Christian Bowers, a 24-year-old with Down Syndrome, enjoys typical activities such as bowling and playing video games. However, after finishing school, he struggled to maintain a social life, which is a common challenge for many people, including those without Down Syndrome.
Donna Herter
His mother, Donna Herter, noticed that her son was becoming increasingly despondent due to his lack of friends. She decided to post on Facebook, offering $80 compensation to any local guys near Rochester, Minnesota, who were willing to spend two hours hanging out with Christian.
Although she was initially overwhelmed by the response, with over 5,000 comments, Herter eventually found seven fellows from Wentzville, Minnesota, who now visit Christian once a week on a rotating schedule. These visits have brought a smile back to Christian’s face and a renewed excitement for life.
Friendships are essential for people with Down Syndrome, and associations urge parents to plan for their children’s socializing after they finish school. While Christian attends gatherings and groups with other special needs individuals, he also craves friendships with those who don’t have Down Syndrome.
Donna Herter
Herter believes that having friends who don’t have Down Syndrome makes Christian feel “normal” and that someone wants to hang out with him. One of Christian’s seven new friends, James Hasting, volunteers with special needs individuals and said that spending time with Christian has changed the way he sees the world.
It is heartening to see how the power of social media and human kindness has helped Christian overcome his social isolation and find new friendships.
