older women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s stand a greater risk of giving birth to children with it. The trend is observed to increase with age of the mothers.
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For Daniel, there is renewed hope for him in his walk through life. Kylie did more than offer to go with him to the dance, she offered him the hope that there are people in this world who will neither mock nor judge anyone with disabilities, people who will give them the chance to express and enjoy life the way other people do.
She has offered hope to countless parents and people out there wondering how they or their kids will fit in the societal setting. This is the gesture the news house crew saw and decided to celebrate Kylie and Daniel on their night, presenting them to the world to inspire goodness in everyone!
