Today, 21 March, is World Down Syndrome Day. As an organisation that supports people with intellectual disability, this is an important day for us to recognise. Endeavour Foundation was started 70 years ago by families who wanted a better life for their loved ones and this is a baton that we carry today.
The past saw us advocating for people with disability and speaking up for them and their rights, but our present and our future lies in supporting people to be their own best advocate.
Meet two inspiring advocates: Katie Steffans and Cameron McNamee. They live with Down syndrome, and they’re not just ending stereotypes – they’re shredding them.
Katie and Cameron work at Maroochydore social enterprise, where the team collect, transport, and then shred client documents before sending them off to be recycled.
Katie unloads confidential documents to the conveyor belt and is being trained to use the baler. She wants people to know she has abilities too.
“I love to come [to work] and make new friends,” Katie said.
People with Down syndrome are very nice people. They can do anything.
Before documents can be destroyed, they need to be collected. This is where Cameron comes in.
He said he loves working alongside Production Team Leader, Mark Swift (right), who he calls “the big fella”, as they drive around the region together, collecting and dropping off document bins.
“We pick up the bins from the hospital on Wednesday morning. I have a good time [in the van] and meeting new people,” Cameron said.
Cameron’s natural charisma has had a positive impact on many of our commercial customers, including Ann-Maree Douyere, the receptionist at Sunshine Coast legal firm, Griffiths McDonald Carson.
“When we started using Endeavour Foundation for document destruction, Cam came in the first time very shy and I thought I’d just start talking to him a little bit,” Ann-Maree recalled.
“He knows me now so he smiles. He gets excited to see me and I get excited to see him because he’s a friendly face.
“There’s always a story. This week, I heard he’s got a girlfriend, so that’s really exciting for him!
“I just try to treat people all the same and I hope that comes across.
“I feel more businesses should employ people with Down syndrome – they’ve got a lot to offer.”
Mark said working with Cameron has shown him how capable people with Down syndrome can be.
“Cameron’s taught me a lot about things that I never thought I’d learn, like the empathy that he shows and the love of his family,” he said.
“We talk to his Nan and Pop most Wednesdays when we’re in the van and I wish I was a lot more like that myself
It’s just like anything in the world. If you give someone a chance to prove themselves, they will.
Click play below to hear from Katie and Cameron and how they inspire everyone around them (2 min 🎥).
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