Christopher

Christopher, 45, is a wrestling fan and soon-to-be karate black belt from Brooklyn, New York. He currently lives independently in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he works as a custodian. His hobbies have included basketball, swimming, soccer, track, weight lifting, and frisbee golf, as well as exercise classes with @accessilm. Christopher is also no stranger to dancing and acting, having performed with the local @theatreforallnc troupe— and as a regular actor-impersonator at home! He's currently also learning Korean, Italian, and Spanish.

Other at-home activities of Christopher’s are looking through wrestling magazines, walking to the beach, and watching the “Rocky” film series, “The Karate Kid," and anything of Steven Seagal’s. Christopher’s mother Iris adds that he loves writing on calendars the birthdays of actors, wrestlers, and family members. She notes that “if you tell him your birthday, he will remember it forever.”

Iris encourages expectant parents to meet other parents who have children with Down syndrome at different ages. “This will give you a good idea of what to expect from your child at different points in their life, and also will calm your anxieties. I was pleasantly surprised at what the older children were able to learn and it gave me so much hope.”

She continues: "Chris began living with a roommate when he was 25 years old. I always had it in mind that he needed to learn to be independent, and considered a group home because I didn't want him to live alone. His teachers encouraged me to have him live independently rather than in a group home. He had never been without me and I was afraid that he would forget to lock the door, or not answer the phone or be able to take care of himself.

But I decided to try it, and if it didn't work out he would come back home. I was so surprised at how fast he adapted to his independence and at how much he is able to do on his own, and to make good decisions.”

He also has the assistance of part-time support staff, Iris adds. Christopher is just one example of the many adults with Down syndrome living independently— it’s more common than some might think. We're SO proud to know this amazing person!