Disability? A causality at that!
Disability? A causality at that!
Mar Galcerán, a Spanish politician, has become the first parliamentarian with Down syndrome in the history of Spain. In doing so, she made history and fulfilled the dream of her life, which she devoted entirely to fighting for the visibility of people with intellectual disabilities and political activism, which is her passion.
Ms. Galcerán has been involved in politics throughout her adult life. At the age of 18, she already joined Spain's conservative Popular Party and climbed the career ladder - and at the age of 45, in May 2023, she was listed as the 20th name on the Popular Party's list of candidates ahead of regional elections in Valencia, eastern Spain. Soon after, she won a seat in Corts Valencianes, the parliament of that region of Spain, and was sworn in as a member of the regional parliament in September.
"We welcome Mar! This is great news for politics and overcoming barriers!"
Wrote Carlos Mazón, leader of the People's Party in the region, on social media. Mar herself, commenting on the event, declares that she is able to fulfill her duties, provide visibility for people with disabilities and asks society to include people with disabilities in public life.
"This is unprecedented. Society is beginning to recognize that people with Down syndrome can contribute a lot. But it's a very long road."
This achievement has catapulted Galcerán to the top of the few - let's call it euphemistically - group of invisible people who have indeed broken through more than one barrier and shattered more than one ceiling to enter the world of politics. Recall: in 2020 Éléonore Laloux became the first person in France with a genetic disease to be elected to public office as a member of the municipal council in the city of Arras, while Fintan Bray of Ireland was hailed as a history maker after being elected to political parliament in 2022. In Spain itself, the path of the invisible to politics was paved by Ángela Bachiller, who in 2013 became Spain's first city councillor of Valladolid with Down syndrome.
A big step to social inclusion
Galcerán's success in politics and her position as the only person with Down syndrome in parliament marks an important moment for the representation of people with Down syndrome in Spain, Europe and around the world. Spain celebrated this historic milestone while publicizing the magnitude of the progress Mar Galcerán has made in a career full of efforts to make people with intellectual disabilities part of the public discourse.
Her feat is a reflection of the decades Mar has spent working to improve the status of people with Down syndrome in Spain: she spent more than 20 years as a civil servant in Valencia, where she helped develop inclusive policies; she spent four years at the head of Asindown, a Valencian organization dedicated to helping families with children with Down syndrome.
Despite her impressive credentials, Ms. Galcerán said in numerous interviews that reactions to her on social media have been mixed:
"You can find different things on social media. There are people who support me, but there are also those who think I am not up to the challenge.
However, these are people who know neither me nor my story."
According to the politician, it is possible to break down any barrier, as long as there are people around who favour the achievements of people with different abilities. She calls things bluntly and directly, by name:
"The existing barriers are societies mental barriers, resulting from the reproduction of clichés and stereotypes."
Ultimately, however, Mar hopes that her presence in the regional parliament will help eliminate many of the prejudices that still circulate in society (which we also fervently support), especially when it comes to people with Down syndrome. Familiarizing herself with her new political role, she laid out her priorities:
"I want to learn how to do the right thing for Valencia, and more importantly, for those of us with other abilities."
Already quite visible
Shortly after she picked up her parliamentary seat, Mar Galceránza appealed to the public. It's a simple appeal, but one that I think is very relevant and representative, as it so often falls from the mouths of people with disabilities:
"I am able to hold a position of such great responsibility. I hope that my disability does not overshadow to you what kind of person I am. I would like you to see me as a person and not define me through the prism of disability."
The Spanish MP maintains her profiles on Instagram and Facebook, where you can congratulate her, appreciate her, cheer her on or simply get to know her better - which we do without hesitation, bowing our heads and thanking her for so much determination and goodwill. Keep it up, Mar!
