L'acteur trisomique

[lollardfish]

Simyo - Le Theatre 42''
by simyofrance

This is a French cell-phone ad starting an actor with Down syndrome. He is, as a French advocacy group has commented, just a "citizen like any other." Apparently it's the 50th anniversary of the French discovery of the cause of Down Syndrome (by a Father LeJeune, hence not using Down syndrome as the phase). Also, I love the adjective "trisomique" (trisomic). I intend to start using it.

Article here.

h/t to neogrammarian.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

The TV ad is delightful and heartening.

I would be careful about using "trisomique" or "trisomic" or "trisomial". (What I am about to say is a reflection of my own caution, and not actual conversation with the women involved.) I know at least 2 women whose pregnancies spontaneously terminated due to trisomial genetic problems with their fetuses. The one I am closest to is still quite sad about this. I would not want to cause her unexpected sadness by reminding her of her lost pregnancy.

Mind, I have not asked how *she* feels about it, nor do I know how my more-distant acquaintance feels about it. But I do not know how many women might be keeping their same experience private, and who also would not welcome a reminder of it.

So there's that context, anyway.

K.