When I Grow Up

from Kidz to Adultz Magazine Issue 9

Beach boy

– FILM STARRING IDENTICAL TWINS WINS NATIONAL AWARD

A FILM WHICH HOPES TO CHANGE PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES TOWARDS EMPLOYING SOMEONE WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME, HAS WON A NATIONAL AWARD

‘W hen I grow up’ was a collaboration between the Down’s Syndrome Association and internet sensations Ollie and Cameron. It shows the seven-year-old identical twins testing out jobs at the fire service, a café, hairdressers and supermarket, and promotes the message that children who have Down’s syndrome should grow up expecting to be employed in the same way as everybody else. “We are so chuffed that the film has been named ‘Charity Film of the Year’ at the Charity Today Awards 2020. It was incredible to be part of a film that portrays such an important message and having lots of fun in the process was an added bonus! The boys had a blast, especially with the fire hoses! I hope that the film helps employers to think about people with Down’s syndrome as potential employees, people with hopes, dreams and ability. I also hope that it encourages parents to talk about employment opportunities with their children so that they have a presumption of seeking employment when the time comes” said Elaine Scougal, Ollie and Cameron’s mum. The film beat off competition from across the UK to win the accolade. It was made by the Down’s Syndrome Association for their employment programme WorkFit. The scheme brings together employers and jobseekers who have Down’s syndrome and is a tailored service dedicated to training employers

about the learning profile of people who have Down’s syndrome so that they can be supported in the workplace.

Statistics show that nationally, just 5.9% of people with a learning disability are in paid employment in England, which is a downward trend year-on-year.

“I think there are lot of outdated perceptions out there about Down’s syndrome, and learning disabilities in general are a barrier to people getting jobs. There’s an assumption by many that people with Down’s syndrome don’t have the competence or ability to work and that a voluntary role is more suitable if anything.

It’s about creating the ethos of seeing each employee as an individual, not as a condition or disability, and evaluating how their individual needs can be met within any employment context. That takes an open mind, but I believe, slowly, more minds are opening to employing people with disabilities and tailoring training to meet needs.” Elaine Scougal. WorkFit hopes that the new film will encourage more businesses to consider signing up to the programme.

“I am delighted to hear that Ollie and Cameron’s film has won the Charity Film of the Year award. We’ve had some wonderful feedback about it from so many people who found it uplifting and felt that it perfectly captured the excitement and prospects of the world of work. WorkFit continues to support employment opportunities in a

growing range of industry sectors, and we take the view that everyone can work if they want to. We are committed to supporting people who have Down’s syndrome to shape their own destinies and celebrate their success, and now have more than 1,000 candidates registered, all at different stages of their career pathway.” WorkFit Employment Development Manager Alison Thwaite.

Ollie and Cameron, who are from Dundee, have become internet sensations since Elaine set up a Facebook page when they were just weeks old. It now has more than 230,000 followers who enjoy watching videos of the boys and reading about their latest updates. Elaine explains why she set up the page. “After a few weeks of hearing some stereotyped views and pitying reactions to Cam and Ollie’s diagnosis after birth, we decided we wanted to spread the word that our children were children, not defined by their chromosome counts. We set up the Facebook page and it took off so quickly, I think due to identical twins

with Down’s syndrome being quite rare, occurring at a rate of about one or two in a million births.

Through the page, we have documented their journey as they’ve grown from three weeks old to nearly seven years old through videos, photographs and stories. We get messages regularly stating that the page has opened their eyes about Down’s syndrome in terms of rebutting stereotypes they might have held. Some people also comment that they were very aware that the boys had Down’s syndrome when they first started following but now they’ve forgotten. That’s a big thing - that the diagnosis just fades into the background and people just see them for who they are, Ollie and Cam. That’s what we hoped for.”