Down's syndrome project promotes black visibility

The founders of an advocacy initiative for black children with Down's syndrome have said they launched their project two years ago due to a "lack of representation".

Danise Bartlett-Grant, who is one of four mothers who co-founded the Black Child Down Syndrome Project, said they wanted to create a platform for parents and carers to find advice, help and "have conversations outside of the larger disabled community groups".

She said: "We have created this sense of community amongst those of African heritage where they can meet like-minded families."

She added that it was "incredible" that the initiative had been nominated by a parent for a BBC Make a Difference Award for Best Community Project.

"The project began because of the lack of representation and we felt the need to plug that gap," she said.

"We felt that one of the best ways to do this was to take images of individuals who have Down's syndrome from the black community and put them out there.

"Having a child with Down's syndrome may have originally been something that was a bit taboo and something that you needed to hide," she said.

"When we had our launch, I had a dream to have these kids on the billboard in Piccadilly, because I think they deserve to be seen."

The organisation's Reflecting Radiance exhibition, which showcased many of the children supported by the group, was shown in Hope 93 Gallery in Westminster and included a takeover of the Piccadilly Lights.

The images were taken by photographer, social activist and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Misan Harriman.

Harriman told BBC London that the children were "amongst the most important human beings that I have had the honour of photographing".

He added: "My reason to hold a camera is to give a voice to people, who for whatever reason, don't have one.

"Black children with Down's syndrome are a minority within a minority. They exist and have always existed."

The photographer, who is a friend of one of the co-founders, said he had known her daughter, who has Down's syndrome, since she was born.

"It is such a great joy watching this precious soul figure out the world in her own way," he said.

Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie, who also co-founded the project, said the journey of a parent whose child has Down's syndrome could be "extremely lonely".

"But [with] this project, I feel part of a wider community that understands the experience, and it's been wonderful to know that I'm not alone," she said.

Another co-founder, Oneness Sankara, said the project was about visibility.

"When my son was born, I looked for reflections of us in the world and I was unable to see it," she said. "The impact that this project has had on me as a mother is visibility."

Bartlett-Grant said the Black Child Down Syndrome Project also worked to train healthcare professionals and educators about how race and disability intersected and the impact on the wider community.

The group also organises parent and carer events, poetry writing and book-reading events for children.

"The effort that it takes to do a project like this on top of daily life, we're just so grateful that we've been nominated," she said.

Black Child Down Syndrome Project has also been nominated for the 2026 National Diversity Awards.

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