People with Disabilities Make Their Own Decisions in Musical World Down Syndrome Day Film

For World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st, 2025, CoorDown is launching the international awareness campaign 'NO DECISION WITHOUT US' to demand the presence of people with disabilities at the tables where decisions are made, whether regarding personal autonomy or a social and civic role.

'NO DECISION WITHOUT US' is available on the YouTube channel and all social platforms of CoorDown and partners. An international professional cast has been chosen for the film, featuring Mia Noelle Rodriguez, the young actress and singer with Down syndrome of 16 years old, along with Caterina Scorsone, the beloved 'Grey’s Anatomy' actor and global star, mom of a daughter with Down syndrome, and spokesperson for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. With their actors, actresses and performers with disabilities who in addition to acting have performed the original song of the film: Blake Stadnik, Jahmai Davis, Annika Nadine Hutsler, Ali Chapman, Danny Gomez, Cole Sibus, Domonique Brown. The campaign was created in collaboration with the New York agency SMALL and produced by Indiana Production, directed by Rich Lee, with cinematography by Christopher Probst. The music was composed and performed by Stabbiolo Music.

Two years ago, the film 'Ridiculous Excuses Not To Be Inclusive' began with these words: “In a world increasingly attentive to inclusivity, only one trick remains to avoid it: invent ridiculous excuses.” Today, we see steps backward on the issue of inclusion. While the hard-won rights and achievements of people with disabilities at work, school, in sports, and society are being challenged and erased by decrees, CoorDown and associations around the world, along with all people with disabilities, not only want to resist but want to take a hundred steps forward. They do not just want to be part of the world but want to be among those who make decisions about the world they inhabit.

The 'NO DECISION WITHOUT US' film was born out of a commitment to the importance of including people with Down syndrome, and disabilities in general, in decision-making processes. A captivating, original song NO DECISION WITHOUT US, brings people with various disabilities, in a range of settings, together to assert their rightful place in society. They are united by their demand to be part of the conversations that shape their lives - from the clothes they wear, to how they live, from school to work, and how the spaces around them are designed - because what is right for some is not always right for all.

At the start of the film, we are transported to Sophia’s bedroom, a girl with Down syndrome. Sophia's parents are deciding which dress their daughter should wear to a wedding, without asking her opinion. Sofia is not involved in the decision-making process. Suddenly, Sophia bursts into the room, demanding to have a say in this decision. A wheelchair user wants to be at the table where a new train station is being approved. A little person wants to be involved in designing their workspace. A deaf student reacts with sarcasm when the school principal tells everyone to flee at the sound of the fire alarm. A blind person at an airport highlights how a touchscreen information point is useless if you cannot see it. Finally, a person with a motor disability and a person with an intellectual disability ask a politician in Parliament to be at the table where laws are written.

From today until March 21st, @CoorDown's social media channels – from TikTok to Instagram and Facebook – will be sharing and amplifying the stories of people with disabilities and their families, highlighting the decisions they were excluded from, under the rallying cry: "I want to be in the room where decisions are made. No decision about us, without us."

Luca Lorenzini and Luca Pannese, executive creative directors, SMALL New York said, "This year we chose to adopt a new language: the musical. This type of execution allowed us to convey an important message in an engaging way, thanks to the power of music. The casting process was exciting, especially because we had the opportunity to shoot in Los Angeles, a city unique in the world for the talent it offers. It was thrilling to select the various characters, each with extraordinary vocal abilities, and we are very pleased with the final result. A special thanks also goes to Rich Lee, a director with whom we have already collaborated twice for CoorDown and who always brings a truly unique creative vision to the set."

Karim Bartoletti, partner/MD/executive producer, Indiana Production said, "The CoorDown Projects are the testament of how a well oiled team can continuously better itself, they are the proof that great insightful creativity can attract amazing talent, and demonstrate that, no matter how challenging the executional obstacles may be, there can be an incredible heartfelt interest to be part of a project in which everybody involved brings something important to the table. Every year we have a new insight and a new creative challenge to produce and this year’s challenge was no easy task: a musical style content with such an important core premise — in a moment in which DEI is going through some very sad backlash — that it could expand from Down Syndrome to any other disability. We decided to build the project in Los Angeles, with Rich Lee - at his third CoorDown campaign - at the helm. Shooting in LA not only gave us the opportunity to have the best talent, to surround ourselves with the best professionals, but it also allowed us to shoot the project at Synapse, one of the best virtual production stages in the US, which allowed the content to be shot in as many ‘locations’ as possible without ever moving from Los Angeles Center Studios. We made what was pretty complicated look easy but, like every year, we know that it is all about the talent and the love that every single cast and team member brings to the project and this personally moves me every time.”