An Imperial child’s image will appear on the big screen in New York City’s Times Square next month.
Cooper Coleman, 1, will be featured in one of the 500 photos included in the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) annual Times Square video presentation on Sept. 12.
“It is kind of a surreal thing,” said Craig Coleman, Cooper’s father. “Famous movie stars are up on that thing. They show (New York) Knicks (basketball) games, World Series games, and now, my son is going to be up there. It is a weird, neat thing that we are lucky enough to be part of.”
Cooper’s photo, which shows him smiling and sitting on a batch of grass with a football nearby in Ferd B. Lang Park in Arnold, was chosen from nearly 700 submitted photos, NDSS spokeswoman Michelle Sagan said.
Sagan said the photos to be shown on the screen in Times Square highlight children, teenagers and adults with Down syndrome working, playing and learning and are used to promote acceptance and inclusion. She said the photos feature people from 2-months old to 63 years old.
“This video is a terrific way to showcase some of the incredible individuals with Down syndrome living in our communities across the country,” NDSS president and CEO Kandi Pickard said in a written statement. “It is something the community looks forward to every year.”
The video presentation serves as a kickoff to Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which is in October, and it will be followed by the New York City Buddy Walk.
The walk is one of more than 150 held across the nation and this year will be held virtually in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, the NDSS said in a written statement.
Getting picked
Amanda Coleman, Cooper’s mother, said she and her husband learned about the campaign from their niece, Katelyn Brailssord, who lives in Gulf Port, Miss., where her husband is stationed with the Navy.
Then, in June, the Colemans and their daughter – Grace, 10 – and Cooper were at Ferd B. Lang Park, and Amanda snapped the picture of their son.
“We were looking for something to do, just to get outside,” Amanda said of the family outing. “We have kind of been stuck at home and haven’t been going anywhere, because we were being careful with COVID-19 and Cooper.
“I just snapped a picture on my phone. It was so cute, so that was the one we picked. He was just sitting there, looking so adorable.”
Amanda, 38, a sixth-grade teacher at Ridgewood Middle School in the Fox C-6 School District, said she filled out an online form and submitted the photo shortly after capturing the image.
Then near the end of July she received an email from the NDSS.
“I opened (the email) not realizing what it was,” Amanda said. “It said, ‘Congratulations, you have been picked.’ I was like, ‘Holy cow.’”
Craig said the family was surprised Cooper was selected.
“We weren’t expecting much, and the next thing we know, we get the press release,” said Craig, a 39-year-old social studies teacher at Fox’s Bridges Alternative School. “It is pretty cool.”
Amanda and Craig said it is exciting to be part of a campaign to help raise awareness about Down syndrome.
“I think it is important for parents who receive the pre-birth diagnosis that their child will have Down syndrome to receive this message,” Amanda said. “It can be scary, and this is something to say, ‘No, it is still awesome and fun. You are still going to find joy in your kids and do fun things.’
“I feel like the National Down Syndrome Society does such a good job promoting how awesome it is. (Children with Down syndrome) are joyful kids, and it is nice to celebrate that as a mom.”
No packing their bags
The Colemans wanted to head to New York on Sept. 12 to see the video presentation in person and take part in the Buddy Walk.
However, because of concerns about COVID-19, they said the NDSS has encouraged everyone to stay home and take part in the event virtually.
“They will contact me with a time frame to watch for his photo when they stream it,” Amanda said.
Even though the family will not be heading to the Big Apple, they hope to celebrate the day in a special way.
“We are hoping to plan a small viewing party with some family and friends, but we will have to see how that goes,” Amanda said.
The Colemans have signed up for the virtual Buddy Walk that follows the video presentation.
“We want to be active in the community,” Craig said. “The more inclusive we make it, the less stigma will be attached to people who might struggle with getting a diagnosis of Down syndrome.”
‘Miracle child’
Amanda said along with filling out the registration form and submitting the photo of Cooper, she had the opportunity to tell the NDSS about her child. She said Cooper is the family’s ‘miracle child.’
Amanda said after Grace was born, she struggled to become pregnant again and then lost a daughter, Alina, who was delivered stillborn at 21 weeks.
“We kind of decided we were done growing our family,” Amanda said. “That was pretty traumatic for everyone, and five months later, I was pregnant with Cooper.”
Amanda said a prenatal test revealed Cooper would be born with Down syndrome.
“It was a whirlwind,” Amanda said. “All of these medical professionals complimented me how well I handled the diagnosis, but once you did what we had to do, we weren’t scared of anything. As long as he was going to make it to this world and I was bringing him home, I was happy.”
Amanda said the family has had plenty of help since Cooper was born.
One of the people who has helped is Shelly O’Shea, an instructor with Missouri First Steps, an early intervention system that provides services to families with children with disabilities or developmental delays.
O’Shea has worked with Cooper since he was about 6 weeks old, Amanda said.
“He is very sweet,” O’Shea said. “We have been doing video therapy for several months because of (COVID-19). On the Zoom calls, he is amazing. He blows me kisses, smiles and is very excited to see me. He has made phenomenal progress. He is doing so well. Of all of the kids I have worked with who have Down syndrome, he has walked earlier than all of them.”
Craig said he is looking forward to people across the world having the chance to see his son and become more aware of Down syndrome.
“Cooper is my guy,” Craig said. “We watch hockey, baseball and football together. He’s amazing. Just like most people, I think my kid is the most amazing thing in the world. He is a good kid. I’m lucky to be his dad.”