After being elected to Valencia’s regional assembly, Galcerán says she wants to be seen as a person, not for her disability
For decades she battled to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities were part of the conversation. The extent of the progress she had made, however, was laid bare recently when Mar Galcerán became Spain’s first parliamentarian with Down’s syndrome.
“It’s unprecedented,” the 45-year-old told the Guardian. “Society is starting to see that people with Down’s syndrome have a lot to contribute. But it’s a very long road.”
Her feat has been decades in the making. When Galcerán was 18 years old, she joined the conservative People’s party (PP) after being attracted to what she described as its embrace of tradition.
Slowly she worked her way up the party apparatus. Her commitment paid off last May when she was added as the 20th name on the list of candidates the PP was fielding in Valencia’s regional elections.
Did we read the same article?
Her achievements that they mentioned are all related to Down Syndrome. The reactions they mentioned are reactions to her having Down Syndrome.
The article also talks about her rise in politics due to help from another politician… wait for it… who also has Down Syndrome.
I’m sure that she has more to her persona than her disability, just like everyone with a disability. However, the article is actually about her having Down Syndrome.