Day 9: Successful People with Down Syndrome

Day 9 - Successful People with Down syndrome

This list does not include all of the successful people with Down syndrome but does highlight several different categories people with Down syndrome have been successful in. These men and women show that, with enough hard work and determination, anything is possible.

Angela Bachiller - In 2013 in Valladolid, Spain, Angela became the first person with Down syndrome ever to be elected councilwoman.

Bernadette Resha - Bernadette is a painter, public speaker, and violinist. Her works of art have been features on television shows, in music videos, commercials, and magazines.

Chris Burke - Chris is an actor and folk singer best known for his role as Corky in Life Goes On

Christian Royal - Christian is a highly talented pottery maker. He sells beautiful dishes and bowls online and at an art gallery in South Carolina.

Eli Reimer - Eli became the first person with Down syndrome to reach the base camp of Mount Everest.
Gigi Cunningham - Gigi is another model with Down syndrome. Gigi is using her talent to raise awareness for the Down syndrome community and to put an end to bullying.

Jamie Brewer - Jamie is an actress who appeared on American Horror Story: Murder House and American Horror Story: Coven.

Karen Gaffney - Karen is a disability rights campaigner and the first living person with Down syndrome to receive an honorary doctorate degree.
Katie Meade - Katie is the spokesmodel for the new haircare line Beauty & Pin-Ups. According to People magazine, Katie is the first woman with Down syndrome to be features as the face of a beauty campaign.

Luke Zimmerman - Luke is best known for starring in The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Madeline Stuart - Madeline is a model from Australia who travels around the world modeling and has even participated in New York Fashion Week.
Melissa Reilly - Melissa is a motivational speaker, travels to represent the Down syndrome community internationally, and is a Special Olympian who brings home gold medals in skiing, cycling, and swimming. She also interns for a Massachusetts state senator and tutors preschool students with Down syndrome in math and reading.

Megan McCormick - Megan is the first person with Down syndrome to graduate with honors from a technical college in the United States. Megan earned her degree in education and was at the top of her class.

Sujeet Desai - Sujeet is a musician and plays seven instruments. He graduated from high school with a 4.3 grade point average and went on to graduate from the Berkshire Hills Music Academy. Sujeet has received numerous awards and was even featured in the Wall Street Journal and Time Magazine as well as on 20/20 and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Tim Harris - Tim is the owner of the now-closed Tim's Place, a popular restaurant in Albuquerque, NM.