“I am just one more in the group” – ETR

Rafael Calderón is a Spanish musician with an intellectual disability. He has Down Syndrome. When he was at his secondary school, he was told that he couldn’t learn more. Now he has received a degree in Music.

“I am just one more in the group”

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This year Inclusion Europe wants to talk about education.

We think that inclusive education is better for students,

teachers and parents.

But children with intellectual disabilities

are often left out from school.

Rafael Calderón is a Spanish musician

with an intellectual disability.

He has Down Syndrome.

When he was at his secondary school,

he was told that he couldn’t learn more.

Now he has received a degree in Music.

Ignacio Calderón Almendros

is Rafael’s brother.

He is also a professor at the University of Malaga.

Malaga is a city in Spain.

At the university, Ignacio works on inclusive education.

Ignacio made a documentary film

about how Rafael was excluded from school

and how his family tried to keep him in school.

The documentary is called

“I am just one more. Off beat Notes”.

 

The documentary shows what families can do

when the school stops supporting students

with intellectual disabilities.

It also shows that it is important

that families fight for inclusive education

for their children,

as Rafael’s family did.

The school told them

that Rafael should stop going to school.

They also asked the family

to move Rafael to another school.

But the family didn’t move Rafael.

When the school failed him,

he repeated the year.

Rafael says that

the teachers should have helped him more.

At school Rafael felt left out and discriminated.

He only felt included when he played in the music band.

In the band he didn’t feel different.

He felt he was “just one more in the group”.

With the support of his family and community

Rafael went on to study.

He has now become the first Spanish person

with Down Syndrome

to get a degree in Music.

You can watch the documentary

in Spanish with English subtitles here.

Our work brings the voice of people with intellectual disabilities and their families where decisions about their future are made.

This has always been incredibly important. It is even more so with the Covid pandemic drastic impact on their rights and lives.

Being visible and vocal on issues directly affecting millions of people requires your support. 

Become Inclusion Europe supporter and help us keep doing our work.

 

 

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