Presentation Summit 2021: Conversation with Faith-Christina Duncan

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    Faith-Christina Duncan is 21-years old. When born, she was diagnosed with Trisomy 21, a form of Down Syndrome. Many people told her parents that she would never make it out in the ‘real’ world. She’s here today proving them wrong.

In this conversation, Faith-Christina talks about her participation at the upcoming Presentation Summit 2021, being held on location in Clearwater Beach, FL, and virtually this year from September 26 to 29, 2021.

Indezine.com is the official media partner for the Presentation Summit.

Geetesh: You are delivering the Challenge Accepted session at this year’s Presentation Summit, and yes, this is a session that’s different than some of the other sessions that are more focused on presentation slide-design and related technologies. So, what according to you, are the takeaways for the audience from your session? And what is the message that you want to share?

Faith-Christina Duncan: People often look at individuals with Down Syndrome with pity, sympathy, or a sense of being uncomfortable. The issues they do not realize in their so-called “PERFECT” life are what they take for granted are significant or major struggles within the mind and body of an individual such as me.

One such example is holding a pencil or pen. Low muscle tone is an issue all individuals with DS struggle with. It took months of therapy just to build strength in my hands and arms to hold a pencil.  People do not realize the muscles it requires to do the simplest of tasks. Walking under normal conditions will occur in babies around 9-12 months of age. I was 18 months old when I was able to walk alone. I was in therapy daily for gross and fine motor skills, as well as speech. Homelife was a constant therapy from my mom and dad. My parents forfeited a room of nice furniture to turn everything in our home into a large therapy center. Everything from toys, clothes, shoes were purchased with the mindset of therapy.

Think about having gloves on your hands with pom poms on the ends of them. Now try to button and unbutton your shirt. Zip and unzip your pants or just pulling on a pair of shorts. The struggle was real. My mom would make me put on the jeans and zip or unzip, snap or unsnap them. If I could unsnap them but could not snap them back (fine motor skill) I could not wear them, and she would not buy them. It did not matter how cute or cool they looked. This went for every piece of clothing and still stands as a rule today.

My speech was another issue. In my daily therapy, the muscles at the base of the tongue and back of the throat were worked. (DS individuals have a thicker tongue base that prohibits speech). Peanut butter was put at the back of my upper palate, and I had to take my tongue and get it all down and swallow it. This was hard. Imagine talking with a mouth full of cotton or marbles. I still struggle to articulate each day when I talk. These are merely two examples of issues people with DS try to overcome.

When you leave this room after hearing me this is what I want you to remember…JUST TRY! It does not matter what it is, JUST TRY. If you do not try you will never know what you can accomplish.  I have had so many motivational sayings over the years to get me through a situation, but it comes down to just trying. Day by day, task by task, just try. There is a song by Miley Cyrus I have used, “The Climb.”  In that song it speaks of:

There is always another mountain to climb, the struggles I’m facing, the chances I‘m taking, No I’m not breaking, it’s the climb.

Geetesh: The last year has witnessed a pandemic that changed people’s lives in so many ways. How has it changed you and your outlook on life?

Faith-Christina Duncan: I am not sure the pandemic changed me. I am who I am and will always be. Whether I was an on-campus college student or an online student (due to the pandemic) I remain the same. I still worked my part-time job. Oh, there were weeks that I did not get scheduled. I had to learn to be more diligent in my college studies. For me it worked out well. I had even more time for the assignments and studying. I have always had to be determined in everything I have done. The pandemic was no different. In our house the motto growing up has been “DUNCANS ARE DETERMINED”. During the pandemic I found it was no different. I was like everyone else and missed the social interaction. I got my hours back at work and my mom was at home. I was never without someone to talk to, laugh with and have a good time with. I come from a long line of positive individuals. We took it in stride and made the most of the situation. Just like the Miley Cyrus song I referenced,” The Climb”.

More from Faith-Christina Duncan

I am in college classes now. I made the President’s Honors List for the last semesters with a 4.0 GPA. I have been making quilts and other sewing crafts for over five years. I decided that I wanted to sell them and raise awareness for individuals with disabilities. I donated a very special handmade quilt to the Down Syndrome Society of Central Florida. It hangs proudly in their office. It is a reminder of my accomplishments and as a beacon of hope for anyone that visits their offices. I also made and donated a quilt to the Best Buddies in Orlando, which hangs in their office, as well. When people tell me that I can’t do something because I’m different or because I have a disability, I look at them and tell them not to dis my ability. I can do the same things you can. I just like to do them my own way. I am involved with both organizations.

I wanted to make an impact on new parents, so I started making baby blankets to put into the newborn baskets for parents of babies with Down Syndrome. These are given to them as a welcome gift by Down Syndrome of Central Florida. These blankets have now become a symbol of hope and inspiration. Look what your child can do. There is no limit to the possibilities. I just added burp cloths, as well. This past summer I made many pillowcases and donated them to the local children’s hospital. They were given to children with cancer. A smile goes along way. I have been awarded the David R. Roberts Youth in Philanthropy Award 2017, Jeannie Bronstein Citizenship Award 2017 and the Everyday Hero-Channel 13 News 2017, Dan Piper Award 2019, Blake Pyron Award 2019 and the Executive Women’s Council Rising Star Achievement Award 2019. I was also featured in Woman’s World Magazine (October 15, 2018), Orlando the City Magazine (January 2019), Woman of the Year Orlando the City Magazine 2020, World Changer Award 2021. Even in the pandemic I delivered these donated items.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.