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Northshore mother fights to improve laws for her son with Down syndrome

Coldon is one of three triplets. He’s the only one with Down Syndrome.

MADISONVILLE, La. —

A Northshore mother is on a mission to make life for her son better. 

At 13-months-old, little Coldon Pittman is full of life. Every time you see him, he’s smiling and waving. But what his mother, Shawn Pittman, worries about are the challenges he’ll face down the road. 

“Look at my three children together, and tell me why he doesn’t have the same rights as Ella and Grayson,” Pittman said. 

Coldon is one of three triplets. He’s the only one with Down syndrome. 

“As they are the same age, they’re going to be going through the same milestones together, and it’s not fair to have to treat Coldon differently,” Pittman said. 

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She’s talking about laws currently in place in the United States; laws that the National Down Syndrome Society call 'Lawsyndrome:' A series of antiquated laws that they say impede the pursuit of careers or living life independently without risking benefits for those with Down syndrome. 

One deals with marriage equality, for example.

“I’m going to have to face Coldon one day and say ‘You can’t get married because you’ll lose your medicaid and social security, but Ella and Grayson have fun, Coldon is gonna stand in your wedding,'” Pittman said. 

Another deals with equal pay. 

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“Coldon doesn’t have the same rights to have equal employment as you and I do and if he does have the same rights, he’s going to be paid less wage; sub-minimum wage,”Pittman said.

This month, Pittman traveled to Washington D.C. and participated in the National Down Syndrome Society’s (NDSS) Buddy Walk on Washington Advocacy Conference. 

Pittman and families just like hers went to Capitol Hill, advocating for human rights for people with Down syndrome. She also met with staff members of Congressional leaders from Louisiana, urging them to create reform. 

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Conversations focused on legislation like the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act, which phases out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allowing the Secretary of Labor to issue special wage certificates to certain entities that permit them to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage. 

Covington resident Shannon Lescale thinks what Pittman is fighting for is crucial. 

“My 12 year old daughter Cassie has autism. She’s high functioning. She’s ADHD and she also has a mood disorder,” Lescale said. 

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While her daughter may not face similar challenges as little Coldon, as a mother, Lescale she knows how hard things can be. 

“We fight for the proper education for her. We fight for the proper treatment for her and we fight for the life that she deserves,” Lescale said. 

Eyewitness News reached out to congressional leaders. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise responded, saying: 

“Everyone should be able to realize their full potential, and I will fight for reforms that ensure nothing stands in the way of those with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. Shawn Pittman’s powerful work advocating on behalf of her son and all Americans with Down Syndrome serves as an inspiration to all of us.”

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Until reform laws are passed by congress and signed by the President, Pittman won’t stop, as her little Coldon’s future depends on it. 

To learn more about the Buddy Walk® on Washington or how to get involved with NDSS, please visit www.ndss.org.

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