01of 16Maggie, Age 19Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I, as a photographer, really believe that photos hold tremendous power," Gauld-Camilleri tells PEOPLE. “Often times, seeing people in different lights can really open your eyes and inspire you to listen to their story.“Here are 15 of those stories, beginning with 19-year-old Maggie.“I will graduate from high school in two years,” Maggie says. “My goal is to go to college so I can learn how to run a wedding boutique.”
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Maggie, Age 19
Hilary Gauld Camilleri
“I, as a photographer, really believe that photos hold tremendous power,” Gauld-Camilleri tells PEOPLE. “Often times, seeing people in different lights can really open your eyes and inspire you to listen to their story.”
Here are 15 of those stories, beginning with 19-year-old Maggie.
“I will graduate from high school in two years,” Maggie says. “My goal is to go to college so I can learn how to run a wedding boutique.”
02of 16Chase, Age 9Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I love swimming. Every morning, when we talk about our plans, I suggest swimming, even in the winter. I wish we had a pool so I could go swimming every day,” Chase says. “Ultimately, I want to be able to dive down really deep so I can see things on the ocean floor.”
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Chase, Age 9
“I love swimming. Every morning, when we talk about our plans, I suggest swimming, even in the winter. I wish we had a pool so I could go swimming every day,” Chase says. “Ultimately, I want to be able to dive down really deep so I can see things on the ocean floor.”
03of 16Russell, Age 28Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I would like to become more of an artist, so I can impress people with how capable I am. If people like my art, I will be very proud,” he says.
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Russell, Age 28
“I would like to become more of an artist, so I can impress people with how capable I am. If people like my art, I will be very proud,” he says.
04of 16Victoria, Age 28Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I love music," she says. “I like to sing along to all types of songs. Playing my guitar, singing and dancing with [Nintendo] Wii makes me so happy. My goal is to one day visit Los Angeles and be famous.”
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Victoria, Age 28
“I love music,” she says. “I like to sing along to all types of songs. Playing my guitar, singing and dancing with [Nintendo] Wii makes me so happy. My goal is to one day visit Los Angeles and be famous.”
05of 16Kason, Age 16Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I have been playing hockey since I was 7 and baseball since I was 12. I love being part of a team," he says. “Being part of a team has provided me with some great friendships. I love scoring goals and hitting the long ball. I have been working hard on my victory dances.”
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Kason, Age 16
“I have been playing hockey since I was 7 and baseball since I was 12. I love being part of a team,” he says. “Being part of a team has provided me with some great friendships. I love scoring goals and hitting the long ball. I have been working hard on my victory dances.”
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Kira, Age 7
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Kolton, Age 5
08of 16Simon, Age 14Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I love the water. It’s taken 14 years to dive in and swim under water," he says. “I want to learn to swim so that I can go scuba diving. I started a ‘Save the Sharks’ club. I want to help keep our oceans clean.”
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Simon, Age 14
“I love the water. It’s taken 14 years to dive in and swim under water,” he says. “I want to learn to swim so that I can go scuba diving. I started a ‘Save the Sharks’ club. I want to help keep our oceans clean.”
09of 16Kali, Age 33Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I love to watch movies and NASCAR, as well as do jigsaw puzzles. My favorite NASCAR driver is Chase Elliott, number 9," she says. “I also like to perform and dance. I really want to get back to some of my volunteer jobs once the pandemic is over. I really miss seeing my friends.”
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Kali, Age 33
“I love to watch movies and NASCAR, as well as do jigsaw puzzles. My favorite NASCAR driver is Chase Elliott, number 9,” she says. “I also like to perform and dance. I really want to get back to some of my volunteer jobs once the pandemic is over. I really miss seeing my friends.”
10of 16Jamie, Age 3Hilary Gauld Camilleri"Jamie is starting junior kindergarten this fall," his family says. “He is looking forward to making new friends at school and learning new routines and topics. Communication has always been difficult for Jamie, as he is mostly non-verbal but he excels with American Sign Language and gestures. We’re excited to see how his verbal speech develops as he continues to grow in this next phase of his life.”
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Jamie, Age 3
“Jamie is starting junior kindergarten this fall,” his family says. “He is looking forward to making new friends at school and learning new routines and topics. Communication has always been difficult for Jamie, as he is mostly non-verbal but he excels with American Sign Language and gestures. We’re excited to see how his verbal speech develops as he continues to grow in this next phase of his life.”
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Ashlan, Age 14
12of 16Zachary, Age 1Hilary Gauld Camilleri"Zach is driven to improve his mobility and strength. He admires his older brother so much and it’s clear he would love to engage in more active play with him," his family says. “Zach is working hard in physiotherapy sessions to build the strength to crawl and pull up to standing. He looks forward to learning how to walk so he can chase his brother and dog around.”
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Zachary, Age 1
“Zach is driven to improve his mobility and strength. He admires his older brother so much and it’s clear he would love to engage in more active play with him,” his family says. “Zach is working hard in physiotherapy sessions to build the strength to crawl and pull up to standing. He looks forward to learning how to walk so he can chase his brother and dog around.”
13of 16Dadyar, Age 13Hilary Gauld Camilleri"Dadyar loves dancing and music. He requests songs in the car, at home and at weddings," his family says. “He thinks anytime is the perfect time for a dance party and he is working hard to sing along with the lyrics to his favorite song.”
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Dadyar, Age 13
“Dadyar loves dancing and music. He requests songs in the car, at home and at weddings,” his family says. “He thinks anytime is the perfect time for a dance party and he is working hard to sing along with the lyrics to his favorite song.”
14of 16Wysdom, Age 12Hilary Gauld Camilleri"My goal is to be a chef and YouTube star," he says. “My dream is to go to L.A. I want to be different and unique.”
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Wysdom, Age 12
“My goal is to be a chef and YouTube star,” he says. “My dream is to go to L.A. I want to be different and unique.”
15of 16Samantha, Age 16Hilary Gauld Camilleri"I love to learn, so I would like to be a teacher of kids with special needs," she says. “The teachers I have had have taught me to be kind and respectful to everyone.”
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Samantha, Age 16
“I love to learn, so I would like to be a teacher of kids with special needs,” she says. “The teachers I have had have taught me to be kind and respectful to everyone.”
16of 16A Call to ActionReflecting on her photo series,Gauld-Camilleritells PEOPLE that she hopes others walk away with a passion to learn more.“I hope people will continue to challenge those misconceptions that surround those withDown syndrome,” she says. “I really believe that projects like this keep us aware, keep us learning and really challenge our thoughts and perceptions on people and things that are different from us.“Gauld-Camilleri’s full “Believe with Me” series can be foundhere.
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A Call to Action
Reflecting on her photo series,Gauld-Camilleritells PEOPLE that she hopes others walk away with a passion to learn more.
“I hope people will continue to challenge those misconceptions that surround those withDown syndrome,” she says. “I really believe that projects like this keep us aware, keep us learning and really challenge our thoughts and perceptions on people and things that are different from us.”
Gauld-Camilleri’s full “Believe with Me” series can be foundhere.
source: people.com
