GLANCING THE GALLANT | Local Girl Brings All-Inclusive Positivity to the World Around Her

MEET MADISON ROBERSTON

AURORA–Bednarcik Junior High student, Madison Robertson (12), should have been participating in Spring Soccer; however, due to the COVID-19 shut down, she needed to find other ways to occupy her time.

Using her creative background, Madison used the opportunity to spread Down Syndrome awareness, in honor of her little sister, Charlie, by painting her family’s mailbox in the traditional blue and yellow colors.

“I think when it comes to inclusion, we have to remember that even though times are hard right now we can't take a step backwards,” Madison shares. “My sister and people like her are important to me. I don't see her as any different, but I know some people do. This summer I had my first encounter with someone who kept using the R word no matter how many times I asked them to stop. I explained how it's insensitive and why it's important not to use that word. They understand now, but it was an eye-opening experience for me and a reminder that we still have a lot of awareness to spread.”

The mailbox wasn’t the first artistic awareness project Madison has completed. In 2016, she made over a hundred blue and yellow Down syndrome awareness bracelets, raising over $350 for her sister’s team for a local Down syndrome organization. She also designed awareness buttons with her stepmom to give to her friends at school for World Down Syndrome Awareness Day and plans on making more for Down syndrome Awareness month in October.

As things slowly return to normal, Madison is excited to return to soccer and continues her daily runs with her dad in preparation for the NDSS Annual Virtual 321 run, but one thing will always remain consistent - regardless of what’s going on in the world - Madison will continue to remind others that we are “More Alike Than Different”. -Kristen Kucharski

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