Toni Marie McDonald, a recent graduate from the special education program at Anthony J. Infante School in Jersey City, has done a lot in her 21 years. She has participated in the Special Olympics on the state level and performed on stage. On Sunday, Sept. 29, McDonald will be part of a video presentation by the National Down Syndrome Society, which will be held in Times Square.
"We heard that the National Down Syndrome Society was looking for pictures for a video they were putting together," said McDonald’s father, Jack. "We said what the heck and sent in a picture of Toni."
McDonald said she thrilled to be one of 200 people who have Down Syndrome to be chosen for the video. (Down Syndrome, also sometimes referred to as "Downs" or "Down’s," is the most common and readily identifiable chromosomal condition associated with mental retardation. It is named for John Langdon Down, an English physician who wrote a scholarly work on it in 1866.)
"The goal of the video is to increase public awareness of the capabilities of people who have Down Syndrome," said Jennifer Podoll, a spokesperson for the National Down Syndrome Society. "The video will show examples of people with Down Syndrome living lives like everyone else."
Combining messages of acceptance for people with handicaps and pictures of people with DS, the 20-minute video will shown on the large Astro Vision screen in Times Square at 10:30 a.m. and then again at 10:50 a.m. A photograph of McDonald in her white graduation gown will be part of the video presentation.
"I’m glad that I could be part of the show," said McDonald, when asked about the video. "I know my parents are proud."
McDonald and her family, which includes her mother Sybil, an older brother named John and her sister-in-law Stephanie, have lived all their lives in Jersey City. At the Anthony J. Infante School, also known as PS. 31, McDonald participated in the Special Education program. At the school, McDonald made a name for herself as an actress and a track and field star.
"Toni Marie was very active in the Special Olympics at school," said Anthony J. Infante School Principal Mary Louf. "She ran track and field and won a lot of awards for the school. Toni Marie has been part of the Special Olympics going back to when she was 8 years old."
McDonald said she also participated in the long jump and the softball throw, but her favorite sport remains bowling.
"Toni bowls with a league every Saturday morning at the Hudson Lanes in Jersey City," said Jack McDonald. "She’s doing pretty well. Toni has racked up a large number of strikes."
In the Special Olympics bowling competition, McDonald has won four gold medals, her father added.
McDonald has also acted in a number of school shows and presentations. McDonald was also chosen Queen of the Prom for her graduating class in June.
"Students 14 and up are part of the prom," said Louf. "Toni was so anxious about the prom. She wanted to see if she was going to be the queen."
According to Louf, McDonald kept asking in very subtle ways who was going to be named queen for the 2002 prom.
"Sometimes you don’t think students are paying any attention to what is going on," Louf commented. "But then they surprise you by really being on top of things."
When he name was called as queen, McDonald was thrilled beyond description, added Louf.
"I’m just a big ham," McDonald commented.
Functioning members
The Down Syndrome Society was established in 1979, according to Podoll. "The mission of the Society is to insure that all people with Down Syndrome are viewed as functioning members of society," said Podoll, adding the organization has a number of advocacy events. One of the events is the yearly Buddy Walk, which takes place in Central Park on the same day as the video McDonald is in will be shown.
"Every year we have a new video to go with the Buddy Walk," said Podoll. The Buddy Walk got started in 1995 as a way for the DS to draw attention to people with the syndrome."
The walk, which takes place in 150 cities nationwide, consists of a person with Down Syndrome and a partner he or she has chosen to walk with.
"It is a non-competitive event," Podoll. "We get a lot of community leaders participating, along with families and friends. One of the biggest hurdles that Down Syndrome victims have to face is public ignorance about the condition. The Buddy Walk is one of the ways the public can see that people with Down Syndrome are more like us than they are not."
At this year’s Buddy Walk, actor Chris Burke from the television show "Life Goes On" and John C. McGinley, the star of "Scrubs," will be in attendance. McGinley is the father of a Down Syndrome child, according to Podoll.
As for McDonald, she is looking forward to seeing her self on the large screen in Manhattan, hoping she will help others.