He Too

October 20, 2009 1:54 PM

Pablo Pineda holds a teacher diploma and a BA in educational psychology. He also recently won a Best Actor Award in the San Sebastián International Film Festival for his role in the semi-autobiographical film "Yo También" ("Me Too"). He has Down's Syndrome.
posted by Skeptic (12 comments total)

Someone once told me that people historically classed as "retarded" do not and presumably will not ever read Metafilter.

But beside what I was able to achieve, I also expect society to do its part. I do not want this to be a one way effort. This is a start of success and shows people that we are as competent as the rest. If you are the one who is setting up the barriers, you are then destroying possibilities for others.

posted by muddgirl at 2:03 PM on October 20, 2009 [2 favorites]

There are other prejudices and you could write a book about them.

I hope he does just that. Cool post.
posted by nosila at 2:20 PM on October 20, 2009

That was a really good interview. It's nice to see someone speak up for people with developmental disabilities. We need more advocates like him in the world.
posted by lexicakes at 3:00 PM on October 20, 2009

Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary gives an average IQ of between 50 and 60 for Down's syndrome individuals although IQ scores of 120 have been found in some individuals with the syndrome.
posted by availablelight at 3:06 PM on October 20, 2009

Let Devo sing you the song of his people.
posted by clarknova at 3:23 PM on October 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

Pablo Pineda may have a higher IQ than the average person with Down syndrome, but he will still face overt discrimination or prejudice because of the physical features related to the condition.
posted by muddgirl at 3:24 PM on October 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

!!!

And I've been hanging around here with supposedly normal chromosomes, being too busy whining to finish university education. Christ, this guy is badass.
posted by krilli at 4:55 PM on October 20, 2009 [2 favorites]

Good post. As the older brother of a sibling with autism, I really should know more about developmental disabilities. I did not know that Down's Syndrome did not always cause people to be mentally handicapped, and I'm glad I know now. The prejudice against those with Down's who are not mentally handicapped must be horrible. I'm glad to hear that he's willing to go beyond his diagnosis and achieve so much.

And like Krilli, I'm also languishing in college at a slow pace, despite being normal by most metrics.
posted by mccarty.tim at 7:50 PM on October 20, 2009

I wish that interview were longer. Fascinating and it really makes you wonder how many people may have really missed opportunities for a more fulfilling life because of the assumptions that follow them every day of their life. Something I have heard and read about many times is the frustration of people who because of the visual characteristics of a disability constantly contend with people's assumptions about their mental capacity which are false. Beyond just the visual face of Down Syndrome and the assumptions it surely carries, there is a physiological predisposition for speech impediment that probably serves to reinforce the same prejudices. Between social perceptions and expectations and the physical ailments that people with Down have to contend with (and surely make learning more difficult) you have to wonder if we really have accurate data on the IQ range for these individuals at all. Really interesting post.
posted by nanojath at 9:19 PM on October 20, 2009

just yesterday he did a Q&A with the readers of EL PAIS (spanish)
posted by valdesm at 12:27 AM on October 21, 2009

The prejudice against those with Down's who are not mentally handicapped must be horrible.

It can be pretty bad against those who are mentally handicapped as well.
posted by not_that_epiphanius at 6:29 AM on October 21, 2009

thanks valdesm for the Pais Q&A, as nanojath says, it's clear that he had to fight to be taken as "able" in the school system, see here:

Qué pesa más en su éxito personal? ¿La familia o las instituciones educativas?

Hombre, la familia ha sido un apoyo enorme. Ha sido peor las reticencias de las instituciones educativas a veces. La familia ha sido un estímulo tremendo. En las instituciones educativas he tenido que luchar para que se dieran cuenta de que yo podía hacer un estudio de grado. Ha sido más lucha por ese lado.

I really like his approach to the pressure to be a spokesperson for people with Down Syndrome, great post, thanks!
posted by Wilder at 7:44 AM on October 21, 2009