Today I’m the proudest mum on the earth. My son gave 10 presentations to his schoolmates talking about his experience as a person with albinism in the lead up to International Albinism Awareness Day on Saturday, June 13.
He proudly wore a crazy hat as part of crazy hat day, a way to get the whole school involved in raising awareness. He decided on wearing this one…
I couldn’t be more proud.
To celebrate, here are some photos of my boy over years, showing the real face of albinism. He is beautiful (yes I am biased) but he is also clever, witty and imaginative. He is also strong willed, determined and will not let anything get in his way.
He is also excited to have the chance to be interviewed live on radio tomorrow morning. Having witnessed his entertaining sessions today I can only imagine what he will come out with live on air. I’m praying to any and all deities that it all goes well… 
We are lucky to have the chance to spread awareness about the first ever International Albinism Awareness Day which has been declared by the United Nations to shed light on the many and varied human rights violations that plague PWA, particularly in Africa where the condition is not at all understood by the majority of the population.
In the developed world albinism is also poorly understood, perhaps because of the power of popular perception that seems to always cast the PWA in the menacing or evil roles. Remember Silas the murderous albino monk from Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code?
It’s always been an uphill battle to try and change popular perception. It’s an unfortunate truth that visible difference will always have the power to intimidate, threaten or challenge people. However, looking different should not result in being treated differently or to the varied forms of discrimination that still follows those with albinism, to this very day.
One step you can take today to increase awareness is to share this post or any of these below:
Demystifying Albinism: The Power of Popular Perception
Demystifying Albinism: Seeing Red
Demystifying Albinism: Shades of Pale
Demystifying Albinism: Skin Deep
Yes, he is very blonde, isn’t he?
Or you can read and share these pages too:
People with albinism: not ghosts but human beings
Albinism Fellowship of Australia
National Organisation for Albinism and Hypopigmentation
Albinism Fellowship UK & Ireland
Together we can raise awareness and improve the safety of those with albinism everywhere x
Beautiful post, you have every reason to be proud
Thanks Linda x
What a gorgeous boy he is. I hope it all goes well tomorrow.
Well done on raising awareness.
Thanks Trish. We survived the radio interview! And they also put together an article (together with a very unflattering photo!) that will hopefully increase awareness even further. It feels good to have someone listening – fingers crossed it will lead to a little more awareness x
Great post and congrats on the ABC article and radio spot as well. Cop that Karl Stefanovic! If we ever get the chance to catch up in person I’d love to pick your brains about all this, as someone who also parents a (kick-ass) child with a visible difference. My son isn’t old enough to realise he is different yet, so we have a journey ahead of us no doubt.
I would love to meet you again and talk more – definitely helps to have a kick ass child!!!!
It’s absolutely wonderful and amazing what your son is doing to make a difference! 10 presentations?! Wow!!
I wish I got to hear the radio interview. Will try and look it up online x
I’ll be sharing it once I get a copy of it Grace – he did a good job!
What a beautiful boy… Very proud mum you should be… Great parenting is where it starts
Thanks Natalie – he makes me very proud to be his mum!
I’m sorry I am just getting around to reading it now and World Albinism Awareness day has passed, but I will share anyway. No wonder you are so proud of your boy and I’m sure he was a radio star as well as one at school. Hope all the awareness raising helps.
You guys are doing a great job!
So wonderful Kirsty! You have ver right to be proud! Will you be able to share a link so those of us who missed the TV story can watch it?
I’ve shared the link on Facebook but (being the proud mama that I am!) I’m also planning on linking to all the media here so I can come back in future and relive the magic!!!