A brave woman, Mar Galcerán, defies the odds to become the first member of Parliament in Spain with Down syndrome.
Mar Galcerán from Spain has always been interested in politics and knew it was the only way people with disabilities like her could become part of the conversation.
Galcerán has Down’s syndrome, but that does not stop her from achieving her dreams and being a member of the conservative People’s Party (PP) of Spain.
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At the young age of 18, when Galcerán joined the People’s Party (PP), she had no idea that one day she would make history as the first candidate in her country to be elected as a Parliamentarian.
She began her career by working for a Valencian organization called Asindown, which helps families with children who have Down syndrome.
After working with them for four years, she served as a civil servant in the People’s Party (PP) for more than two decades, focusing on the inclusivity policy.
Her selection in the Spanish Parliament shows the significant amount of work she did on the equality and inclusivity policy.
During Valencia’s regional elections, she was recognized for her work and ranked 20th on the list of candidates.
After the elections, Carlos Mazón, the region’s PP leader, welcomed Galcerán, declaring her victory in a social media post, “Welcome Mar. Great news for politics, overcoming barriers.”
Galcerán worked hard, and her efforts paid off, as her selection shows that “people with Down syndrome have a lot to contribute.”
She told the Guardian that her win was “unprecedented” and believes she has a huge responsibility due to her different abilities. She wants to learn her job well and be part of the discussion, as people with disabilities also have the right to inclusion in political matters.
Spanish media rejoiced Galcerán’s selection as a Parliament member; however, the response on social media was mixed, with some people being happy while others were skeptical of her abilities.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition wherein a child is born with an extra copy of chromosome number 21.
Due to this extra chromosome, children born with this condition have a characteristic facial appearance and may experience cognitive developmental delays, such as intellectual disabilities and delayed growth. These children are also at risk of having other health complications.
Despite many challenges, Galcerán fought her way through by breaking prejudices and barriers to show that people with disabilities can be equally capable.
She chooses to focus on her work while filtering out any negative opinions, wanting to “be seen as a person, not just for my disability.”
