![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/westchester\/files\/2021\/01\/IMG_7293-2-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Sophia engaging and playing a game during Fantastic Friends with Meg and Viola.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Here is Sophia\u2019s article in full:<\/p>\n
The day he was born, Raymond Frost\u2019s family knew he was different. But Ray will be the first person to show you \u2013 both through his kind and spontaneous nature, and the advocacy he engages in during conversations about Down syndrome \u2013 that being different is not a barrier to overcome, but a facet of oneself to embrace.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI know [with] Down syndrome, it\u2019s scary, but it\u2019s also okay to admit that that\u2019s who you are,\u201d he told me. \u201cFor me, having Down syndrome, I\u2019m okay with. There are some things I can do, and some things that I can\u2019t do. My grandmother told me, \u2018Anything is possible.\u2019 When you put your heart to it, and make your dreams come true, anything is possible.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And Ray is someone who has a lot of dreams. One of the first things he\u2019ll tell you about himself is how much he loves to cook. Although he\u2019s been part of the work force since high school, almost 25 years ago, Ray wants to attend culinary school.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOne day, I dream of having my own restaurant,\u201d he said. An important note: it will be half-American, half-Italian.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Raymond participating in making dinner during our monthly Fantastic Friends program.<\/p><\/div>\n Masters exists in a bit of an able-bodied bubble. By nature of the campus, sprawling across five main buildings with multiple flights of stairs, the school is not accessible. Students with visible disabilities aren\u2019t, themselves, visible at Masters.<\/em><\/p>\n Because of this, I never would have met Ray without volunteering at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse, a Down syndrome achievement center in Ardsley. He was playing ping pong, singing along to the music playing over the speakers and undeniably the life of the party. (\u201cMy name is Raymond, but you can call me Ray!\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Ray attended the GiGi\u2019s Playhouse gathering with his friends and roommates, Yaniv and Jason. The three of them have an enduring friendship \u2013 Yaniv says they\u2019re like brothers. They\u2019ve lived in the same home together in Hartsdale for 19 years. The three are hardly ever apart.<\/em><\/p>\n Raymond, Jason and Yaniv at the Playhouse<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cYou have one life to live, you might as well enjoy what you have now. I\u2019m happy I have GiGi\u2019s Playhouse and my roommates. If us three, who have Down syndrome, can live together for 18, 19 years, through good times, bad times, anything is possible,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Ray describes himself as \u201ceasy to talk to\u201d \u2013 he radiates positive energy and laughter, but he\u2019s not a stranger to challenge. He struggled to read, write, and do math in school and relied on the support of his family and special education teachers to learn.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNow, I can do all of those things,\u201d he said, with pride in his voice. \u201cIn my life, I\u2019ve had my ups and downs, too. I\u2019m not scared.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n When I asked Ray what he wished everyone knew about disabled people, he spoke with no hesitation.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhoever has a disability or Down syndrome, they have the same goals, same dreams, same future, feelings, and emotions [as everyone]. They have a right to speak.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ray isn\u2019t shy either, when discussing his relationship with racial identity.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI like being Black\u2026 I\u2019m happy and proud to be an African American man.\u201d He said, adding that he believes he must be comfortable with who he is in order to help others, especially those who are disabled.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Ray, Yaniv and Jason had the opportunity to star in the 2017 film \u201cFar From the Tree\u201d, based on the\u00a0New York Times\u00a0bestselling book by Andrew Sullivan. The film explores the relationship between parent and child, particularly in regard to differences in ability. Yaniv said it was \u201camazing\u201d to see his face on the big screen and reaffirmed the value of representation.<\/em><\/p>\n Ray doesn\u2019t like to see his accomplishments \u2013 whether it\u2019s his talent at cooking, 25 years of experience in the workforce, lifelong friendships, self-reliance, or black belt in karate\u2013 as happening in spite of his Down syndrome. They are, like his disability, important and valuable parts of his identity.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSometimes I have doubts about having Down syndrome, but then I understand, Down syndrome is not a weakness. Down syndrome is not a weakness,\u201d Ray said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cSome people will look at me. Wherever I go with my family, people always say I look like somebody else,\u201d he said, referring to his facial differences. \u201cBut that\u2019s a good thing, because I am Raymond.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Fantastic Friends fun!<\/p><\/div>\n His proudest accomplishment is being happy: \u201cI\u2019m happy to have family and friends. I\u2019m happy to have been living on my own for twenty years now. I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n He added, \u201cI\u2019m proud to have Down syndrome. Because if I didn\u2019t have Down syndrome, I wouldn\u2019t have met you and I wouldn\u2019t have met all my friends. I wouldn\u2019t be me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Raymond paused, contemplating his final words, patient and honest: \u201cI think I am wonderful.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n By Sophia Van Beek, Tower<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n #generationG<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/westchester\/files\/2021\/01\/IMG_1421-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/westchester\/files\/2021\/01\/IMG_1255-300x173.jpg\")
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/westchester\/files\/2021\/01\/IMG_0126-225x300.jpg\")
<\/a>