When a story like this comes along, we’re reminded that there are still good people in the world.
Mélanie Ségard, 21, of France, wanted to be a weather woman. Ségard has Down syndrome, but she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her goals. On Feb. 27, a video she posted on Facebook changed everything. She wanted people to “like” the video—and hoped locals news stations would see it, too. Ségard encouraged news outlets to put her on the air if she received 100,000 likes. She received those likes, and more. Way more. Now, Ségard will be France’s first weather presenter with Down syndrome.
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“I’m different, but I want to show everyone that I can do a lot of things,” Ségard wrote on her Facebook page. “I want to prove it by presenting on TV.” At time of writing, just over a week later, her video post has gotten 3.1 million views, 148,000 likes, and 57,000 shares. Excuse us while we grab some Kleenex.
On Feb. 28, she replied to some commentators, “I’m touched by your messages and your likes <3 Thank you all! Thanks to you, I hope to reach my dream … I can do it!” <3
And she was right—she could, and she did. Two French news channels, BFMTV and France 2, asked Ségard to be a weather presenter on March 27. Huge news! And with her enthusiasm, we have no doubt Ségard will excel at the job!
The National Union of Charities for Parents with Disabled Children (UNAPEI) helped Ségard with her Facebook campaign. “Today, people with a disability are invisible,” a spokesperson for UNAPEI said in a statement. “The 100,000 likes are a sign of strong support—we are taken aback at how quickly the page became a success.”
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We certainly expect Ségard to have a lot more success in her future, and we look forward to seeing her present the weather on March 27.