AP Photos: Disabled Romanian children given chance to shine During Romania's communist era, children with disabilities were shunned, often locked away in institutions or kept at home and deprived of schooling and social interactionsIn this Nov. 3, 2019, photograph a child with Down syndrome prepare to show skirts displaying drawings inspired by children, during a fashion show dubbed "heART Couture" in Bucharest, Romania. Recent shows in which children with Down syndrome had the starring roles illustrate how much that has changed since communism fell in 1989. The children also performed with a ballet ensemble on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in early December. Bucur emphasized the positive impact such events have on children with Down syndrome, though she said that societal prejudice against them still exists. Most of these facilities were outside cities and sometimes housed more than 350 people, with children and adults often housed together.

Source: ABC News January 04, 2020 10:07 UTC