Black and white photo of young adult male swimming in a pool with goggles

Shawn J, age 15

Photograph by Danielle Hicks (2024)

A fearless and confident 15-year-old, Shawn does not want to be treated differently; he wants to do everything, just like any other kid. Once while at a birthday party at roller-skating rink, Shawn was adamant that he wanted to skate. After making his parents’ nerves rise, he went out with the balance bar and skated the night away. He is his number one believer and fights to prove that he can do it all.
Shawn has a dignosis of Down syndrom. He enjoys playing basketball, exercising, attending camp, listening to music, and watching YouTube. Most of the time you can find him competing in high school or Special Olympics swimming competitions. He came in first place in his heat at a competition. At the end, he was so proud of himself he was flexing his muscles as he was walking back to his team.
“Shawn is an inspiring young man and has a typical teenage boy’s mentality,” his mom said. “He focuses on being faster, taller, better and being independent—hopefully learning to drive, having a family of his own, and going to college.

Family Connection of South Carolina provides services and resources to families who have a child with a disability or specialized healthcare need. Since 1990 we have served more than 100,000 families and today our services are needed more than ever. We focus on parent-to-parent support, guidance with navigating the complex healthcare system, and assistance with school meetings and special education plans.

Sponsored by:
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina