William Winchester, 14, could be a politician. As he moves through the crowd at Westside Baptist Church in Calloway County, he high-fives teenagers, kisses babies and causes adults to erupt into laughter.
He is charming and likable. However, something sets William apart, other than his affability. He was born with Down’s syndrome.
Randall Winchester, William’s father, said that people with Down’s syndrome often face prejudice.
“I once had a health insurance rep tell me that they ‘were in the business of making money, not insuring kids who should have been aborted in the first place.’ He’s lucky he was talking to me over the phone.”
Randall said most people don’t hold such prejudices.
“We’re very lucky to live in a community that is so supportive,” he said.
Faith is important to the Winchesters. They attend the Westside Baptist Church in Calloway County three times a week. William is active in the church and loves singing and dancing to Christian music.
William is in the eighth grade at Murray Middle School, where he participates in a “mainstream” special education program. The program includes both regular classes and special education in “resource rooms.”
William has been mainstreamed since elementary school, and most of the other students know him.
“People with special needs can be scary to children who aren’t exposed to them,” Carolyn said. “But most of these kids have known William since they were all little.”
Down’s syndrome is often associated with sociability, and William exhibits a great deal of social ease.
“Everyone in town knows William,” Carolyn said.
William’s fraternal twin brother, Joseph, was not born with Down’s. The gifted student and talented musician is a freshman at Murray High School, where he plays in the marching band.
William participates in Special Olympics bowling, and much of Carolyn and Randall’s time is spent shuttling the boys to activities.
“It’s hectic, but we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Randall said.
