chris sayer works as an ambassador for the down syndrome resource foundation [dsrf] in burnaby, b.c. supplied
i also like to golf. my dad is a good golfer so i’ve been golfing since i was quite young. i’m not as good as my dad but i’m pretty good at it. i’ve been involved in the special olympics and challenger baseball since grade 3. i love all sorts of sports — curling, track, cardio.
i’ve been going to the dsrf centre for many years for their programs and now i volunteer there as a mentor to the younger kids, helping them with summer school classes. i show them that i’m confident, and i try to bring them joy.
people with down syndrome wear their emotions on their sleeve
i didn’t have a mentor when i was younger and wish i did to do things with and teach me things. my mom just hired a respite worker named joel who is about my age. he doesn’t drive so he takes me on the skytrain and shows me how to be independent. but during covid we stopped taking transit and it’s been hard to get back into it. everything during covid was on zoom, and it drove me nuts. counsellors at dsrf really helped with me feeling anxious during this time. but i did learn more about computers and how to stay connected to my friends and programs, like guitar lessons, singing, reading stories and other social stuff through zoom.
i would really like to get a job at gm place where the vancouver canucks play. it’s not that i’m a big canucks fan but my best friend is so i go to the games and watch the games on tv to support him. some of my friends work there as ushers and i would like to do that too. my vision is bad, so i have difficulty with stairs — but i do elevators.