Mélange Accessibility for All Magazine January 2022 | Page 16

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With his parent ’ s support and encouragement , Cole now has a real-life job working at a local restaurant – something he absolutely loves ! He sets the table , gives the menu to diners and pours their coffee . “ I really love it . I love seeing people every morning ,” he shared .
Cole encourages employers to be inclusive and to recognize that people with Down syndrome and other disabilities do have skills that can be used in the workplace .
Working out is one of his favourite pastimes and he has also recently started taking Jiu-Jitsu lessons . He has an active social life which includes hanging out with his sister , family , his roommates , and friends at church . Cole has a girlfriend , Teresa , who is a photographer and DJ , so times spent together are always fun-filled . They share many similar interests and , among other things , both enjoy boating , surfing , wake boarding , going to church and to the movies - their favourite movie is " I Still Believe ".
Although Cole enjoys a full life , challenges still occasionally dot his path but he is undaunted .
He admits that one of the biggest hurdles he ’ s encountered so far was “ having to learn how to memorize my lines and get into my character when acting .” But he mastered it , with “ practice , practice , practice ,” he said with pride .
As a confident young man , Cole gives sound advice : " Be yourself .
Cole , with Teresa
Don ' t try to be someone you are not . I don ’ t want to be that other person - I want to be my own person ,” he declares .
“ But ,” he says reflectively with a twinkle in his eye , “ unless I get to be the next James Bond . Then I ’ ll be that person !”